Cat Found

by Ingrid Lee

A heartwarming tale about the importance of caring for strays. In Billy's small town, stray cats are running wild, and there's growing pressure to get rid of them. The school bullies don't even hesitate to throw rocks at the poor creatures! So when Billy finds a wounded, starving kitten and sneaks her home, he has to be extra-careful to keep her hidden while he nurses her back to health. However precious little Conga is to him, he knows his dad would take her away if he discovered her, safe and warm in Billy's bedroom. Can Billy and his friends confront the cat abusers, convince the town of the importance of caring for abandoned animals, and find a safe haven for strays?

Genres: Fiction, Middle Grade, Cats, Animals, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Contemporary

Paperback

First published August 1, 2010

About the author

Ingrid grew up in East York, and then moved to a northern Toronto suburb. As a young girl, she was very quiet, and she loved to read. She wanted to be like her hero, Madame Curie, so she studied very hard when she wasn't reading.

When she grew up, Ingrid became a teacher. She taught classes and designed curriculum plans for the Board of Education. While she wrote lesson plans and watched her own children grow up, she started writing fiction based on her family and life experiences. Now, her ideas pop upon her suddenly, and she has to scramble "to find a pencil before the ideas evaporate." Ingrid prefers to write about life as it is, nothing perfect but everything unique and special.

Ingrid writes whenever she has a spare moment and lives with her family in Toronto, Canada.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a young readers' book - I was working in the childrens department when I found it. I read it because I love cats and (I peeked) the cat didn't die at the end.
It's a beautifully written story of redemption and second chances - for a young boy's cat of course, but also for the people in his life and even the town in which he lives. Very nicely done.

[Daniele Fusco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libro bellissimo. Lo ho scelto perché parla di storie di gatti, e, più si arriva alla fine, più si vuole sapere come finisce la storia. Per fortuna non muore nessun gatto, anche se il finale è commovente. Consiglio la lettura di questo libro a tutti, anche agli adulti.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent enough book. I think the writing was really good. The characters however...

Great interesting supporting characters that really didn't shine in their 'roles'. I would have loved to have gotten to know them better.

And the father. 100 pages into this book, I was wondering if this would ever have a happy ending, as the only way for that to happen would be for the father and townspeople to come around. Not 5 pages later, the author must have felt that way, too, as some ridiculous thing happened that made Billy's father 'finally see the errors of his ways'. I totally didn't buy that. Book was verging on a 4.5 star for me, and dropped to a solid 3. So many better ways that could have been handled.

[Dayna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cat found was a great book. It's about a 11 year old boy, named Billy.Cat found was written by Ingrid Lee, the author of Dog lost. I recomend this book to cat lovers or even cat haters. Cat found is a book about showing courage and doing what you belive in. Billy finds a lost kitten probably about to die, and takes her home. Billy has to hide the kitten because his parents, especially his dad, hates cats. And more into the book you see a small town has big problems, with stray cats. And now Billy must team up with cat boy and pet store girl to help the stray cats stay alive.

[Avianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a young boy named Billy who has not that great of a life and really wanted company. He found a stray cat near by and then after he finds this cat, incredible things happen! Good and Bad!!!

[Prodowd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. It is a bit upsetting to start with but the humans and cats will get along.

[Leslie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Frankly, I’m surprised Scholastic published this book, then distributed it to the school market. It portrays violence against animals, has young kids playing with guns as well as being encouraged by their parents to learn to shoot them, and adults (and children) always angry at the feral cat population as if that is the most pressing issue in their lives. If there is a lesson for kids to learn from this book, it failed. Cat Found is a children’s book that isn’t suitable for children. As a mom, I wouldn’t let my kids read it. As a reader of lots of middle grade and young adult fiction, it was a struggle to even finish it. In my opinion, the characterization, story line, and writing were all weak.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Billy finds a wounded stray cat and sneaks him into his house, knowing his father would be livid if the cat was found. In addition, there is a fight going on in town to get rid of all the stray cats. Billy joins forces with Salome, a troubled artist, and Paul to save the cats before it's too late.

[starrynight17 · Rating 5 out of 5]

truly a masterpiece... no words to say other than just read it.

[Savannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars



I didn't like the cat killing parts, I almost cried.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

FIRST NOVEL READ IN KOREAN

Didn't get every single word, but I think I got it.

[Samson Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read for young readers.

[Summer Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was expecting a cute cat rescue story. I got a rather gritty and harsh cat rescue story. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it, either. I'd probably rate it a 3.5. Not as "just okay" as a 3, but not a particularly enjoyable read, either. I have mixed feelings.

