Tiny But Mighty: Kitten Lady's Guide to Saving the Most Vulnerable Felines

by Hannah Shaw

From Kitten Lady, the professional kitten rescuer, humane educator, animal advocate, and owner of the popular Instagram @kittenxlady comes the definitive book on saving the most vulnerable--and adorable--feline newborn kittens.

Hannah Shaw, better known as Kitten Lady, has dedicated her life to saving the tiniest felines, but one doesn't have to be a professional kitten rescuer to change--and save--lives. In Tiny but Mighty, Hannah not only outlines the dangers newborn kittens face and how she combats them, but how you can help every step of the way, from fighting feline overpopulation on the streets to fostering unweaned kittens, from combating illness to combating compassion fatigue, from finding a vet to finding the purrfect forever home. Filled with information on animal welfare, instructional guides, and personal rescue stories of kittens like Chloe, Tidbit, Hank, and Badger--not to mention hundreds of adorable kitten photos--Tiny but Mighty is the must-have kitten book for cat lovers, current-and-future rescuers, foster parents, activists, and advocates.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Cats, Audiobook, Reference, Adult, How To

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 6, 2019

About the author

Hannah Shaw is a kitten rescuer, humane educator, author, and unwavering animal advocate who has dedicated her life to finding innovative ways to protect animals. Her project, Kitten Lady, strives to create global change in the way we perceive and treat the tiniest and most vulnerable felines: orphan kittens.

Kitten Lady provides educational media, training resources, and instructional workshops and consulting services that help individuals and animal shelters learn how to save the lives of kittens--in a fun and engaging format.

Shaw is the author of the upcoming book Tiny But Mighty (Penguin Random House, 2019) and the upcoming children’s book Kitten Lady’s Big Book of Little Kittens (Simon and Schuster, 2019.) She has been featured as a guest expert on Animal Planet's My Cat From Hell, and her work has been profiled in People Magazine, Cosmopolitan, and other media outlets around the world. Shaw was awarded the 2017 Advocate of the Year award by CatCon Worldwide and the 2018 Advocacy Award by Kitten Rescue LA. She was named one San Diego City Beat’s “People of the Year” for 2018.

Reviews

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is written by kitten advocate Hannah Shaw, who really knows her stuff. It’s all laid out in this book for anyone interested in just learning about it or wanting to get into it totally. She’s so enthusiastic about saving the most vulnerable of rescue animals that it seems to rub off on some of those she comes into contact with. Along with being an advocate and a rescuer, she also educates others and founded a 501(c)3 charity called Orphan Kitten Club that provides rescue and adoption services for orphaned kittens in her area (San Diego.)

Her book is packed with information about animal welfare, instructional guides; tells where kittens are coming from that are ending up in the shelters and mostly being euthanized because of the lack of resources and facilities to care for their specialized needs. It also explains why they have such low chances of making it if removed and taken to your average shelter. The book is also filled with hundreds of adorable photos of kittens taken by Hannah’s partner, pro cat/kitten photographer Andrew Marttila. I fell in love with every one of the pics, starting from the very first, and I only fell harder as they went on.

Hannah shared how she got into becoming a kitten rescuer, her learning curve, and different situations she found herself in along the way. She even gave cute names to all of her rescues, based on the situation usually. As she got better, she wanted to try and branch out to help save even more kittens by getting more people doing what she was doing. and eventually reached out to offer info, getting more and more people involved, and sharing what she’d learned. There is everything from how to trap an outdoor cat/kitten to bottle feeding a young kitten, to how fast cats reproduce (avg. gestation 63 days; avg. litter is 5; can get pregnant as young as 4 months old) wow.

I liked this book a great deal. I was very impressed by the thoroughness of the author’s coverage of the topic albeit in a friendly, informative way that makes you interested in reading more. I learned so much about the subject that I never would have known otherwise, and I thought I knew a bit about rescues. This one aspect (kittens) was very eye-opening at how different it has to be handled, or risk a negative outcome. The book really is needed so the information can get out there and get more people involved in this serious issue.

