Tammy The Little Cat With A Big Attitude

by Liane Carter

I was snatched from my mum when I was only two weeks old, and what happened next was bigger than any kitten could imagine.
"A gently witty and charming story which draws the reader in from the word 'go' to a truly entrancing feline perspective on human well-intentioned but frequently misguided behaviour when taking on a new pet." Mary Ashton, retired veterinary surgeon
"A heart-warming story that really has unique perspective on the ever-important animal-human bond (and how our pets really feel about us)." Sommer Pari, licensed veterinary technician

118 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 28, 2018

Reviews

[LAWonder10 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is listed as Adult non-fiction, I have chosen to include it in Middle Grade and YA.
This tale begins with a sixteen year old girl who has finally persuaded her mother to allow her to have a kitten for he Birthday present. What appears to be hopeless is obtained with slim hope the kitten will survive.
This is a very entertaining true to life experience of the relationship between a girl and a cantankerous cat, over the space of many years.
It will be difficult for any reader, whether a cat lover or not, to resist this love story!
**The story is presented from the girl's dramatic portrayal of this actual event, and from what she perceived the kitten would say if she could verbalize it... After all, actions speaks louder than words, especially in this case!
There was a continual, steady "flow' to the story and it was easy to follow.
The only negative I found was toward the end it got slightly "wordy" and the ending could have had more strength to it.
**This is highly recommended for all readers twelve-years-of-age and older.
I offer a Four and a Half Stars rating
*This book was gifted me with no pressure for a positive review. This is my honest review.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a cat lover like I am, you absolutely have to read this book. Over the years I have had several cats and could recognize each of them in this book. The story is told with the alternating perspectives of Liane and Tammy.

With great reluctance from her mother, 16-year-old Liane adopted Tammy, a tiny little white and black ball of fur. From the very beginning Tammy let it be known that she did things when and how she wanted. She was terrified of everything and would not trust these “giants”. Weeks went by before Tammy would finally come out into the open. (This part reminded me so much of one of my current cats.) Then bit by bit Tammy began to come out of hiding.

I could completely relate to her stories. Every cat owner has been ignored by the cat: Touching Tammy’s toy would result in being glared at and then “…turning her back on the person for 15 minutes, checking over her shoulder periodically to ensure the person was suffering from the slight.” (I bet you are all nodding and chuckling now.)

I laughed at Tammy’s antics and pranks. Tammy’s view of bathrooms: “This was also the only room they washed in. They liked to use water WAY more than tongues to get clean!” Cat flaps: “…She curled her chin to her chest, spread her forearms wide to either side of the cat flap against the door like a fur kite, and refused to be eased through.” One of my previous cats did exactly that! Oh, how I laughed.

My heart swelled with love. Liane’s boyfriend, then husband, Lee loved Tammy even though he was very much allergic to cats. He said that “It was an honour to have this cat love you.” Even Liane’s parents fell madly in love with little Tammy. At When Tammy would jump into Liane’s dad’s lap “you’d think the moon had jumped down and kissed him.”

I cried, I sobbed. “Leaving Tammy behind felt like I’d been ripped in half. … To leave her behind felt like leaving part of my body behind…All I could hear was my heart crying.”
Liane never lost sight of the love and joy her little fur-ball brought into her life.

The book covers the approximately 16 years that Liane and Lee were blessed with Tammy. That last chapter will rip your heart out. I have been there. I bawled. Liane’s last moments with Tammy were so heart-wrenching. “I wanted to thank her for all she’d given me.” “Whatever I thought I gave her, she gave me a thousand times more.”