I DID love the main cat, Conga. She was my favorite character! I would gladly read another Conga story. But if you are especially sensitive to animal abuse and animal death, this is probably NOT the book for you.

I found the town's reaction to the stray cats to be a little over the top. The human characters were not very complex. The animal abuse was graphic and disturbing, especially as this is a children's book. But it was an engaging read overall. The author certainly knows how to draw out a strong emotional reaction!

[Tessa T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bought at a book fair in grade school, I can say this writing stands the test of time. This book is about trust, friendship, and doing what’s right. A go to read for YA readers.

[Sps · Rating 2 out of 5]

review for work:

My library must have passed on Dog Lost, Ingrid Lee’s animals-in-peril book from 2008, and with Cat Found I can see why. Predictable melodrama, tired old stereotypes, and language that veers between cliché and violence all get in the way of what could have been a thoughtful story about the problem of feral cat colonies. Here, a sensitive working-class lad brings home an injured, pregnant cat, risking his brutal, cat-hating father’s wrath. Good-hearted troubled teens assist the lad to care for his cats and other ferals. Meanwhile, evil-hearted working-class fathers ungrammatically plan a cat round-up, seeing it as a rite of passage for their equally brutish sons. When the rescued mama cat saves the cat-hating dad’s life, he has a change of heart and helps the troubled teens stand up to the rifle-toting men, thus bringing him closer to his son. Yawn.

What I did appreciate about this book was its lack of sugar-coating around the violence, disease, and troubles (including giving birth) facing feral cats. Lee brings these things vividly to life—perhaps more fully to life than the intended audience can handle without adult support, as in the stillbirth kitten scene.

Some of the language also made me think that the author doesn't know her child audience very well. Has any child in the last fifty years actually expected 'ructions' (p. 123 in the ARC) when he got home late? Or maybe this is the Canadian equivalent of rural Southern U.S. speech? Not sure. I am sure that this book would be a hard sell to neighborhood kids.

[Pamela Kramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cat Found by Ingrid Lee follows her previous book, Dog Lost (Chicken House, 2008), and has a similar message. There are a lot of misguided people out there who jump on the bandwagon to hate pit bulls, stray or feral cats, or whatever innocent creature is next on hated list.

Cat Found begins with a newpaper article about a woman who was found semiconscious in her home surrounded by at least fifty cats. Most were in terrible condition and eleven dead cats were found in the freezer. Neighbors were appalled and the Animal Services overwhelmed with the influx of cats.

Lee hooks the reader with the sad plight of an abandoned cat. Unused to living outside, she doesn't know how to feed herself. When a vicious boy throws stones at her, cutting one of her paws, she hides. Getting sicker and sicker, she finally runs into Billy, a boy trying to survive his parents' arguments and hostility. Billy's father hates cats, but Billy's kind heart can't let the cat die, so he sneaks her into his bedroom.

Read the rest of the review at: http://www.examiner.com/book-in-natio...

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended for gr. 4-8. There are 2 scenes of cats giving birth, one including a stillborn kitten, and the other giving birth while dying, which could be disturbing to younger children (otherwise I would have said it would be ok for cat-loving third graders).

The story was somewhat predictable with somewhat cliched characters, but young animal lovers will like it. The town's feral cat colony is in danger from gun-toting civilians, and young Billy must fight to save the pregnant stray he has adopted with the help of some misfit older teens.

My paperback copy has a different cover, showing a bedraggled adult cat. I don't think either of the cats fit the description of Billy's Conga, but they do a good job of depicting an uncared-for stray.

[Glenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Billy lives in a town that hates cats, especially stray cats. His gun-loving father hates cats, as do his buddies. The town decides to round up and kill the cats, with a bounty of $5 per cat offered. I found a scene in which a cat was shot very upsetting, but sadly there are some who need to see the consequences of cruelty to animals. My attitudes toward animal cruelty were shaped by classic books such as Beautiful Joe and Black Beauty read at a young age.

The story does have a happy conclusion, thanks to Billy and some cat-loving friends, and his father's transformational experience. The ending may have been wrapped up a little too neatly for the adult reader, but provides a nice ending for the young audience the book is intended for. The book is a 2013 Silver Birch selection.

[Alissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me just start by saying I LOVED the book . I mean Billy saved a stray cat when it was in danger . He didn't care if it was a stary cat with possibly full of diseases that can danger him. All he thought was "I need to save this cat!!" . He cared for that cat so much he didn't care the cost is of saving it . Even if his parents found out he would get into a lot of trouble. He even went to the pet store with $6.00 of his savings to use on the cat. Now that is just being responsible. All I have to say to Ingrid Lee, (Author of "Cat Found" ) is that I love your book. Me as the reader, I loved it so much that I was in the cats place being cared for by Billy. I would totally recommend this book to people that love heroic books and of course people who LOVE cats.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable middle-grade book about kids saving feral cats in a town that is making plans to get rid of the poor creatures. The main character, Billy, is wonderful (I wanted to hug him.) There are many real-life situations depicted, such as cats giving birth, the town meanies being cruel, and even a couple of cats that don't make it. But the ending is heart-warming, and Billy's kindness and compassion towards an abandoned cat that he finds at the beginning of the story make this a great read for kids.

[Heydi Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was heart wrenching.

Honestly, the bad that happened in this book was so bad that the 'resolutions' just weren't enough to mend them. It was like the bad was just glossed over by the next scene. I felt like this book was written in scenes and one scene's actions didn't carry over to the next.

I've wanted to read this book for a long while and now that I have I wish I hadn't.

If you're into animal abuse and murder with no consequences than feel free to read this book, you'll have your fill.

[Danielleacorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was sad but good. I dont want to spoil the book but it was really sad because the town had so many cats they were going to shoot them.It was also sad because a couple of boys went out to an ally and shot a pregnent cat. I think its unfair to kill all the cats for there own purpose`s. They should wait for the cats to get old and die of old ageor send them to diffrent citys. other than that I liked the detail when Billy was discribing the cats. Also I liked how the story never got boring thats why i gave it 4 stars insted of 3 or 5 stars.

[Arianna Largo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book" Cat Found "by Ingrid Lee was a great book.I mean Billy the main character in the story saves a stray cat from the streets and takes it to his home knowing his parents would not approve. Billy uses the $6.00 he has saved up to buy food to take care of the cat. Me as a reader I thought it was a caring act that Billy did because where he lives the people want the stray cats to be removed. Billy did everything he could to make sure the cat had food ,water, shelter etc. Overall I really liked the book. I do recommend it to anyone who loves a book about cats.

[Karen Arendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't think I would ba able to read this book because I thought it would be too sad. So I put it off. But I truly enjoyed the many facets of the story: the discord in Billy's family, the struggle of the feral stray cats in town, the budding friendships between Salome, Luke, and Billy, the struggle of Conga, the cat Billy takes in. Thee are a few passages that made me sit and and say "No!" but they worked perfectly into the story. Recommend for 4th grade and up.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was alright. It was a little bit boring in the begging but it started to get better as I read farther in. It was really sad though. I didn't like that the whole town hated cats and wanted to get rid of them all. I liked the characters too. My favourite was Billy. He was my favourite because he was really kind. He took a stray cat and nursed it back the health he also tried to save the stray cats from being hurt by the town. Cat Found was a sad and good book.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cat Found was an adventurous maze of cats, kitties and felines. It is realistic fiction, so realistic you feel like you were the on who found the injured stray in a town that hated cats. The main character, Billy Reddick, does exactly so, but it is dangerous to hide a cat in the same apartment as Walter Reddick, a cat hater. It was hard enough hiding an injured stray and buying food and litter for it, but then Billy discovers she's pregnant! if you find this interesting, I suggest this book.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I can't really relate to this book but the author made Billy's emotions and feelings so understandable that I could understand how he fells and why. I can imagine that I am in his position and I think I would have done the same. I liked this book because I thought it was really nice even though it was kind of easy to read. I would recomend this book to any one who Likes animals and likes books with lots of emotions.

[Uηkη๏ωη · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, Cat Found is quite the storyteller. It isn't an all-time favourite, although I enjoyed reading it. Billy, the main character who found the cat he later named Conga proves to have an interesting life. Protecting a kitten from harm and even his father as he nurses her. Everyone starts pitching into trying to get rid of the stray cats because of the government offering money for each cat.


Everybody counts, even the strays.

[Vicki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though kids might find this book compelling, and the concept is a good one, I can only give it a 2 because it is written in such a sensationalistic way and the characters are all so one dimensional. Much like its prequel "Dog Lost". The message about giving a darn for feral cats and stray dogs is an important one, however, one that most kids already get.

[Lucas Lucky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was a good book. At the beginning it was a little sad of how they threw the cat away, but it got better and i though it wasnt even boring at the start! i liked how Luke helped and Billy was able to keep the cat without his dad noticing. this book was a really good book in my opinion!