The Inner Life of Cats: The Science and Secrets of Our Mysterious Feline Companions

by Thomas McNamee

Our feline companions are much-loved but often mysterious. In The Inner Life of Cats, Thomas McNamee blends scientific reportage with engaging, illustrative anecdotes about his own beloved cat, Augusta, to explore and illuminate the secrets and enigmas of her kind. As it begins, The Inner Life of Cats follows the development of the young Augusta while simultaneously explaining the basics of a kitten's physiological and psychological development. As the narrative progresses, McNamee also charts cats' evolution, explores a feral cat colony in Rome, tells the story of Augusta's life and adventures, and consults with behavioral experts, animal activists, and researchers, who will help readers more fully understand cats. McNamee shows that with deeper knowledge of cats' developmental phases and individual idiosyncrasies, we can do a better job of guiding cats' maturation and improving the quality of their lives. Readers' relationships with their feline friends will be happier and more harmonious because of this book.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Cats, Science, Audiobook, Nature, Memoir

292 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charming tale of the authors own experience adopting a kitten, interwoven with research on feral populations all over the world. I was a little disappointed there wasn't more information on the motivations, thoughts and behaviors of domestic cats; especially since that's how the book is marketed. Fortunately I purchased a used copy in very good condition.

[CanadianReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed McNamee's book and encountered quite a bit of new information about the problem of feral cats and cat communication and vocalization. However, the book is generally not about what the title claims that it is: the inner life of cats. There is also some information presented that seems unnecessarily obvious: what to do if your cat goes missing, for example. Prospective readers who have recently lost a beloved animal should also be advised that McNamee describes the decline and euthanasia of his longtime feline companion, Augusta, in a fair bit of detail.

Although it is largely expository, The Inner Life of Cats does contain engaging memoir elements. McNamee tells us the story of Augusta, who was abandoned as a three-month-old kitten on a road near his Montana ranch. I mostly enjoyed reading about Augusta's adventures, and I certainly understand the author's desire to give her an enriched life of outdoor freedom, though it is not what I would choose to do. However, I have to say I was very uncomfortable with his decision to let Augusta out of doors when he and his wife moved to San Francisco. To give McNamee his due, he does discuss the many dangers of a cat's being allowed out of doors (along with the challenges of keeping a cat entirely indoors). Oddly, however, he omits any discussion of the possibility that a cat can acquire F.I.V.--the feline equivalent of H.I.V.--often contracted in territorial disputes by male cats from bites by infected toms.

A quibble of mine: McNamee's references to feline nutrition are quite superficial. He appears to suggest that because the American Association of Feed Control Officials identifies nutritional requirements for cat food, it somehow oversees pet food production and ensures the quality of commercial foods. It does not, and neither does the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In fact, according to Susan Thixton, "The United States Department of Agriculture has no regulatory authority over pet food. The USDA does have a voluntary pet food certification program, but it is not acknowledged by FDA or State Department of Agriculture." Pet food is poorly regulated indeed, and poor diet is linked with a number of modern feline medical problems, including inflammatory bowel disease and hyperthyroidism. Interested readers may wish to visit Thixton's Truth about Pet Food website for more information.

[Harrison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting this to be about cat psychology, animal intelligence, biological information.. the inner life of cats is about this sort of thing but I feel somewhat lied to by the title and subtitle on the cover. this book is mostly a personal memoir of the author's own cat as well as a general handbook about caring for your cat. nothing wrong with that but this isn't the book I wanted to read.

[Diane D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a cat lover all of my life, I really enjoyed the insight that this book provided. This book is well written and I liked that much of it was a love letter to the author's cat, Augusta, who arrived as a kitten one cold day in winter when the author lived in Montana. The book also provides terrific information about the psychology and biology of cats both domestic and those in feral colonies. He makes the reader think about the needs of a cat and what owners need to insure to make the cat's life a good one. There was much in this book that made me smile like when he discussed how his cat and his wife "mastering the art of the slow turn in bed at night" so as not to disturb the cat sleeping in the fold of one's legs. This is something that I grew to love and now miss that our Lily is gone. At times I found myself in tears as the author explained signs to look for when your cat be very sick since cats do an excellent job hiding illness (we missed many of the early signs ourselves). He describes the euthanasia process and his decision to have his 15 year old beloved cat, Augusta put to sleep. This part was tough to read about for me since it was just (7) weeks ago that we had our sweet Lily put to sleep but, I was also appreciated reading about how the grieving process for a beloved pet is very normal and that it takes months and sometimes longer to heal (I still feel our sweet girl's presence everywhere and hardly a day goes by when I don't tear up at some point thinking about her). I really enjoyed this book overall, very readable, even the research and scientific material was interesting and not dry in the least.
(4.5/5 stars)

