The marble cake cat

by Marjorie N. Allen, Carl Allen, Marylin Hafner (Illustrator)

A cat unique for its markings tries to find someone who will care about it as an ordinary cat.

Genres: Picture Books, Cats

47 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely one of the most charming books I've read. And true!

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely book about a distinctive-looking cat who realises that he is treated differently for his markings and wants to find someone who will treat him with love like any other ordinary cat, vs. as a prize or a toy. It's beautifully illustrated, and while the ending is predictable, there really isn't any better ending!

It reminds me a bit of The Glass Menagerie, in that the marble cake cat is like the glass unicorn (in both interpretations I've heard): the unicorn's horn breaks off, and the unicorn becomes "just" an ordinary horse, and
- no longer special, or
- no longer held at arm's length due to being Othered.

Here, the marble cake cat definitely feels Othered and would rather be treated like a "normal" cat, which is why he runs from the ones who wanted to cage and sell him and from the couple who just wanted him to sit on a cushion and look pretty. However, he also runs from the lady who just wanted him to keep her dog company, and from the dog who wanted to treat him as a toy, and from the two kids Pete and Polly who treated him like a baby doll... instead of as a cat.

So of course the happy ending would be to find a home where he is treated as a cat, and loved as a companion. No spoilers, that's just stating the obvious! (If that spoiled you, wow, you ought to read more!)

Absolutely recommended for anyone feeling Othered, but also for cat lovers!

[Dawn Mock · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book of all time. Read this when I was a kid and loved it.

[Paul Hankins]

The cat without a name seeks an opportunity to be appreciated for who he is. Short chapters offer mini "placements" each with its own initial positives which lead the Marble Cake Cat to run away and seek new opportunities. I found this classic 1977 book at a flea market in super condition (no markings at all).

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Marble Cake Cat was a favorite at our home as there were at least 2 messages for our children tucked inside 1) Being different is just fine! 2) Animals should only be adopted for the right reason.

[Megan Simmons · Rating 2 out of 5]

this is a good book to read. i think it is a little bit fun.