I’m an animal lover, last month for my birthday when I renewed my tag, I got a special animal sterilization tag that my state has to show my feelings. I’d recommend this book for animal/cat/kitten lovers interested in learning more about saving kittens and/or about how they can help to cut down on the unwanted cat/kitten population which helps open up resources for other animals in need. And don’t forget all of those great kitten pictures. It’s well worth checking out the book just for those. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Hannah Shaw, and the publisher.

My full BookZone blog review:
https://wordpress.com/post/bookblog20...

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there was ever a book guaranteed to “meow” you, it is TINY BUT MIGHTY! How can one not fall in love with these darling fur balls — and with the kindhearted author too?

My goodness gracious does this precious book get to me! The author, a professional kitten rescuer, animal advocate, humane educator, and popular Instagrammer @kittenxlady, has written THE manual on saving newborn kitties. She draws upon her work as founder of Orphan Kitten Club, a 501(c)3 charitable organization that provides rescue and adoption services to orphaned kittens in the San Diego area.

Shaw shows the threats to the lives of the most vulnerable felines, how to prevent overpopulation through spaying and neutering, how to deal with illness including finding the right vet, and how to ensure these tiniest lives find the best homes.

And she’ll woo you with personal rescue stories of kittens like Badger, Tidbit, Chloe, and Hank, with hundreds of the most heart-tugging kitten pics ever.

Anything less than a 5/5 would be a cat-astrophe, indeed this sweet book is purr-fect, so happily, enthusiastically, 5/5 it is!

Pub Date 06 Aug 2019.

Thanks to Hannah Shaw, PENGUIN GROUP Dutton, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#TinyButMighty #NetGalley

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will admit, reading non-fiction books are normally not in my wheelhouse, but when the subject matter is about kittens, my heart tends to turn to jelly.
This book, written by Hannah Shaw, AKA Kitten Lady, is a concise guide to caring for orphaned neo-natal kittens from birth up to 8 weeks old. The book covers everything you'd need to know from bottle feeding and cleaning up kittens to how to successfully prepare these kittens for their forever homes in adoption. "Goodbye is the goal."
She even includes about how to successfully TNR (Trap-Neuter-Release) a community cat colony to ensure that the cycle of orphaned kittens ends.

Along the way, Hannah interweaves stories from her own experiences with the various kittens over the years, including her own cats, Coco and Eloise. My most favorite story of all was of Chloe, the kitten with the paralyzed hind legs.

Great read!!

#Netgalley #tinybutmighty #kittenlady #partner

[Peacegal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a follower of “Kitten Lady” Hannah Shaw on YouTube, so I was excited about the release of her book. I am delighted to report that TINY BUT MIGHTY is an intelligent, in-depth guide to saving kittens’ lives, rather than just the shallow cash-ins that have become commonplace for many Internet personalities.

With a focus on foster care, TBM gives you a wealth of information about the growth, development, and care of neonatal kittens, from feeding to health problems to finding loving, appropriate homes. (It does not, however, offer advice on handling family members who may not be so enthusiastic about your cat rescuing adventures.) If you are, or are thinking about, caring for unweaned kittens, this is your book. For those for whom fostering just isn’t an option, there’s also plenty of advice on ways you can advocate for felines in your everyday life.

Which brings me to TBM’s section on animal shelters and the state of feline welfare in the US. One of the best videos Kitten Lady has created, in my view, is titled Why I Support “Kill Shelters”. With social media crusaders and even nationwide groups pushing the narrative that limited-admission (“no kill”) shelters are always fantastic and the only model that should exist and open-admission shelters are nothing but pet slaughterhouses that should all be shuttered immediately, Hannah Shaw’s insights on the matter are both brave and important.