[Kim Stallwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author, Thomas McNamee, is a writer of books about animals who live in the wild (e.g., bears, wolfs). As this is the only book I've read of his, I'm assuming from "The Inner Life of Cats" that his writing style is weighted toward the scholarly as opposed to the popular. Though this book is most definitely a mix of the two. For example, Chapter Two "Becoming a Cat" and Chapter Three "Thinking? Talking?", read as if they have been written for a popular science book. Whereas, elsewhere, the book is unashamedly a love letter to Augusta, the cat he and his partner lived with and whose life runs the book's narrative arc. This mix of popularism and science mostly works but sometimes it felt like I was reading two different books stitched together. Moreover, there's a tension between the unashamed "cat lover" and the "scientist" as the author works through the customary set of issues that books about cats generally address. I have some trouble with Chapter Five "The Wild Animal at Large" because of the way it describes and discusses feral cats and the issues associated with them. He gets things wrong, makes incorrect assumptions, and omits key points. In the next chapter, he quotes at length Bernard Rollin without referencing him. Nonetheless, McNamee clearly likes cats and loved Augusta as it shines through the writing. His positions about cats is generally strong and correct but there are times when I think he is ill-informed and wrong. And confused or conflicted but fails to recognise this. For example, he calls for various measures to address the population of feral cats because they hunt and kill birds, mice and other animals (he buys into the flawed meta-analysis) but always set Augusta free to go outside to live out her natural instincts to, er, hunt and kills birds, mice and other animals.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF 75% through no flaw of its own. I enjoyed the memoir slant and found much of it compulsively readable. Spent a couple of days analyzing the vocalizations of my cat (open mouthed vs closed mouthed sounds - the amount of effort required for the open mouthed meow is definitely commensurate with how much she wants food / attention) after reading the bit from the cat linguist, and also enjoyed reading about the results of a cat socialization study. I found myself reluctant to read the last two chapters, however, in which the author's beloved cat is on a downhill spiral. I've lived that, it sucks more than just about anything, and I don't want to go through that again - even vicariously - until I have to.

So that's that. Oh well.

[Séanin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got tricked into reading a book about an animal’s life where the animal dies at the end and I’m left sobbing uncontrollably while forcing my cat to stay with me. But the science about how a cat thinks, how they are really still half-wild and may never be fully domesticated and that as their caregivers it is important that we understand that, was enlightening and interesting.

[Cathryn Conroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love cats—maybe one is even sitting on your lap right now—you need this book. Grounded in science and liberally sprinkled with delightful cat stories and enchanting anecdotes, this book by Thomas McNamee is a cat owner's manual for understanding what's going on behind those beautiful eyes and those sweet purrs.

Using his own kitty Augusta, a black cat with a white star on her belly, as the leading lady of the book, McNamee chronicles the inner and outer lives of all cats from kittenhood to old age so we cat owners can improve the quality of our beloved feline pets' lives.

Find out:
• What it means to love a cat and be loved back in return.

• Tips for how to choose the best kitten for you. Hint: It's not based on looks!

• How a cat experiences the world and what she is telling you with her meows.

• The power of olfactory memory—that is, a scent impression recorded deep with the cat's hippocampus as its coordinated with an image in the visual region of the cerebral cortex. Translation: This is why your cat is startled by changes in his customary surroundings.

• The incredible ability of cats to hear that gives them the widest range of any mammal.

• Why cats can see in the dark…and why this ability hinders their sight in bright light.

• Why your precious kitty really is a wild animal at heart.

• The mortal perils that await your cat if he goes outside, as well as how to create a safe outdoor environment.

• How to handle common mental problems/concerns caused by such simple things as sudden, loud noises or brash strangers to more severe issues such as not using the litter box, destroying furniture, excessive scratching or biting, and aggression.

• Tips on dealing with end-of-life issues and concerns, as well as a thoughtful discussion on grieving for your cat after his death.

This book is ideal for any cat owner, but it's especially useful for those who are considering adopting a cat for the first time.

