I Want a Cat

by Tony Ross

Jessy feels like she is the only girl in the whole world without a pet. She really wants a cat, but there's just one problem—her parents can't stand cats. But Jessy is determined to have one, so she makes herself a fluffy white cat suit and refuses to take it off until her parents buy her a real cat. She even goes to school in her cat suit and eats raw fish under the table! Jessy's parents finally give in, but to their surprise, Jessy seems to have changed her mind about wanting a cat, and has her sights set on something else.

Genres: Picture Books, Cats, Childrens, Animals

30 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Tony Ross is a British illustrator and author of children's picture books. He was a student at the Liverpool School of Art and Design. Ross has had quite a few occupations, such as cartoonist, graphic designer, art director at an advertising agency, senior lecturer in art and head of the illustration course at Manchester Polytechnic.
Ross won the 1986 Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis, picture books category, for Ich komm dich holen!, (I'm coming to get you! - Andersen, 1984. He was runner-up for the 1990 Kate Greenaway Medal from the Library Association, recognising the year's best children's book by a British subject, for Dr. Xargle's book of Earth Tiggers.

Meet the illustrator
What is your favourite animal?
A cat
What is your favourite boy’s name?
Bill
What is your favourite girl’s name?
Roxanne
What is your favourite food?
Lobster
What is your favourite music?
Irish
What is your favourite hobby?
Sailing

Reviews

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Thanks to Anytime Tales (A BBC Cartoon Series) & the late Victoria Wood's Narration that made me Want to Read I Want a Cat!

[Andi Lo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me hizo reír mucho. La verdad me sentí muy identificada ja ja ja

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well… read this with Elle so many years ago and guess what../ Elle has A Cat!!! Casper is the most welcome addition to our family!!🐈‍⬛🩵🐈‍⬛🩵

[Margaret Prempeh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I personally thought the book dragged on, however the children I read this book with loved it. Jessy wants a cat so badly, she ends up sewing her own cat suit and refuses to take it off until her parents buy her a real cat!

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read just becasue it's by Tony Ross. I'm too old to enjoy the book immensely.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave into nostalgia and got this book. I can honestly say it shaped me into the adult I am today ;)

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
Teaching children to whinge until they get what they want probably isn’t the best way to go about things, but this book is cute all the same, with the story and sweet illustrations by Tony Ross.
And I hear you, Jessy! Who wouldn’t want a cat! 🐈‍⬛

[加藤里奈 · Rating 5 out of 5]

とてもかわいらしいお話。なりたいものが変わってしまうこどもらしいお話。

[Rarely on here · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fucking love this book.

[Eris · Rating 4 out of 5]

🤣

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the story but not the style of the illustrations.

[Yujin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t expect the ending haha
I want a cat too!

[ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

yo sería esa

[RosaDG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our protagonist is determined to have a cat and I will do everything possible to get it. Do you think she will get it? Beautiful illustrations with colored pencils.

Gure protagonistak katu bat edukitzeko erabakia du eta nik ahal den guztia egingo dut lortzeko.Uste duzu lortuko duela? Ilustrazio ederrak koloretako arkatzekin.

Nuestra protagonista está empeñada en tener un gato y haré todo lo posible por conseguirlo.¿Crees que lo conseguirá? Bonitas ilustraciones con lápices de colores.

Notre protagoniste est déterminée à avoir un chat et je ferai tout mon possible pour l'obtenir. Pensez-vous qu'elle l'aura ? Belles illustrations aux crayons de couleur.

[Stephenie Oxley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have this very conversation on a regular basis with my son. He really wants a cat! (No chance!) so he really enjoyed the story. He particularly liked the twist at the end, he thought it was very funny.

[Artemis Crescent · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a cute children's book on how to be a spoiled brat. Have fun!

(Illustrations are lovely, too.)

Final Score: 3/5

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute, but really didn't enjoy the message that kids can railroad parents into getting what they want.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um miminho 🐱