Open-admission municipal shelters are obligated to accept every animal who comes through their door—from those who are healthy and adoptable to those who are sick, injured, feral or even dangerous. If every shelter in a community adopts the limited-admission model, the most needy and desperate animals can end up in the garbage can, sometimes literally.

Limited-admission private shelters have the ability to be choosier, and only accept the animals they can handle without normally having to worry about euthanasia. (A coworker told me about a local no-kill rescue that would pass on accepting kittens with less-popular coat colors because they have too much trouble adopting them out.) They can also spend more time working with individual animals and can help them blossom in lower-key, less stressful environments.

Both open- and limited- admission shelters are essential pieces of the puzzle in saving pets’ lives in a community, so it’s high time for them to stop sniping at each other. Shaw writes:

Understanding this core difference between open-admission and limited-admission shelter models is critical to understanding the killing of cats and kittens in shelters. … Open-admission shelters are critical because without them, many animals are left without anywhere to go. Limited-admission shelters are essential, too, as they can take in overflow animals from the municipal shelters and have the flexibility to choose which populations they want to focus on.

Neither model is perfect, of course. There are “no kill” rescues that become “slow kill” hoarders. There are open-door municipal shelters that don’t utilize the resources available to them or advocate for policies that would reduce the number of homeless pets in the first place. But overall, Shaw writes of shelter workers,

It takes a bold, loving, selfless person to stand at the center of the storm, doing triage. … With this understanding, we can start to see that killing is not a shelter problem; it’s a community problem with a community solution. It’s the responsibility of the shelter to create these policies and programs, but it’s ultimately the responsibility of the public to participate in them. When kittens are coming through the doors in boxes and buckets, their fate is not in the hands of the shelter employee; it’s in our hands.

Many people don’t realize that no community can be “no kill” until an estimated 70% of the cats and dogs in the region are spayed or neutered. When that happens, the number of new pets being born each year will be equal to the number of homes open to accepting them. You can send as many angry tweets as you wish to animal shelters, but if you’re not doing anything to promote and support spay/neuter accessibility, you’re not being part of the solution. Shaw writes,

Just like an overstuffed belly can’t accommodate another slice of pizza, an overpopulated community can’t save more kittens than it has the capacity to help. Whether we’re talking full stomachs or full shelters—full is full. I love kittens, but we certainly don’t need more of them! That’s why one of the primary ways save kittens is to actively prevent more of them from being born. When we decrease the number of kittens being born, each year we get closer to a day when every kitten has a safe place to thrive.

Shaw includes many personal stories in TBM. One of the most affecting for me had her driving through the countryside and seeing a sign propped against a mailbox advertising “Free Kittens.” She stopped to speak to the homeowner and discovered that her cats would have litters multiple times per year; each time this happened, she’d put out the sign, although it broke her heart to do so. She cared about her cats, but did not have the means to have them spayed. Writes Shaw,

She wasn’t a bad person; she was just living on a low income in a very rural area, and didn’t have access to the resources that would help her be a better advocate for the cats in her life. In these situations, it’s easy to judge, but it’s more impactful to have a conversation and provide support. There is nothing effective about lecturing someone who doesn’t have the resources of the knowledge to do better.

Advocates for any cause are very good at judging, but we’re not always as good at listening, are we? When Shaw offered to take the giveaway kittens into her foster program and arrange and pay for the adult cats to be spayed, the woman was overjoyed. Think about how differently this would have turned out for both the cats and the owner had she just stopped, gave the woman an angry lecture, and driven away!

Many people now realize and accept that spay/neuter is the right thing to do, but there’s a big gap in accessibility. Not everyone can transport their cat to a vet, and not everyone can afford a surgery that might cost an entire week’s pay. That’s why low-cost spay/neuter clinics are so essential. Here’s a database to locate low-cost spay/neuter by zip code. Do what you can to make other people in your area aware of these services. Offer to transport the pet of a person who doesn’t have access to a vehicle. And of course, donate to keep these clinics up and running.

