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Bad
Bat Cat: 244 Not-So-Pretty Kitties and Cats Gone Bad
Not since Kliban has there been a cat book this edgy. Edgy as in Bosco, the demonic Siamese with the out-of-focus eyes, razor-sharp fangs, and his own idea of Feng Shui. Or the half-shaved freak named Mr. Fliegel, who looks like a cross between a poodle and a lion. Mr. Fliegel shrugs and says, "Chicks dig me." Or Kato, resplendent in his Three Musketeers outfit: "One for all, blah blah blah . . . now just get me out of this @#%&ing costume!" Or Clark, whose hobby is eating other cats' food. Tina, who somehow always just misses the litter box . . . sucker. And the guilty-looking Clarence, caught with a Barbie doll in flagrante delicto. Clarence's defiant defense: "She was naked when I came in. . . ."
Just as Kliban got us to think about the cat as something far more interesting than an innocuous house pet, and Suzy Becker taught us that cats possess a Buddha-like wisdom (together Cat and All I Need to Know I Learned from My Cat have more than 2.6 million copies in print), Jim Edgar reveals yet another facet of the ever-mesmerizing animal. Brooding, deranged, antisocial, these are kitties with attitude and borderline personality problems--ah, but what hilarious fun it is to read about them. All 244 photographed in terrifying full color in their most unflattering moments, with a quote plus vital stats: name, breed, age, and hobby. Get to know them. Then see if you can ever forget them.
Just as Kliban got us to think about the cat as something far more interesting than an innocuous house pet, and Suzy Becker taught us that cats possess a Buddha-like wisdom (together Cat and All I Need to Know I Learned from My Cat have more than 2.6 million copies in print), Jim Edgar reveals yet another facet of the ever-mesmerizing animal. Brooding, deranged, antisocial, these are kitties with attitude and borderline personality problems--ah, but what hilarious fun it is to read about them. All 244 photographed in terrifying full color in their most unflattering moments, with a quote plus vital stats: name, breed, age, and hobby. Get to know them. Then see if you can ever forget them.
246 pages, Library Binding
First published October 1, 2005
7 people are currently reading
775 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
February 27, 2024
Some photos and captions were slightly amusing, but overall, this was a miss for me. I had hoped for more pics of cats being naughty, getting into things they shouldn't, you know, the stuff that's funny when it happens to someone else. 😁 Instead this is a collection of random photos of cats in costume, in unexpected places, or making unusual faces. It's an okay book, but I've found other collections to be more entertaining.
May 10, 2023
Znalazłam tę książkę po jakichś 15 latach w domu rodzinnym 😆
December 5, 2019
I laughed so hard until I nearly… had an accident oops! Bad Cat is the purrfect pick-me-up read full of real-life kitty cats in some funny and sometimes scary pictures, included with some quotes that really made me smile. Having a down day? Get yourself a copy of this read!
March 13, 2021
The warning on the cover states 'may contain offensive feline material'; readers take note because it does!
It is amazing how the cats within these covers have got into the positions in which they have been photographed. Some of them look demonic, some are getting into all sorts of scrapes, some are dressed up and others just have that disenchanted look on their faces.
All are portrayed with a suitable naughty comment, have their name, age and one of their supposed hobbies! All in all in makes for a good visual read.
It is amazing how the cats within these covers have got into the positions in which they have been photographed. Some of them look demonic, some are getting into all sorts of scrapes, some are dressed up and others just have that disenchanted look on their faces.
All are portrayed with a suitable naughty comment, have their name, age and one of their supposed hobbies! All in all in makes for a good visual read.
June 24, 2019
If you are a cat lover, you have to pick up this book. We had such a good time reading this. It is packed full of cat pics, captions, bad kitties, good kitties and everything catlicious. (Is catlicious a word?)
Well..even if it isn't, this book is catlicious. The one thing all the kitties have in common is that they are all adorable. This would also make a great gift for cat lovers! Meow. Happy cat reading.
Well..even if it isn't, this book is catlicious. The one thing all the kitties have in common is that they are all adorable. This would also make a great gift for cat lovers! Meow. Happy cat reading.
May 4, 2016
Location: Work
It's difficult to describe the things we had floating around the desks, desperate attempts to slow an inevitable descent into job-induced madness; the odd things that ultimately saved a tiny bit of pseudo-sanity. Bad Cat was among the best of those things, making an unholy triad with a couple of wind-up toys: a hopping plastic penis & a spark-spitting nun. When your shift started at 7am and it's now 3am, you're still in cubical-land & the problem might actually be getting worse, well then the strangest things can take on an almost religious significance.