Liane’s writing is exquisite. She reaches into her heart to share her raw emotions, emotions that we can relate to, that we have probably felt ourselves.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tammy The Little Cat With A Big Attitude is a cute little story by Liane Carter. I loved this fun story about a teenage girl who adopts a kitten. A kitten named Tammy that wounds up with a big attitude. When I was a teenager, I adopted a cat with the same attitude and personality. So, I definitely could relate to their relationship. They made me think back of fond memories of my sweet baby girl who has long passed.
Tammy The Little Cat With A Big Attitude is a quite delightful, sweet, funny and quick read. I could not help to laugh at some of the scenes. And seeing the perspective from a cat could be very hilarious, as well. I wanted to keep reading to see what would happen next. In addition, to the laughter, I did find myself needing some tissues and have a good cry.
I believe any cat lover and owner would relate to Tammy The Little Cat With A Big Attitude. Especially, if they want to get inside a cat's mind to find out what they are thinking. Oh how fun! This is one of those books that warms a reader's heart, make them smile, feel the joy and love, as well as, heartache and pain. This is a kind of book that I personally could not put down and was sad to see it end. I had it read in one sitting.
I highly recommend Tammy The Little Cat With A Big Attitude a well deserved five stars. I loved it!
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

[Angela Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cat lovers will love reading "Tammy's" perspective. I think all true cat lovers (and even pet lovers in general) assign very human characteristics to their pets. At some point, I think most of us have imagined just what our cat or dog may be thinking or feeling in various situations. The author tells a wonderful story as she switches perspective from her own memories to those same memories as "written" by Tammy the Cat. Tammy is very much like our cat Binky--and it was very, very easy to imagine Binky writing much of the story at times!

Tammy the Little Cat with a Big Attitude will Capture readers from the first page. I adored this story. I loved reading the various perspectives--and I loved the way the author illustrated the growing relationships throughout the story. It is just a heartwarming story that readers will love from the first page!

Would I recommend Tammy the Little Cat with a Big Attitude? I think this is an absolute must read for cat lovers! The novel is a clean story that is just fun to read and experience. If you enjoy cats and memoirs--this book should be on your reading list! Cat lovers will relate to so many parts of the story--and will enjoy this book from start to finish!

I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher for use in a blog review. All opinions are my own.

[Jessica Bronder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Liane who convinced her mother to adopt a little two week old kitten that she called Tammy. What follows is the 16 year journey of both of their lives together. Liane writes Tammy’s perspective from what she thinks she would have said in the different situations. If you have had the pleasure of any cat’s company it is easy to see exactly what Tammy “says”.

I loved this story as you follow along as Tammy is scared of the giants and how it takes her a while to start coming out of hiding and her shell. I loved all the antics Tammy got into and know exactly what Liane goes through having grown up on a farm with numerous barn cats, having several cats of my own, and raising several foster babies. Of course the ending breaks your heart but I believe that is the sign of a great pet.

This is an amazing story and one that I recommend for everyone to read. It will appeal to younger kids all the way to adults and cat/pet lovers.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

[Remy G · Rating 4 out of 5]

This realistic fiction novel by Liane Carter relates her experiences with the eponymous feline when she was younger, first finding her as a baby only a few weeks old at a pet shop after she and her family have exhausted other options in seeking a kitten, who, like the author, has her own first-person passages. After initial refusal by her parents to adopt her, Liane takes the kitten home, finding first that she doesn’t care much for car rides. The kitten doesn’t like Liane at first, with familial trouble in coming up for a name before Liane’s mother ultimately settles on Tammy.

Tammy takes her time in getting used to Liane’s home, although she eventually begins eating and using her litter tray, despite being active mostly in the night but not during the day. She is also initially reluctant to play with toys, although she ultimately develops a slight bond with an inanimate plush monkey whose inertia perplexes her. Tammy’s diet soon comes to encompass fish, with her caregivers having trouble weaning her off milk and porridge, and she develops an affinity for being brushed, specifically by Liane’s hairbrush, refusing brushing by one designed for felines.

The kitten also develops a liking for music, and loves the balcony of the flat where her caretakers live, although several reversals happen throughout the story, which ultimately draws to an end, accounting for a poignant tale that is sure to tug at one’s heartstrings. This reviewer should mention that he is part of a family that loves cats, and could thus relate to many of the experiences the author had throughout her novella. There are some stylistic choices with which the reviewer disagrees such as the pace-breaking capitalizations of various words through the text, although cat lovers in particular are sure to enjoy this yarn.