A vitally important, yet chronically overlooked, topic in the animal welfare community is addressed in the chapter titled “Taking care of yourself so you can take care of them.” Being an animal-aware person isn’t all sweetness and light; it’s often intensely painful. Shaw talks bravely about her own experiences with sadness, anxiety, and nightmares. She’s been there and she gets it. She’s a strong advocate for self-care and offers a helpful checklist of productive ways to de-stress for caregivers and advocates. (She even includes instructions to make a cute kitten craft.) I feel that Information like this about burnout and mental wellness should be included in every animal rescue/advocacy book.

While it’s understandable that stress and sadness can create unpleasant people, Shaw also calls out the misanthropy and rudeness that has unfortunately become a troubling undercurrent in the animal movement. Hearts aren’t inspired and animals’ lives aren’t saved by acting like a jerk. Pro tip: Take care of yourself before you wind up becoming “that” person.

TINY BUT MIGHTY is an essential book that fills an important need in popular animal care and welfare literature. It would make a wonderful gift for the cat lover in your life, or resource for a shelter or rescue agency. Make sure to request that your local public library purchase it; TBM has the potential to save many little lives in your community.

[Kris Sellgren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent comprehensive guide to fostering or raising kittens. There are chapters on each week of life for kittens: what they can sense and eat, what a healthy kitten should be able to do, and what are signs of trouble. There are lists of what you will need to raise kittens. The author goes into detail about how to save newborn (neonatal) kittens if they have been separated from their mother. There are chapters on the diseases that kittens are prone to, what over the counter help you can use, and when you should take a sick kitten right to the vet. The book itself is adorable, full of photos of kittens of all ages. Most photos have a story attached of how the kitten was rescued, often with before and after pictures (sick to well, tiny to full grown). The author is an ardent advocate of trap-neuter-release and neonatal kitten foster care, particularly because “rescued” kittens taken too young from a feral mother will be usually be euthanized by a shelter. But this book is also for someone who is fostering or raising a cat and her kittens for the first time, as well as someone dedicated to animal rescue. I highly recommend this informative book.

[Madison Springhetti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This summer I fostered my very first momma cat and her litter of kittens. Even though the babies were not orphaned and mom was an incredible caregiver, she had a BIG litter…9 to be exact. This book immediately became my bible. I read every page before the kittens were born and have referenced it every single day for the past 6 weeks. Not only is this book a trove of information, Hannah also includes the most darling photos and endearing anecdotes throughout.

I’ve followed The Kitten Lady online for years, which is why I had the dream to foster in the first place. Between this book and her YouTube channel, I felt confident in my ability to give this momma cat the best home and care, and help give her kittens the best start to life.

[Dorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tiny But Mighty
by Hannah Shaw
2019
Plume
5.0 / 5.0

A must have for anyone interested in fostering kittens, this is the most complete and easy to follow guide for raising and nurturing happy, and healthy kittens- from neonates to adoption. Step by step guides for every age and stage of growth and development and what to expect for care, feeding, cleaning needs of the kitten. There is extensive information on health issues, how to deal with them, and when it's best to see a vet.

A happy healthy kitten relies on her mother for total care and nurturing, so its important our care of the kitten is as close to what the mother would give. But its also important that the caregiver takes time for themselves, this is why support is so important in fostering. There are excellent ideas and examples to help keep the caregiver positive and motivated, happy and healthy.

Hannah Shaw is such a positive and inspiring woman. Her selfless acts of compassion, kindness and care for those who can not speak for themselves, is a true example to all of us, that every tiny steps we take, can lead to huge changes in another living beings life.
"Tiny but Mighty, to me, encapsulates the essence of the fragile felines potential." p. 6
This book is everything.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable

[Kari Yergin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book when I got my first pregnant foster cat. It was a wealth of information with a ton of adorable kitten, pictures and names and stories included.