[Joselito Honestly and Brilliantly · Rating 4 out of 5]

One snowy day he found a shivering black kitten in a barn. He does not know how it got there and even where it came from, not even after retracing its paw prints embedded in the snow. He then just surmised that it was probably dumped there somewhere (by itself on in a litter) by someone who just wanted to get rid of it. Approximating its age to be about three months, the kitten—a she—was most likely born in the month of August so he named her Augusta.

From the title of this book you’d know that this was intended to be about cats in general but actually it starts and ends with Augusta. Sure, you’ll also learn many things here about cats, but you’ll also learn that there are so many things man has not learned, and perhaps will never learn, about these mysterious creatures.

I had lost track of how long Augusta had lived with the author and his wife but it must have been a full life, for this cat, because she died of ailments associated with the decline in old age. And the author’s description of her last days and subsequently thereafter, interspersed with all the lifetime memories built with this beloved pet, will remind you that perhaps the hardest task that you will encounter in having a pet is how to deal with its loss. Thus, the author testifies:

“It will tear a hole in your life. Her (Augusta’s) love was unconditional. When you stayed away too long, she didn’t sulk when you came home, she welcomed you with gladness. She was so innocent. So naive. No human being ever loved you with the purity of her love.

“Did you tell her things you never told anyone else? Did she purr just because you were there—because you EXISTED?

“Her stuff is going to be all over your house. What are you going to do with her bed? Her toys? You’re going to listen and listen for the bup-bup-bup of her paws on the floor as she comes trotting to greet you, and you won’t hear it. You’re not going to be able to sleep. You’re going to eat too much, or not enough.”

But it will not only be you:


“Your other pets, if you have any, will grieve, often deeply. A surviving cat will probably search for his lost companion, returning and returning to the places they shared, sniffing for now-absent scent. He may produce sounds you’ve never heard before, yowls from deep in his throat, calling his friend to come home. He may stare blankly out the window. Like you, he may not be able to sleep or eat. He may cling to you for comfort, or try to soothe himself by overgrooming. His grief, like yours, may not diminish quickly….”


Augusta here reached a point where she became so sick that all she wanted was those in a corner of the house with her eyes glassy and almost unresponsive. She was euthanized. First the vet injected her with something to calm her down, then another to end her life. All the while the author’s wife had her two fingertips laid on the place where Augusta’s heart was, to feel her final heartbeat. A sorrow beyond measure. So what, then, to do?


“Take a deep breath. Not ready? Don’t worry. You know you’re going to have to take yourself in hand sooner or later. You’ve known it all along. All these things, you can do them through years.

“First, memories. In honoring your memories of your cat, you are honouring him. Try to remember everything. The order isn’t important.

“You felt his warmth and his breathing, and sometimes you would slide your hand beneath his chest to feel the amazing flutter of his heart. When you touch his fur, it was alive, it rose to your touch, and then as it relaxed you could feel the silent sigh. Remember how he turned his ears toward the front door before you knew someone was coming. There will be no end to these memories, and let there be no end. Write them down, or speak them in a recorder. Keep them alive.

“Dabbing in the sink with her paw for a leaf. Waiting till you had established the fine and regular drip—bip bip bip bip bip—then swatting at it till she was ready to turn her head sideways and lap from the thread-thin stream. The wind ruffling her fur from behind revealing patterns you had never seen—dark brown and darker brown tabby stripes. Our little black cat wasn’t black! The twitching of her legs and lips and the squinching of her eyes in a dream—of what? How she would push, push with her back feet against your hand, the cool rabbit-soft fur of her heels, the lizard-skin one-way roughness of her hot toe pads. The little pocket on the side of her ear, lined with ineffably soft fur. Was that little spot perhaps a refinement of her hearing apparatus? What matters now is that it was a place which in perfect trust she loved your finger to caress from within. With the same trust, how she loved you to press your finger to the inner point of her closed eyes and run it softly outward across the lid, perhaps picking up along the way a bit of oozy grade. Her pink tongue when she gave herself a bath. How she always knew the sound of you coming up the front steps, and always would come trotting to greet you with tail held high.

“I remembered. Augusta sniffing my extended index finger first thing in the morning with great interest, almost as if it was new. Augusta plunging into laundry warm from the dryer. Augusta jumping up on the dining table and biting the flowers, preferably tulips. She liked for us to watch her when she used her litter box. She liked when we threw out the old sand, washed the box, and filled it deep with new, unscented litter. She would wait, transfixed, excited, and before the dust had settled she would have jumped in, dug like a fiend, and christened it with a big fresh poop, eyes shut tight with pleasure.