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tammy The Little Cat With A Big Attitude was a well written book that was cute, memorable, and unique. I loved that this book was a memoir told from the perspective of a cat instead of a person.I greatly enjoyed this change of perspective norm as it made the book a worthwhile read. If it had been all written from the human's perspective I most likely would have found it to be boring; instead the author did a great job in using both perspectives throughout the book!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a gem! Heart-warming, funny and told from both the perspectives of Liane and her cat Tammy, I quickly devoured this little unassuming book that reinforced how precious and deep the connection between a pet and its owner can be.

Liane is a kind, animal lover who was thrilled to get a tiny kitten (it was the only one at the pet store) for her 16th birthday. Throughout her teen years and on into adulthood and marriage, Liane takes the reader on a journey of her relationship with her cat Tammy. I have a cat (who looks similar to Tammy) and was able to relate to some of what Liane experienced but Tammy was special and had such a strong personality, doing things that most cats don't do. Some of the tricks she did on unsuspecting visitors had me in stitches. What an amazing little cat!

This memoir alternately told from both perspectives was brilliantly done. Liane's joyous way of embracing life was a breath of fresh air. I liked her instantly and this feeling only grew as I continued reading. Tammy's perspective was insightful and there were moments when I forgot she was a cat! The story flowed smoothly and quickly and was a pleasure to read. It is an endearing book that had me in tears at the end.

Highly recommended for cat lovers, animal lovers and readers of memoirs. It's a story that would appeal to young readers and adult readers alike. Truly a beautiful story.

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much as it was so easy to read!
I read it in one sitting and would love to have met Tammy!

[Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartwarming story of a woman and her cat. It'll make you laugh and probably cry, too. Part of the story is from the cat's perspective.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told through alternating viewpoints, one being the voice of Tammy, the kitten taken prematurely from her mum and offered up in a pet store for five pounds, the other starts as a 16 year old girl, Liane, who Tammy perceives as a giant.
We get to travel along Tammy`s life journey as both she and Liane grow and learn about the world.
Interesting perspective. The author is creative in her thoughts about how Tammy sees the world.
I will warn you that this book does end as do the lives of many of our beloved companions.
Your emotions may get a work out. That does include smiles.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a delight to read! As a cat lover, when I first heard of it I knew I had to jump on and join the blog tour. I was so happy I did.

This is a story about Laine and her cat, Tammy. When adopted at 5 weeks, she was a very small kitten. However, that didn’t stop her from having a huge personality. After getting adjusted to her new home, Tammy flourished. From that point on, the relationship between Tammy and Laine was unbreakable.

This book made me laugh. It made me cry. But most of all, it made me stop and appreciate my two cats, Chloe and Jasper. I began to look at them and wonder what they were thinking, and yes, even began talking to them more than I already did. This book is the perfect gift for anyone who has a cat. Highly recommended.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tammy worked her way into my heart. Her personality shines through in this beautiful story of her life. I laughed out loud so many times and wish I could have met this mighty little being in person. A wonderful tribute and a heartfelt story.

[Lucii Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful, funny and witty read! I LOVE animals and reading about Tammy, her attitude and her queen be’ness, was like a warmth enveloped my heart. Half of her reminds me of my black and white cat called Milly, who died of a double heart attack a few years ago. The constantly wanting attention, playfulness, cuddles and guarding abilities. But not as ferocious as Tammy, I might add. That little kitty had a lot of fight in her.

She seemed like such a sweet cat, with amazing guardians and human parents. And I just loved all her little antics and silent bossiness. Her quirks were hilarious to read about.

This book had me in giggles and at the end, had me in tears. Such a beautiful story from such a talented author.

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute, easy read about a girl and her cat. I liked how it was from both the author and cat's perspectives. The ending is, of course, sad (you know how it ends), but it was a sweet book. I wish our furry, four-legged friends could live forever ❤️