[Ren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh, this was all I expected it to be and much, much more! Aside from the plethora of adorable kitten photos, this book is packed with useful information for the new (and not so new) kitten rescuer. I've only fostered one kitten so far and she was about 4 weeks old when she was dropped off at the local shelter and went into foster (now a permanent resident running the house) with me so I don't have experience with bottle babies yet. With this book (along with Shaw's videos) as a resource, I would feel much more comfortable fostering younger kittens in the future. I'll definitely be mentioning this book to the foster coordinator to hopefully share with those volunteering as fosters. The is also very helpful information about TNR (trap neuter release) which is an important part of decreasing the number of kittens in need. Not ready to foster? Shaw includes a list of other ways to help. Shaw has done a wonderful job here of providing the information needed in a caring and yet very honest manner and discusses the harder parts of fostering. Fostering isn't all milk mustaches and tiny purring fuzzballs, but it's all worth it.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I salute Ms Shaw’s efforts. She provided good information, liberally laced with success stories. She presented shelters that euthanize in a fairly neutral way — even encouraged partnering with them as a means to help more young kittens.

I believe she’s wearing rose-colored glasses with respect to TNR programs. Or, at least she focuses on very narrowly defined communities when she uses the label “successful.” I put more faith in the reports that acknowledge TNR works if the population is closed, all fully TNR’d, and not widely dispersed. Hard to achieve those conditions in real life.

My biggest beef is her portraying community cats as happy and secure and better off running free. I’ve read studies indicating that cats living in a street situation have a life expectancy of 2-3 years. They most often succumb to disease or injury.

As a guide for rescuing neonates, I enjoyed learning from her experience. But understanding the sadder side of rescue, I’m afraid she will leave would-be rescuers with unrealistically high expectations.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

After finding an abandoned, two week old kitten under my porch this past March, I can without a doubt say that Hannah Shaw’s resources have been life-saving....literally. This book has been so helpful to read during the fostering experience as the kitten has grown. Her YouTube videos have been especially helpful too. If anyone is thinking about fostering neonatal kittens....look into her resources!!! They are the best out there! Our little guy, Max, sure is doing well, and we are lucky to have found Hannah’s resources!! 😺

[Eryx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book, so well written and such an enjoyable read. Very informative, goes into detail about how to care for kittens, but also covers topics about cat rescue in general and self care. Recommend for anyone interested in cat rescue or who wants to learn new things!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

BRB trying to figure out how to fit a kitten nursery in my shoebox apartment.

[Jeimy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hannah Shaw makes her knowledge and advocacy available to all!

[Vicki Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you foster kittens (like me), this is your Bible. Invaluable resource.

[Danielle Mintzlaff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it helps me realize why I volunteer.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breaking down by the CAWPILE system*, for clarity and organization.

Credibility/Research: 10, filled with (referenced) information that's presented comprehensively; it somehow never feels overwhelming, but continually educational.

Authenticity: 10, the first book I've ever seen that covers the current state of kitten welfare in the US, how to foster kittens (and other ways to help!), a light guide to common kitten ailments, tips on feeding and socializing, and challenges us to change our vocabulary as part of the solution.

Writing: 10, a unique voice that blends aspirational messaging with education, and storytelling tidbits (also fantastic photographs); I really appreciated the hope woven throughout the entire book.

Personal Impact: 10, in the days I read this book, I couldn't stop thinking about fostering kittens. I'd already made the decision to do so, but this book helped me clarify what kind of fostering I want to do, and eased my nervousness about being so new to it. I even purchased a bunch of supplies (not that I needed to; the shelter provides stuff), so I'd be extra ready.

Intrigue: 8, the density of the information meant I did need to spend a few days *not* reading it, to make sure I was digesting everything. It was a little odd- I'd read a chapter, be inspired, make a bunch of notes, and then set it down for 24 hours.

Logic/Informativeness: 10, every time information in this book prompted a question, Hannah would be answering that question in the following pages. It was all the info I didn't know I needed about fostering, presented in a way that's inspiring and arms me to be the best kitten foster I can be.