“All the times when she walked away in indifference. Times when I called, Augusta, Augusta! and she would not come, even when I tracked her to her hiding place and insisted, Augusta, come down! but all she would do was tiptoe back and forth on the branch or in the attic corner or wherever the hell she’d gotten to, in some impenetrable trance, mewing pitifully, not even looking at me yet pleading PLEASE HELP ME! still refusing the slightest recognition of my exhausted repetitions of Augusta, come! till at last all I could do from the teetering ladder top was seize her by the scruff of her skinny little neck, and even as I rescued her she would bite me and scratch me till I clasped her to my chest not lovingly but like a firefighter pulling a crazed child through flames. These and a hundred other memories I wrote and wrote. I made a list of her names, Bdingle, Bdomble, Busta, Doodoo Head, Dummy, Little One, Panterina, Piece of Shit, Schbdingle, Schkblodgit, Stoopie, You Idiot, Beauty Kitty. I kept remembering more. Augusta? AUGUSTA!

“Grieving. Helpless.”

And so why is the sadness like this? The author suggests that it is not just the mutual entertainment man and his pet get from each other’s company:

“From consideration of the emphatic pleasure that mutual entertainment provides, a sixth essential element of the human-cat relation begins to arise: love. We love our cats with a purity and grace not possible in our love of our spouses, our parents, or even our children. People are too complicated for love as simple as what we bear to our cats. It is not agape, phileo, caritas, amor or eros (roughly: selfless love, brotherly love, love of humankind, romantic love, and erotic love, respectively). I believe it has never been named. The kinship between our cats and ourselves reaches deep beneath consciousness, to a place before history, perhaps even before the development of the self-expressible human intellect. In its purity our love of our cat resembles an infant’s adoration of his or her mother, but it lacks that utter dependency. We do not want to relinquish it, God forbid! but it is nonetheless voluntary. It is devotional, like prayer, and like prayer it is met with silence. Our devotion is what gives cats their power.”


A book about cats, about the cat Augusta, and dedicated to Isabel, another cat who still lives and whom we should all wish to live long like she’s our own.

[Nore · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, to be honest, what brought this up to four stars is that I really relate to McNamee's experiences with his cats, and it hit me right where it hurt - I frequently joke about how they need to work on extending the lifespan of cats so that my cat, Wentworth, can live forever. I'm not going to be able to handle it when she dies; I worry frequently about whether she's happy enough, if she's bored, if she likes her food, if her bad hip is hurting her; I bought a bed that's low to the ground specifically because I don't want her to have to jump too high to join me at night. I've mastered the slow turn he describes his wife doing, the one that lets Wenny move with me when I want to lie on my side. Roughly a full star of my rating is due to the emotional writing.

But as a cat book by itself, this book is very, very thin. The actual scientific content of this is maybe a third of the book; this is more an autobiography of McNamee's life with his cats with some science sprinkled in than it is a book about how to properly care for your cats. What's there, though, is great, and well worth the read. Definitely something I'd recommend to someone who loves their cat and wants a starting point for how to take better care of their tiny, furry family member.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love cats and that love makes me virtually incapable of disliking books about them, so my 4-star rating is likely "too high" if you're not as biased as i am in that way.

For my meta-review i'll focus on the 2 things i noticed most as i read others' reviews: the title and the "Illness, Aging, and Death" chapter.

Consider only the subtitle as you decide whether this is the cat book for you. McNamee believes that cats have inner lives but his book is not a philosophical or scientific or personal argument in support of that belief. It's also not an attempt to justify that belief. Instead, it's a combination of personal experiences and research about what's good for the human-cat relationship (which also, of course, sometimes details what's not good).

If you're avoiding Chapter 7 (Illness, Aging, and Death) because you still acutely feel the loss of a cat, you might not be ready for a new cat but consider reading about McNamee's grief as an opportunity for silently helpful commiseration from someone who probably understands how you feel. Another reason not to avoid Chapter 7 is that it mostly consists of information on aging and illness as the quite apt title implies.

[Elle Maruska · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welp this book left me a messy sobbing wreck.

