Cat lovers will be enthralled with Caras's insights into the secret of catnip, the wonder of iridescent eyes, and the true meaning of a purr. Filled with charming stories about the felines in his own life, the author helps readers see wild and domestic cats for the remarkable creatures they are. 60 illustrations.

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.

While dogs get more credit, cats have perennially proven themselves to be every bit the equal of their canine brethren as humankind's best friend. Angel Cats, inspired by a contest authors Allen and Linda Anderson ran to find the "Best Angel Cat" story, shows the often extraordinary ways in which these fascinating creatures have responded to human need. Stories feature Paprika, the kitten that may have saved a little Hungarian girl from Russian soldiers; the cat who helped a woman make friends in a hostile workplace; the cats who acted as "pacemakers" for a sleeping woman with undiagnosed heart problems; and many more. Interwoven with the stories are brief meditations as well as fun facts about cats, such as that cats purr at the same frequency that increases bone density and strengthens and heals fractures. An "Ask Cuddles" section answers frequently asked questions about the fabulous feline.

"Kittens!" is as cute and cuddly as can be, with the most beautiful art and quotes. (It is the first time Exley has covered this popular theme.

While the many extraordinary exploits of the seafarers who mapped the world have been well documented, those of their indispensable pest controllers, shipmates, and mascots haven't - until now. In SEAFURRERS, Bart the seafaring feline provides us with a cat's-eye view of maritime history - starting in the Fertile Crescent and Nile Valley and ultimately hopping aboard the ships that set sail for the New World.



Drawing on letters, journals, newspaper reports, photographs, and more, Bart acts as both curator and commentator, providing 40 tales of SEAFURRERS and their swashbuckling owners, including famous seamen such as Sir Richard Hawkins and John Locke. From the gut-wrenching math behind the damage rats could do on ships to the charming pleasures of chasing flying fish, Bart expertly crafts a portrait of feline life on deck, as well as a deft genealogy of cat-human friendship that is sure to leave readers with a newfound appreciation of the cats who helped us at sea, and whom we now helplessly serve at home in return.
show more