This weird, deranged, snarky, cat-people-totally-believe-this-is-true little book got me through many insane days and nights of freaky computer activities in support of users Not In My Time Zone. I kept it on my desk to pull out when no one had slept, blood had turned to caffeine, and we'd given up understanding why The Bosses thought we needed users since the system was always fine, until those ^@% users touched it. Frequently it got passed around our little wild-haired, wide-eyed, badly dressed team after midnight with each slightly daft coding-thrall flipping to their favorite pages to point and giggle like teens with their first beer before passing it along. My copy has almost every page dog-, um, cat-eared at this point and it's probably a comment on my tragic non-life that I can connect every person to their favorite, and thus marked, cat pic.
If you're fond of cats and snark, get this book. When you read it in desperate moments it can be magic. And it's pretty funny on a slow day, too.
It's difficult to describe the things we had floating around the desks, desperate attempts to slow an inevitable descent into job-induced madness; the odd things that ultimately saved a tiny bit of pseudo-sanity. Bad Cat was among the best of those things, making an unholy triad with a couple of wind-up toys: a hopping plastic penis & a spark-spitting nun. When your shift started at 7am and it's now 3am, you're still in cubical-land & the problem might actually be getting worse, well then the strangest things can take on an almost religious significance.
This weird, deranged, snarky, cat-people-totally-believe-this-is-true little book got me through many insane days and nights of freaky computer activities in support of users Not In My Time Zone. I kept it on my desk to pull out when no one had slept, blood had turned to caffeine, and we'd given up understanding why The Bosses thought we needed users since the system was always fine, until those ^@% users touched it. Frequently it got passed around our little wild-haired, wide-eyed, badly dressed team after midnight with each slightly daft coding-thrall flipping to their favorite pages to point and giggle like teens with their first beer before passing it along. My copy has almost every page dog-, um, cat-eared at this point and it's probably a comment on my tragic non-life that I can connect every person to their favorite, and thus marked, cat pic.
If you're fond of cats and snark, get this book. When you read it in desperate moments it can be magic. And it's pretty funny on a slow day, too.
April 1, 2014
Overall, I enjoyed it. Full of cat pictures, captions and a short Bio about the cat (name, age, hobby) it was a quick, pleasant read. I will admit I wish there were a bit more truly funny pictures (a great deal of them were just mildly amusing - there were quite a few of just the 'dirty looks', 'fangs' and 'cats in costume'). However there were some really great pictures with captions that often made them even better, enough to make me laugh and smile. Some captions were dirty, so not for the overly sensitive reader (or young children).
November 26, 2017
The following review is based off my own opinions, thoughts and reactions. So in other words brace yourself. *There may be inappropriate words such as curse words.* You have been advised in advance.*
I have many mixed feelings about this book. With being a cat mom and lets just face it, an all out crazy cat lady, I'm always excited about a good book that includes cats. However, I didn't feel all the excitement I once did when I first bought this book. Even more so this is about cats and we all know cats do some pretty funny things.
I feel with how the way this was designed (the whole "case file" thing) was poorly executed. I feel that this whole way could have been done entirely different, but I just don't see this format style working too well. It does build of the fact of getting as many pages put into the book and showing as many funny cats as possible, but it's still not a style I would have chosen for this book.
On another note, not all the cat photos were funny. One can assume the author was trying to approach this with a funny aspect, but from my own perspective it was about a 50/50 type of deal. Half of it was funny and then the other half felt like the author was trying to hard or trying to meet a deadline by packing as much content into a book as possible. If you're going to take a book the comedic rout with a slight pinch of seriousness then it shouldn't feel like you're trying to hard or it was a rush job.
One thing I did enjoy about this book is that it's a quick read. A very fast paced book and definitely something you'd want to read if you're looking for a book to help pass the time. I found that when I don't want to overstimulate my mind with a thick book, I look for books that provide something fast and won't cause me to get overly stressed. So this was very easy on the mind and a great time passer.
All in all, this book could have used some more work, but I think it's a decent enough read to take with you to doctor appointments or just lounging around home to help cools the wheels of the mind when you feel to overly stimulated.
I have many mixed feelings about this book. With being a cat mom and lets just face it, an all out crazy cat lady, I'm always excited about a good book that includes cats. However, I didn't feel all the excitement I once did when I first bought this book. Even more so this is about cats and we all know cats do some pretty funny things.
I feel with how the way this was designed (the whole "case file" thing) was poorly executed. I feel that this whole way could have been done entirely different, but I just don't see this format style working too well. It does build of the fact of getting as many pages put into the book and showing as many funny cats as possible, but it's still not a style I would have chosen for this book.