I love cats. Love them. I rescue abandoned cats/kittens and find them new homes and I live my life surrounded by cats pretty much and this book was such a wonderful, beautiful, painful, honest meditation on cats and living your life beside them. It goes into the science of cat cognition and understanding, the social history of cats and feral cat colonies from Rome to San Francisco, and it discusses how the standards of cat care have changed but at its heart, it's a story of a family and their beloved cat Augusta from the beginning to the end. Moments of quiet joy and overwhelming terror, sadness, grief, love, amusement...it's all there and in this one story of August and her people, cat owners can find themselves and their beloved pets...how we make mistakes and hurt one another and try our best always to be worthy of the love we receive. The essence of this book is really about love, and about how cats love, how we love cats, how we earn love and lose it, how we work at it every day, how we try to understand these mostly wild animals who choose to live with us and love us, even when we don't deserve it.

ANYWAY THIS WAS SO GOOD PLEASE IF U LOVE CATS READ IT

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book which is an exploration of cat keeping in the 21st century, exploring issues such as cat health care (new developments in medicine and how to pay for it), dealing with feral cats responsibly while ensuring the gene pool for future diverse and happy healthy kittens, understanding cat behavior, advice on everything from litter boxes and toys to clicker training. The author advocates a model of human and cat interaction that encourages mutual love and respect. He hates excuses for discarding (abandoning or euthanizing) cats, or for not protecting them, and not encouraging them to live full and fulfilled lives.

A good portion of the book explores science and psychology as they illuminate cat and human well being. Throughout he tells the story of falling in love with a tiny black kitten abandoned in rural Montana in the winter. They named her Augusta (an August kitten they calculated). The book followed her life, and afterwards the process the author and his wife go through to find and adopt a different kitten when she was gone. Augusta's story was happy and sad and full of love. The new kitten, Isabel, will benefit from all they have learned.

[William Nist · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love my cats; my cats love me; and this author is a cat man. His insightful and delightful book is an ode to this marvelous animal, who has, to a mutual advantage, decided to live with us in our homes.

I especially was touched by the chapter on loosing your cat to old age or accident As I face one of my cat's senior years (he is 16 now), and can't even bear the thought of losing him; the author shares in his pain when losing his beloved Augusta. The richness of the experience of living with a feline obviously has penetrated the mental landscape of this author, and his response to his cat's passing honors both his beloved and himself.

A fine book worthy of your attention.

[Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bardzo ciekawa książka, napisana z ogromną czułością do kotów. Autor opowiada o różnych badaniach dotyczących kotów, ale ważną częścią książki jest też historia jego kotki Augusty. Na koniec płakałam jak bóbr.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent behavioral overview about cats that also serves as a memoir. Some general essays about cat behavior (and a chapter that reads like it was written by Jackson Galaxy's publicist) are interspersed with stories about the author's cat, Augusta.

The story goes from Augusta's kittenhood to her death. I don't recommend reading a book about the imminent mortality of your beloved pet while you have PMS. I was a crying mess for the last few chapters, which was awkward, since I was listening to the audio book at work.

Other than the tear inducing, soul crushing agony that is the penultimate two chapters of this book, it's an interesting glimpse into the mindset of our furry friends.

[Sarah Ferguson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another book that would have been far better as long-form magazine-type writing. The first half of the book was the only part worth reading, and most of that could have been edited way down.

Also, this made me appreciate my dog even more, as it seems clear cats do not have as much to offer their companions as their canine counterparts. I was really hoping this book would give me some insight/appreciation of cats (one of whom shares my house thanks to being married to a cat lover), but it failed to do so. It is too bad, because I want to see more into that which makes people love cats so much - this was the main reason I picked up the book in the first place.

[Cana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfect summary of all we know about cats up to this point, cushioned by heartfelt stories of the author and his own cat.

This book covers cat behavior, cat genealogy, the study of cats and how it came to be, many scientific studies on cats, the state of feral cat colonies in Rome and the United States, the discourse between cat lovers and wild bird lovers, the best way to go about adopting a cat, the author's thoughts on famous cat behaviorists.... but also some very poetic reflection on cats and how they affect our lives, as well as the importance of recognizing their own sense of self.

I really enjoyed this book and I learned a lot! 🐈

[ambyr · Rating 3 out of 5]

McNamee is at his best when it comes to poetical descriptions of the natural world (and cats, he successfully argues, are part of that natural world). The attempted literature review of science on cats is more hit-or-mission and often feels cherry picked, but fortunately the more personal and descriptive threads are thoroughly interwoven, making for an engaging read.