Enjoyment: 10, I didn't expect to be as comprehensive as it was. Hannah Shaw is a great writer- her tone, her pacing, her organization of information was all right up my alley.

[Laura Razo · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible book. I recommend it highly to anyone who is interested in learning about what they can do to help the kittens! My favorite quote regarding love and letting go of a foster baby when it is time, "...love isn't about ownership; it's about meeting others exactly where they are. Love is about recognizing an opportunity to improve a life or prevent suffering, and seizing it. Love is about allowing yourself to see and accept others for who they are: their beauty, their pain, their potential. Love isn't just a noun; it's a verb. It's an action.

Thank you so much Hannah for this book and the immeasurable amount of work you've done! I can't explain how much it means to have you to look up to and remind me that yes, some parts of what we do as rescuers is hard, but we are not alone!

[Patrice Caldwell]

i thought i was going to get into fostering so i got this book. i raised my now 4yo cats since they were 8 weeks old. starting following a bunch of foster accounts. was like, i have the space i can do this. got a 4 week old little singleton black kitty. got a bunch of supplies. felt totally out of my depth bc turns out a 4 week old is quite a bit different from an 8 week old kitten. i was so stressed. this book helped a lot. from everything from flea baths (she had so many) to feeding gruel. and in typical adhd fashion, i did not actually become a foster. i adopted her. i abandoned that plan of fostering more cats as ai realized im terrible at the goodbye part and 3 cats is enough. but i do recommend this book

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always knew that someday when I have the room I want to foster kittens and cats. What I didn't have was all the know-how. But this book has everything! It's inspirational and super informative. It walks through each step of fostering, kitten needs by age/illness, and even gives people who can't foster ideas for how to improve kittens' lives.

No more talk of crazy cat ladies like it's something to be ashamed of; we're advocating for social justice and the compassionate work that goes into caring for the most vulnerable cat population.

[Michaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a powerful and inspiring book. After helping my aunt with two foster kittens, I wanted to learn as much as I could about the little guys. The Kitten Lady is so knowledgeable and the book is so so helpful for people starting out fostering and just learning how to be more mindful of kittens’ lives. The whole purpose of her mission is to make a difference, and I’m so glad that this book has and will inspire others to help in making that difference.

Catch me bringing home every kitten I find now and (hopefully!) fostering lots and lots of kittens.

[Stacia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up because I very very very badly want a kitten. I had heard of the Kitten Lady, so I assumed the advice would be good, and it is! It's very thorough. I think it's the kind of thing you hold on to, to refer to, rather than something you read through once. (I expected it to be more of a guide, and was not emotionally prepared for it to be a call to action to help neonatal kittens shelters can't care for. Woof.)

[Abigail Prater · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is truly your A to Z, all encompassing guide to fostering kittens (or cats). Hannah Shaw is an expert, and this book has helped me throughout years of fostering felines. I highly recommend that anyone who is interested in fostering OR beginning their fostering journey should purchase this book as a handy resource!

I bought it a few years ago and I’m finally sitting down today to finish highlighting, annotating, and summarizing my thoughts.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purrfect guidebook

This was such an informative and empowering guide on how to foster kitties. I’ve been wanting to try fostering ever since volunteering at my local animal shelter but have been terrified to take the leap. After reading this, I’m so motivated to actually ACT on this intention and I have a feeling this book is going to be a bible for me. So much valuable information! 😺

[Sneha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah Shaw (aka The Kitten Lady) is one of my heroes!
I've been watching her videos on YouTube for years, and she does such an amazing job educating people and saving those tiny neonatal kittens.
Tiny But Mighty is a great resource for people who are already fostering or are curious about fostering.
Keep being awesome, Hannah!

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good and kind and practical book <33

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this, an awesome primer. Would really love to have it in spiral bound!

[Sharilyn Parr · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first saw this book, I thought I’d skim through it and look at the cute pictures and that would be about it. Once I dug in just a bit, though, I was completely hooked and couldn’t put it down. Hannah Shaw writes in a way that makes the detailed information (and there is plenty of it) slide right down with a large dose of fun stories. She gets very complicated issues across in a way that makes sense.

The book is professional. It covers lots of very practical and detailed information. I especially liked the week by week descriptions of kittens’ developmental stages and and how you can tell a kitten’s age based on various factors. She also provides excellent descriptions of kitten illnesses and gives advice about what to do in many situations. Her special focus is advocating for the tiniest kitties (under 8 weeks) that often don’t have a chance. She brings attention to the importance of good foster programs in saving these tiny babies.

She looks at the big picture of how we can decrease the over-population of cats, for example with spay-neuter-release, or TNR programs. She also addresses legislative issues and how good data (or lack of it) can make it nearly impossible to understand how badly cats need our support.

She also addresses how to stay positive and hopeful while working with these babies and how to prepare yourself for letting go once the foster assignment is completed. Her chapter entitled Taking Care of Yourself (so you can take care of them) is must reading for regular fosters. She talks about “keeping your fire” and avoiding burnout and compassion fatigue.

The pictures are fun (who knew construction paper crowns could make kittens even cuter?) and do a good job of supporting her writing.

The Kitten Lady has become a media darling (check her out on youtube!), and that’s good news. She speaks with authority, humor, and honesty. She brings attention to the needs of the tiniest kitties and the wonderful people who care about them. As she says: “This book is an invitation for readers to join me on this journey and to add their own pieces to the puzzle... My hope is that you will see yourself in these pages, and feel supported in your own rescue journey... Movements are made up of individuals, and our small individual actions have the power to change everything" (pp. 6-7).

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really inspired me. Not so much to rescue kittens, a task for which, even after reading this book, I feel woefully underprepared. But to make a difference in the world in a way that makes sense for me. The author's story of how she got into kitten rescue was so astonishing and brave. In a nutshell, she saw a kitten in need, tried to help her, and in the process, helped a lot of other kittens and learned a ton along the way. Her philosophy is: act first, figure out the rest later. The story she tells about rescuing a kitten on vacation in Peru is emblematic of this philosophy. I won't spoil it for you, but suffice it to say that she didn't think twice about popping a flea-infested kitten into the hood of her sweatshirt even though she was thousands of miles from home in a foreign country. How many of us have felt moved by compassion to help someone, but then stopped ourselves before taking action because we felt inadequate to help? I can think of so many times in my life when I might have helped another but didn't because I just thought I wouldn't be any good at it. Imagine the kind of world we would live in if everyone lived by Hannah Shaw's example, reaching out to help others and solve problems without questioning whether they were the right person for the job. It's a beautiful thought.

And, of course, I did learn a lot about cats and kittens, which I appreciated as a mom of two cats. Looking back, there were a lot of things I would have done differently knowing what I now know about kittens. I had always hesitated about adopting rescue cats (even though I have an adopted rescue dog, who I adore!) because I'd had some bad experiences with cats having feral behaviors. But now that I know how to appropriately socialize a kitten, and that well-socialized kittens make fantastic companions no matter where they come from, I wouldn't hesitate to adopt a rescue kitten now. I also know how to be more aware of the health issues that cats may have, and the importance of giving them regular vet care even if they're indoor cats since cats, stoic as they are, often hide their symptoms.

But the best part of the book was hearing Hannah's stories about the cats and kittens that she rescued. At times the book felt a little slow when the author was discussing the intricacies of kitten care, but there were plenty of fun anecdotes sprinkled throughout to keep me engaged and entertained.

Also, I "read" this on audiobook, read by the author. And on that note, I have to add that the author did an excellent job narrating her book. Her passion and genuine emotion for the cats and kittens she has rescued really comes through her voice. Her voice is warm and inviting, and listening to her made me feel like I was on the phone with a close friend.