On another note, not all the cat photos were funny. One can assume the author was trying to approach this with a funny aspect, but from my own perspective it was about a 50/50 type of deal. Half of it was funny and then the other half felt like the author was trying to hard or trying to meet a deadline by packing as much content into a book as possible. If you're going to take a book the comedic rout with a slight pinch of seriousness then it shouldn't feel like you're trying to hard or it was a rush job.
One thing I did enjoy about this book is that it's a quick read. A very fast paced book and definitely something you'd want to read if you're looking for a book to help pass the time. I found that when I don't want to overstimulate my mind with a thick book, I look for books that provide something fast and won't cause me to get overly stressed. So this was very easy on the mind and a great time passer.
All in all, this book could have used some more work, but I think it's a decent enough read to take with you to doctor appointments or just lounging around home to help cools the wheels of the mind when you feel to overly stimulated.
March 10, 2023
Re-read 2022
Super cute book that is a quick read. It's great to pick up when you have little time but want to relax with a book.
Re-read 2019
Quick funny read of cats in unusual photos, occasionally dressed in costumes that would cause my 3 cats to plot my demise. Super short and great escapist reading.
Super cute book that is a quick read. It's great to pick up when you have little time but want to relax with a book.
Re-read 2019
Quick funny read of cats in unusual photos, occasionally dressed in costumes that would cause my 3 cats to plot my demise. Super short and great escapist reading.
February 27, 2024
What a disappointment...
I saw this at my local used bookstore and bought it since I am quite the cat lover. The cover has a warning message that the book contains offensive material. To be honest, I did not find the material to be rude nor funny.
I saw this at my local used bookstore and bought it since I am quite the cat lover. The cover has a warning message that the book contains offensive material. To be honest, I did not find the material to be rude nor funny.
March 31, 2010
What a cute volume! A simple premise: photos of cats, a caption, and information on the cat--name, age, hobby.
One illustrative caption: "I told you--nobody wants to hear Billy Joel." The photo is of a cat on a piano's keyboard. Stacey, the cat, is 10 years old and has the hobby of compulsive cleaning around the litter box.
From that one example, it's clear that this will enchant cat people and, perhaps, leave those who are not enthralled by cats somewhat less bewitched!
Another cat, Jerry G, (one year old), is photographed holding on to ceiling lights. The legend? "Don't move baby, I want this lit just right."
A 12 year old cat, Hector, curled up in a skillet: "For my next impression, I'd like to do a Frittata."
I like cats. And I like this tiny book (you can put it in your pocket).
One illustrative caption: "I told you--nobody wants to hear Billy Joel." The photo is of a cat on a piano's keyboard. Stacey, the cat, is 10 years old and has the hobby of compulsive cleaning around the litter box.
From that one example, it's clear that this will enchant cat people and, perhaps, leave those who are not enthralled by cats somewhat less bewitched!
Another cat, Jerry G, (one year old), is photographed holding on to ceiling lights. The legend? "Don't move baby, I want this lit just right."
A 12 year old cat, Hector, curled up in a skillet: "For my next impression, I'd like to do a Frittata."
I like cats. And I like this tiny book (you can put it in your pocket).
May 19, 2010
At my house, I've always got a few stacks of "conversation starter" books sitting around, and this one is on the top of the list. I bought it several years earlier, right after it came out, and had read the whole thing before I even got to the bookstore checkout counter...with tears streaming down my cheeks from laughing so hard. To this day, I never tire of this book. The humor of it has not lessened.
Yes, I'm a sucker for animal humor. Especially when cats are involved. And this book captures so perfectly some of the more humorous, less dignified moments in the lives of these furry felines (well, most are furry). Bad Cat is better than Simon's Cat and LOLCat combined--and that's saying quite a bit.
Yes, I'm a sucker for animal humor. Especially when cats are involved. And this book captures so perfectly some of the more humorous, less dignified moments in the lives of these furry felines (well, most are furry). Bad Cat is better than Simon's Cat and LOLCat combined--and that's saying quite a bit.
June 11, 2009
There were a few really great pictures in here but the majority were kind of blah. I don't know who chose the cover pic and why but there were a few much better ones included inside. I thought so anyway.
It's a quick little book that will have you laughing a few times.
It's a quick little book that will have you laughing a few times.
November 22, 2023
What, you're a cat-lover? Optional. You like funny animal photos, with clever captions? Then you NEED to check out this book. I know I still have a copy, because I saw it recently. Re-read list! And your library likely has it, too. Good silly stuff.
January 18, 2016
Has some very funny pictures and captions. Has a few stupid ones as well. WELL worth the read.