[Teleseparatist · Rating 3 out of 5]

Porządki na półce, skończyłam książkę, którą miałam rozgrzebaną chyba ponad rok. Niektóre kawałki bardzo dobrze napisane i ciekawe, inne jednak frustrujące, gdy autor kluczy i stosuje uniki.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. Loved the anecdotal accounts from the author, Thomas McNamee, of his own cat Augusta. His personal accounts of his own cat elevated the book from being just an account about studies on feline behaviors, to a touching dedication between a man and his feline companion. This book helped me to better understand my cat and appreciate him for all his complexities. I took for granted the notion that all cats are picky and have weird quirks, but reading this book gave me pause to consider why my cat might be picky about certain things and to reflect on my cat's behaviors. I would highly recommend this book to anyone seeking to learn more about their feline companions.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this very informative and enjoyable to read. I found myself highlighting passages to go back and reread and references to look up later. I do not agree with every single thing the author says about cats, but I learned a lot and appreciate the research that went into this. And as a cat lover and cat owner -- er, staff -- myself, I enjoyed reading about the author's experiences with his own cats.

[James Scheid · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book for anyone who has been loved by and loved a cat. Especially touching were the author's heart felt stories about the life and death of his cat Augusta. As I type this, my cat Twyla is laying on the left outer reaches of my key board. I wouldn't have it any other way. It has been my experience that cats are affectionate, loving beings. This book confirmed that.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

As is the case with many non-fiction books, the book started out strong then completely lost me towards the end. The first three chapters were interesting, in particular the research on kitten socialization and cat communication. I found the next few chapters a lot less insightful, in part because I've already read a lot about the environmental damage caused by feral cats, the risks of outdoor cats, the downsides of hybrid cats, and the other topics in these chapters. I don't disagree with anything the author wrote here, but I didn't learn much from the lengthy discussion in these chapters. The last two chapters were even more anecdotal than previous ones.

The coverage of some topics was extremely limited, and the connection to "the inner life of cats" was tenuous at times. For example, the author's discussion of cat nutrition was brief and biased. While the author claimed early on that many vets are "not well trained in the full spectrum of cats' needs," the author was quick to accept their vet's recommendations of Friskies, dismiss raw feeding as imbalanced (without describing how it can be done properly), and claim that kibble is "perfectly adequate" based on "the latest information" without any citation.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marvelous book getting into cats' ancestry, behavior (plenty on that!), the life cycle of a cat, issues surrounding cats these days such as feral cats, and all illustrated with the woven-in tale of one of the author's cats. I learned a lot that made sense considering what else I've read (such as John Bradshaw's "Cat Sense") and experience with our own 12 year old cat (with us 11 years). Some might find the personal stories intrusive but I think they blend in well. The part about death and grieving of a cat seems most helpful (as someone with a senior cat) and if you're the sensitive type have tissues handy. McNamee is a bit preachy about humans' responsibility to take *good* care of a cat (playing with them, vet visits) but I happen to agree with him. A bit information dense so best read in sections.

Recommended for any "cat person" and excellent for someone who's considering getting a cat but wants to know *everything* first.

[Natasha Thoreson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tender look at cats and some of the latest cat science. Some very interesting insights on cat socialization and end of life care. Will definitely re-read the end of life chapter when my cat gets older as it was sensitive and thoughtful about a difficult subject. I appreciated the author's challenges to existing cat mythology (literature), especially to the idea that we owe cats little more than food. Maybe not so scientific, but the author knows this just as anyone who has loved a cat knows.

[Lu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I completely understand the less-than-five-star ratings.

I'm giving it five because the writing is superb, it gives a lot of information, is engaging and endearing in a way that doesn't annoy me.

It's not a summary of all the recent science.

Wonderful gift if one of your friends recently adopted a cat, especially when it's a kitten, but it's great for experienced cat servants, too.

I listened to the audiobook, which is beautifully performed.

[Momma Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first 2/3 are great. Personal to give life to a lot of science. The last 3rd is sentimental personal.

I loved the first 2/3

Worth the read

[Booksingarden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book on cats - ever! There is a heartwarming story of Thomas and his beloved cat, Annabel. There is a wealth of information on what works with cats and what does not, with excellent scientific backup.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. Some interesting new things I did not know about cats,but mostly a love letter to the author’s cat.