Two new cat books - wowee!

Another cat book, you ask?  Yes!  And not just one, but TWO cat books!  So, for all you dog people out there, please see my blog from Oct.6 (I really do write about other animals...once in a while...)

Most cat people I know wish they could read their feline's mind, or at least be able to translate what "meow, meow" vs. "mowwrrrr" means.  This book may not make you the next Dr. Doolittle, but it might help shed some hair, er, light on what your whiskered, four-legged kids are thinking.  Take a look at The Secret Life of Your Cat: Unlock the Mysteries of Your Pet's Behaviour by Vicky Halls for insider tips on why Mr.Cuddles attacks your legs as you walk by, or why the neighbor's cat, Brutus, comes through your pet door and terrorizes your boys, Pete and Repeat.  You just might learn that cats can be strange creatures, which leads into ----

Cats Are Weird and More Observations by Jeffrey Brown.  This is Mr. Brown's second book of cartoons about cats (the library also has Cat Getting Out of a Bag), and it's just as funny as his first book.  He manages to capture all the quirky cat things that cats do (sudden spaz attacks, licking odd objects like shoes and plastic bags), and each drawing represents something that every cat-o-phile can relate to.  Enjoy!

It's the little things

If you're the kind of person who likes history with a twist, I have a title that will definitely twist the way you think about certain historical events.  Napoleon's Hemorrhoids: And Other Small Events That Changed History offers fascinating food for thought on numerous "what ifs" in, yes, history, but also politics, science, and a whole bunch of other stuff.  For instance, did you know a cat was behind Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin?  No foolin'!  Apparently Mr. Whitney observed a cat clawing at a dead chicken and getting only the feathers.  The proverbial light bulb went off, and he devised a revolving cylinder with nails that pulled the cotton through little, slotted holes.  No wonder cats expect reverence from humans - without them, we might still be wearing grass skirts and coconut shells.  And if Napoleon hadn't suffered from raging hemorrhoids, he might have been able to ride his horse and better survey the Battle of Waterloo.  Defeated by a sore butt - kind of gives new meaning to "ring of fire"...

Every dog has his day

If you've followed this blog for very long, you know what a crazy cat lady I am.  But I have a soft spot for dogs too, and a new book, A Small Furry Prayer: Dog Rescue and the Meaning of Life, is a must read for any animal lover.  It isn't an easy read (as any pet owner knows, the loss of a pet can be devastating), and because it's about rescue dogs, life at the author's sanctuary, Rancho de Chihuahua, isn't all about warm, fuzzy beds and dog treats.  Despite the tragedy of some of his dogs' backgrounds, Steven Kotler manages to lift his spirits, and the reader's, with his descriptions of humanitarianism at its very best.