January 28, 2016
Awesome mind-trip through the inner lives of cats. Hundreds of action photos.
May 20, 2024
So cutesy 😻
November 3, 2022
This book is HILARIOUS!
February 4, 2025
Jim Edgar's Bad Cat: 244 Not-So-Pretty Kitties and Cats Gone Bad is the funniest and most creative cat book I've read this year. A simple format- each cat has a page with a quote, name, age, and hobby. Reading it is like being online, looking for a friend or date. My favorite quote: "You're gonna love this place. Everybody is neutered." My favorite hobbies: collecting Fancy Feast labels, catfishing, getting pedicures, yoga, and watching soaps. A perfect gift for cat lovers.
July 21, 2009
The book has 244 full color photographs, each one with a caption, the cat's name, age and hobby (if any). The photographs were done by amateurs and are often times low quality. Many are staged but it's the captions that make the book so funny. There are enough funny photographs to have me laughing out loud every few pages.
Any regular reader of this site will know that I am a cat person. Caligula, my cat for the last eleven years has her rebellious moments and can nap on anything in any position. Bad Cat, the book version of the My Cat Hates Me website celebrates felines at their worst, their least photogenic, their clumsiest and goofiest moments.
The book has 244 full color photographs, each one with a caption, the cat's name, age and hobby (if any). The photographs were done by amateurs and are often times low quality. Many are staged but it's the captions that make the book so funny. There are enough funny photographs to have me laughing out loud every few pages.
Any regular reader of this site will know that I am a cat person. Caligula, my cat for the last eleven years has her rebellious moments and can nap on anything in any position. Bad Cat, the book version of the My Cat Hates Me website celebrates felines at their worst, their least photogenic, their clumsiest and goofiest moments.
The book has 244 full color photographs, each one with a caption, the cat's name, age and hobby (if any). The photographs were done by amateurs and are often times low quality. Many are staged but it's the captions that make the book so funny. There are enough funny photographs to have me laughing out loud every few pages.
December 13, 2007
I honestly don't know if people started uploading pics from this book or this author just published the most popular cat pictures circulating on the web at the time. But I have seen ALL of these pictures online.. several times.
Of course, being a regular voter on kittenwar.com and also look at icanhascheezburger.com daily -- maybe I look at too many cat pictures.
This book would have gotten one star if I didn't already love these pics the first time I saw them. I don't know if I'm upset that the author may have just scooped all these off the net and published them for his fame and fortune. Maybe I'm just jealous that I didn't think of it first.
Of course, being a regular voter on kittenwar.com and also look at icanhascheezburger.com daily -- maybe I look at too many cat pictures.
This book would have gotten one star if I didn't already love these pics the first time I saw them. I don't know if I'm upset that the author may have just scooped all these off the net and published them for his fame and fortune. Maybe I'm just jealous that I didn't think of it first.
January 28, 2009
this book was somewhat disappointing. for the most part, it did not depict 'bad' cats. it was just a bunch of random photos people had captured of their cats and then made clever captions for. don't get me wrong, i love cats and love seeing pictures of them, especially candid ones. but only a handful of people had actually caught their cats 'in the act' of something bad.
August 8, 2009
I'm not really sure how to write a review for this type of book. However, I will say that this is an hilarious book. If you like cats, and realize just how funny they can be sometimes...you should pick this up. Also, it is great "bathroom" reading material. LOL
November 11, 2013
This is a paperback version of those cat pictures that clog up the internet... it isn't high art, or highly amusing... it belongs to what is known as "toilet literature" in our house... Just not sure it was worth the death of a tree.
April 1, 2016
So basically I grabbed this book at the thrift store because cats. I'm a cat person.
But I was rather disappointed. I wanted cute cats, but they're pretty boring/average pictures with captions that were rather hit or miss on the funny scale and mostly didn't match up with the picture very well.
But I was rather disappointed. I wanted cute cats, but they're pretty boring/average pictures with captions that were rather hit or miss on the funny scale and mostly didn't match up with the picture very well.
April 20, 2018
As much as I love "great" authors like Pat Conroy, Kurt Vonnegut, Ray Bradbury, Mark Twain, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez, this is hands down my favorite book of all time. I need another copy because all the pages are falling out.
May 16, 2010
I forgot I had this book. It was ok but not as funny as LOL cats.
June 18, 2012
Cute and fun, but some of the captions are stupid and are lacking in cleverness.
September 15, 2012
Cat pictures are cute, but the captions to them are not amusing. This book was made to cash in on the trend of LOLcats.
November 2, 2012
It's hard to make cat photos unfunny, but somehow this book succeeded in doing just that.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews