Showing posts with label cat book. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cat book. Show all posts

Thursday, July 14, 2016

The True Tails of Baker and Taylor Book Review and Giveaway

The True Tails of Baker and Taylor book cover
When assistant librarian, Jan Louch, and a co-worker discovered mice in the library, they decided it would be a good idea to get a couple of cats.  Within a couple of years, Jan and her co-worker acquired a couple of Scottish Folds for the library and named them Baker and Taylor.  Little did they know at the time, but the cats would become so much more than mousers.

When Jan agreed to a photo shoot of the two cats for a Baker & Taylor poster, the cats became instant celebrities.  Children from across the country wrote to the cats, and fans from all over came to the library to meet them.  The cats ended up becoming the most famous library cats in the world.

In The True Tails of Baker and Taylor: The Library Cats Who Left Their Pawprints on a Small Town...and the World, Jan Louch looks back at the lives of these two celebrity library cats.

I really enjoyed reading about the lives of Baker and Taylor.  These two precious cats had a huge impact on everyone they met from library staff and patrons to fans around the world.  I laughed when reading about the cats' antics and was saddened when tragedy struck.  Yes, tragedy does strike in this book.  As much as we'd all love for our cats to live forever, they don't.  However, the joy in this book far outweighs the cats' passing.

I would highly recommend this book to any cat lover.  It's inspiring to see how many lives Baker and Taylor touched.

Giveaway

ONE of our lucky readers will receive a copy of The True Tails of Baker and Taylor: The Library Cats Who Left Their Pawprints on a Small Town...and the World by Jan Louch.  To enter, please use the Rafflecopter below.  You must be 18+ to enter.  The giveaway is open to residents of the United States.  The winner will be contacted by email and must respond within 48 hours to claim his/her prize.  If no response is received within 48 hours, the winner will forfeit his/her prize, and another winner will be randomly selected. 

Good luck, everyone!



FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of "The True Tails of Baker and Taylor: The Library Cats Who Left Their Pawprints on a Small Town....and the World" by Jan Louch for a fair and honest review.  Receiving the book did not influence my opinions in any way.  All opinions expressed on Fur Everywhere are my own.  

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

A Picture-Purrfect Christmas Review and Giveaway

A Picture-Purrfect Christmas book cover.
When Patricia Fry asked me if I was interested in reviewing her latest Klepto Cat Mystery, A Picture-Purrfect Christmas, I was absolutely thrilled.  I had been meaning to read some of the books in her Klepto Cat Mystery series ever since I reviewed Patricia's book Catscapades: True Cat Tales, but I just hadn't found the time to do so yet.

About the Book: In A Picture-Purrfect Christmas, Savannah Ivey agrees to help teach a photography class to some at-risk kids.  She doesn't expect a disabled girl named Marissa to steal her heart, but that's exactly what happens.  Even Rags, one of Savannah's cats, falls in love with the little girl.  So when Marissa goes missing Savannah feels the heartache of loss.

Detective Craig Sledge suspects that Marissa's unscrupulous non-custodial father is behind her disappearance.  He launches a search for her, but even the police's rescue dogs can't find Marissa.  Detective Sledge turns to Rags in hopes that he will be able to perform a Christmas miracle and locate the missing girl.

My Thoughts: This book is written in a style that's unique - there is a ton of dialogue between the characters, and the fast-paced story begins on the very first page of the book.  I'm used to reading books that set the scene and give more background before jumping into the main storyline.  However, I really enjoyed the way this book was written!  I really like that the main storyline begins right away, and I love how fast-paced the book is.

Even though I hadn't read any of the other Klepto Cat Mystery books, I had no problem getting to know the main characters in the book.  You can definitely read this book as a stand-alone novel.

I loved getting to know Savannah, Rags, and Marissa.  The story really tugged at my heartstrings.  I could hardly put the book down!  I always wanted to read "just one more chapter" before falling asleep.  The book's end is truly heartwarming and wonderful.  It was truly the perfect ending for the story in my opinion.

If you're looking for a wonderful holiday read, I most definitely recommend A Picture-Purrfect Christmas!

Giveaway

Patricia Fry has graciously agreed to allow me to host a giveaway for her wonderful book!  One lucky Fur Everywhere reader will win a copy of A Picture-Purrfect Christmas!  This giveaway is open INTERNALLY!  If you are a U.S. reader and win the giveaway, you can choose either a print or ebook copy of A Picture-Purrfect Christmas, and if you live outside the United States and win, you will receive an ebook copy of the book.  

Please use the Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway.  The winner will be notified by email and must respond within 48 hours to claim his/her prize and provide a mailing address where his/her prize can be shipped (if the winner lives in the U.S. and chooses a print copy).  You must be 18 years old or older to enter.  Void where prohibited.  

Good luck, everyone!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of "A Picture-Purrfect Christmas" by Patricia Fry for a fair and honest review.  Receiving the book did not influence my opinions in any way.  All opinions expressed on Fur Everywhere are my own. 

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

The Best Cat Books I Read in 2015

I've had so many great opportunities to review books this year.  I've even had the chance to work with some of the amazing authors whose books I've reviewed.  If you like to read, I encourage you to check out these fantastic books.

Please note: Not all of these books were published in 2015.  Rather, these are the best cat books I've read this year.

Think Like a Cat book cover image.
Think Like a Cat: How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat - Not a Sour Puss: Think Like a Cat by Pam Johnson-Bennett was one of the first books I read for review on this blog.  The book is like a cat Bible for feline behavior!  The book covers many topics, such as litter box issues, scratching, relationship issues between cats and other cats, dogs, and humans, how to conduct play sessions and how they can be utilized for behavior modification, and how to choose the right kitten or cat for you.  The book also includes a medical appendix in the back, which I really like.  You can read my full review of Think Like a Cat here.

Rescued: The Stories of 12 Cats, Through Their Eyes: Rescued edited by Janiss Garza of Sparkle Cat is a wonderful anthology.  I knew a few of the authors who contributed to this anthology and really enjoyed reading their kitties' stories.  A few of the stories started off really sad (in fact, I ended up crying in the Tattered Cover while reading one of them!), but they all have happy endings.  I loved how each story is told from the cat's point of view.  It really made me think (even more) about how my kitties might view their journeys through life.  You can read my full review of Rescued in this blog post.

Purr Prints of the Heart: A Cat's Tale of Life, Death, and Beyond: Purr Prints of the Heart by Deborah Barnes of Zee & Zoey's Cat Chronicles brought me a lot of much needed closure regarding Jewel's passing.  While I still miss Jewel tremendously and think about her every single day, Deb's book brought me the closure I needed to be able to move through the grieving process.

In Purr Prints of the Heart, Deb's beloved kitty, Mr. Jazz, chronicles his journey through life, death, and beyond.  I loved reading Mr. Jazz's account of his life, what he experienced while dying, and his experience of the afterlife.  Deb also includes a guide to grieving in the back of this book, which is incredibly validating and helpful.  You can read my full review of Purr Prints of the Heart here.

Purr Therapy book cover image.
Add caption
Purr Therapy: What Timmy & Marina Taught Me about Life, Love, and Loss: In Purr Therapy, Kathy McCoy PhD shows us how two incredible therapy cats - Timmy and Marina - changed the lives of her clients.  I absolutely loved reading about how Timmy and Marina showed compassion to McCoy's sad or anxious clients and the antics they used to distract angry or distressed ones.  McCoy also relays the lessons she learned from her two special kitties in this book.  A few tips on coping with grief are also offered.  You can read my full review of Purr Therapy in this post.

Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat: I know this book was published a long time ago, but I hadn't read it until recently.  In Making Rounds with Oscar by David Dosa, we see how one special cat can affect so many people's lives.  Oscar, who is known for being independent, spends time with dying patients on the dementia floor Dosa works on.  Oscar provides comfort and companionship to dying patients and their families - the people who need it the most.  How wonderful for the patients in the nursing home to have such a sweet companion to see them off to the next part of their journey.

A Street Cat Named Bob: And How he Saved my Life: I love, love, LOVE Bob!  In A Street Cat Named Bob by James Bowen, James is struggling to make enough money to feed himself.  So when he finds Bob, a stray injured orange tabby curled up in his apartment building, he knows the last thing he needs is a cat.  But he can't abandon the poor sick cat, so he takes Bob in to nurse him back to health.  When Bob is well, James tries to send him on his way, but Bob has already decided that James is his human.  Eventually James gives in and accepts his fate - he is Bob's human.  The deep bond, friendship, and love James shares with Bob inspires the author to turn his life around.  It's incredible how much a cat's unconditional love can change a life.

The Cat, the Sneak, and the Secret book cover image.
The Cat, the Sneak, and the Secret: A Cats in Trouble Mystery: The Cat, the Sneak, and the Secret by Leann Sweeney is the first book I've read in the Cats in Trouble Mystery series, and I absolutely loved it!  In this book, Jillian Hart is getting ready for her wedding; she is marrying Tom, a former police officer.  While visiting from college, Finn, Tom's stepson, falls in love with Magpie, a tortoiseshell cat at Mercy Animal Shelter.  Even though she is known to be a kleptomaniac, Jillian and Tom agree to make room in their home for Magpie.

When Magpie turns up with a locket, Jillian wants to return it to its rightful owner.  However, the discovery of a dead body sidetracks her mission.  The police chief also turns up dead, and Tom is appointed Mercy's interim police chief.  The investigation takes many unexpected and interesting twists and turns.  You can read my full review of The Cat, the Sneak, and the Secret here.


 What are the best books you've read this year?  Please share in the comments section.  I am always looking for great book suggestions!

FTC Disclosure: I received complimentary copies of "Think Like a Cat: How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat - Not a Sour Puss," "Rescued: The Stories of 12 Cats, Through Their Eyes," "Purr Prints of the Heart: A Cat's Tale of Life, Death, and Beyond," "Purr Therapy: What Timmy & Marina Taught Me About Life, Love, and Loss," and "The Cat, the Sneak, and the Secret" for a fair and honest review.  Receiving the free books did not influence my opinions in any way.  All opinions expressed on Fur Everywhere are my own.  

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Lola: Diary of a Rescued Cat Book Review

Lola: Diary of a Rescued Cat book cover
Lola: Diary of a Rescued Cat by Dawn White chronicles Lola's story from the time she was dumped in a garbage dumpster through the first year in her forever home.  She talks about her rescue from the dumpster, time she spent in the shelter (where she became quite ill), rescue from the shelter, and her adjustment to her new forever home and new feline sibling Lexy.

Dawn had been without a cat for many years when she saw Lexy, who reminded her of a cat she used to have.  It was love at first sight, and Lexy found her forever human in Dawn.  Lexy had been waiting to be adopted at the shelter for nearly a year because she was, "too old," at the age of two!  Personally, I think adult and senior cats make the most wonderful companions, and it saddens me to see them passed up due to age.

Dawn discovered Lola on a Facebook page after she had been rescued from the dumpster.  Before long, Lola joined Dawn and Lexy's family.

Lola: Diary of a Rescued Cat is written in the form of a diary - each entry is dated and describes that day's events.  Here are a few of my favorite entries:

March 2, 2011
Stop the presses!  I'm putting out an All-Points Bulletin on my mousie!  It is nowhere to be found!  Mommy looked and even Will looked with a flashlight.  No luck.  Will bought me a new one, but it's not the same because this is the first toy I ever really had.  If you happen to see my mousie, please hold it for me so I can come pick it up?  Thank you.



Wednesday, May 6, 2015

The Good, the Bad, and the Furry: Review and Giveaway

Even though Tom Cox has written two previous cat books, Under the Paw and Talk to the Tail, I hadn't heard about him or his cat books until I started reading a few reviews from fellow cat bloggers.  I knew I had to check out his latest book, The Good, the Bad, and the Furry: Life with the World's Most Melancholy Cat, and I'm glad I did!

The Good, the Bad, and the Furry provides an entertaining and humorous look at living life with cats.  Cox resides with a group of unique cats.  There's never a dull moment for Cox, who is adjusting to life as a newly single man.

The feline residents initially consist of Janet, Shipley, Ralph, and The Bear.  Shipley enjoys stealing food and running around the house swearing at everyone and everything.  The only thing that seems to calm him is turning him upside down.  Ralph, Shipley's brother, is a tabby who makes sure everyone knows his name by walking around and shouting it at the top of his lungs.  Janet is actually a male cat.  The Bear is intelligent and would like to live a solitary life where he can think about important things.  Instead, he is surrounded by felines who, in his opinion, possess a much lower IQ than himself.  Later, we are introduced to a kitten named Roscoe as well.

I loved reading about the cats' antics, and you will undoubtedly be able to relate to some of the stories Cox shares in this book.  I also enjoyed reading about the orange intruders that can hardly be told apart.  Cox is a true cat lover, and it warms my heart to see that there are men in the world who are as crazy about cats as I am.

There are occasional pauses in the memoir to include chapters like, "Five Highly Unlikely Pet Memoirs," and, "Advice for New Kitten Owners."  I found a couple of these to be a little random but enjoyable nonetheless.  My favorite one was, "Some Anonymous Cats I Have Psychoanalyzed on My Travels (2010-2012)."

I believe all cat lovers will enjoy this funny and heartwarming book!

You have a chance to win a copy of The Good, the Bad, and the Furry.  We have FIVE (5) copies to give away!

This giveaway is open to residents of the United States only aged 18+.  If you are an International reader, you are welcome to enter the giveaway and gift your prize to a resident of the United States should you win.  Winners of the giveaway will receive an email from Fur Everywhere.  Winners must respond to the email within 48 hours with a physical address where their prize can be shipped.  If no response is received, another winner will be drawn.

Please use the Rafflecopter widget to enter the giveaway.  You can do as few or as many of the entries as you would like.  Good luck!

About the Author: Tom Cox writes a monthly column for the Guardian's Life and Style section.  He also writes regularly for Golf International magazine, Your Cat magazine, and reviews books for several newspapers.  You can learn more about Tom Cox on his website.

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Disclaimer: I received a copy of The Good, the Bad, and the Furry by Tom Cox free of charge in exchange for an honest review.  Receiving the free book did not change my opinion in any way.  All opinions expressed are my own.  

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Catscapades: True Cat Tales Review

Catscapades book cover
Cat lovers everywhere will love the book Catscapades: True Cat Tales where author Patricia Fry shares stories of the cats who have come into her life.  The book comprises more than 40 cat stories that will have you laughing at the kitty antics all cat lovers can relate to and crying at the inevitable departure of furry friends.  Additionally, beautiful photographs accompany Fry's stories, and I really loved seeing the cats she talks about in this book.  

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.  I read every night before I go to sleep to help my mind relax, and this book put my mind in a peaceful place each night.  There are two stories that I especially loved.  

In The Promise, Fry details how she found homes for four orphaned kitties.  Though the story has a sad beginning, it is truly heartwarming.  It is amazing how everything worked out so perfectly in the end for the four orphaned cats.  

When I read the story What Did the Cat Say?, I couldn't help smiling!  Fry's description of her cat, Winfield's, antics with his water bowl reminded me so much of Jewel (who crossed the Rainbow Bridge in 2014).  Like Jewel, Winfield liked to stick his paw in his water bowl and drink the water he scooped up in it.  He even scooted his water bowl around the room so he could drink from the bowl in exactly the right spot!  In fact, this story inspired my Jewel's Journey post last week.  Reading about Winfield brought back some wonderful memories of Jewel.

I believe that any cat owner or cat lover would really enjoy this book.  I highly recommend reading it!

About the Author: Patricia Fry began her writing career in 1973 and has written more than 49 books.  She's also written articles for more than 300 publications, including Cat Fancy, Woman's World, Quarter Horse Journal, and The Artist's Magazine.  Fry is also the author of the popular Klepto Cat Mystery series.  You can learn more about Patricia Fry by visiting her website.  

Disclosure: I received a copy of Catscapades: True Cat Tales free of charge in exchange for an honest review.  Receiving the book did not change my opinion in any way.  All opinions expressed are my own.  

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Purr Therapy Review

Because I had heard so many great things about Purr Therapy: What Timmy & Marina Taught Me About Life, Love, and Loss, I was thrilled when I received an opportunity to read and review it for Fur Everywhere. I can honestly say that Purr Therapy is one of the best cat books I've had the opportunity to read!

In Purr Therapy, psychotherapist, Dr. Kathy McCoy shows readers how two special therapy cats, Timmy and Marina, not only changed her clients' lives, but also taught her lessons about life, love, and compassion.  I loved reading the clients' stories and seeing how these two special kitties helped clients grow.  I also enjoyed reading about the antics Timmy and Marina used in therapy sessions to distract distressed or angry clients and the compassion the cats showed to sad or anxious clients. 

Dr. McCoy also talks about Timmy and Marina as companion animals and eloquently expresses what she was feeling before, during, and after both cats' untimely deaths.  The emotions she felt before, during, and after her kitties' deaths were very validating for me; I felt comforted knowing that my emotions surrounding Jewel's death aren't uncommon.  Additionally, Purr Therapy provides a few tips for coping with the grief one inevitably experiences after the death of a beloved companion animal.  

I believe anyone who loves cats, has an interest in animal-assisted therapy, or enjoys reading about how cats can impact lives will love this book.  I don't typically read books a second time, but I plan to read this book again in the future.  It's truly a heartwarming read.  

You can learn more about Dr. Kathy McCoy on her website.  


Disclaimer: I received a copy of Purr Therapy free of charge to review.  Receiving a copy of the book did not change my opinions in any way.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Carmine's 10th Birthday Giveaway!

The Mom is sick so this post isn't as fancy as we'd like, but mes is glad hers helped mes with my special post!

Do you know what today is?  Today we wish Carmine a Happy 10th Birthday!!!!! And we hope he has at least 10 more to celebrate! :)


Carmine wanted to have a little giveaway to show you all how much we love and appreciate all of our wonderful friends celebrating with us.

Photo courtesy of Amazon

As you can tell, in this book Amy Shojai shares valuable information on how to care for your aging cat.  The book is divided into two section.  In the first section, Shojai discusses how cats age.  Topics in this section include how a cat's body ages, her nutritional and exercise needs as she ages, and end-of-life decisions.  

In the second section, Shojai looks at specific diseases common in aging cats in detail.  Some of the illnesses highlighted in the book include arthritis, cancer, blindness, heart disease, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, kidney failure, and senility.  I really like that Shojai discusses alternative therapies as well as conventional treatment options for treating diseases.

In my opinion, this is a fantastic resource for aging cats, and I plan to refer to it often over the years as Carmine and Milita age.  

You can enter to win your very own autographed copy of the book with the Rafflecopter at the end of the post or you can purchase the book here (I do not receive any sort of commission if you use this link). 

We encourage you to stop by and visit Amy Shojai's blog, Amy Shojai's Bling: Bitches and Blood  sometime.  Thank you, Amy, for giving us the opportunity to review and giveaway your book!  

Okay, okay, Mom...it's my turn now!  

One of my favoritest treats are the ProPlan Chicken Savory Bites, and mes wanted to give all of our friends a chance to win some of their own.  Mes will be including a bag of these tasty treats in the giveaway!  

Please let mes know if yous cannot eat chicken treats, and mes will send the servant Mom to go and get a different flavor (tuna or salmon). 

Thank yous all for coming to celebrate my 10th birthday!  It is hard to believe mes has been with the Mom for nearly 10 years.  Mes is very thankful to have a loving human and a sisfur to bug! 

To enter the giveaway, you must be 18 years of age or older and reside in the United States.  Our International friends are more than welcome to enter and gift their prize to a U.S. resident should they win.  I will choose and send a notification e-mail to the winner on February 26, 2015.  The winner must respond to our e-mail with a physical address where we can ship the prize within 48 hours.  If no response is received within 48 hours, we will select a new winner.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



!Disclosure: I received two copies of the book, "Complete Care for Your Aging Cat," free of charge for this review and giveaway.  Receiving the books did not change my opinion in any way.  All opinions are 100% my own. 

Friday, December 19, 2014

Think Like a Cat: Book Review

Winter's the perfect time to snuggle up under a fleece blanket with a book and your favorite hot beverage.  Why not read something that will help you understand your feline companion better?

Think Like a Cat: How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat - Not a Sour Puss by Pam Johnson-Bennett will help you understand why your cat does what she does as well as give you proven behavior modification techniques to change unwanted behaviors.  Whether you're having trouble getting your cat to use the litter box, need advice on what to feed your kitty, or want to learn how to make traveling with your cat easier, you can find helpful suggestions in this book.

I love that each chapter of this book attacks a different subject or behavioral challenge.  Cat anatomy, choosing the right kitten (or cat) for you, how to conduct proper play sessions and how they can be used for behavior modification, litter box issues, scratching posts, traveling with your cat, addressing relationship issues between your cat and other cats, dogs, and humans in the household, and handling cat emergencies and first aid are covered in this comprehensive book.  Johnson-Bennett highlights important information throughout the book with charts and Cat Wise Clues.  I also like that Think Like a Cat includes a medical appendix in the back of the book.

Whether you're a brand new cat owner or a seasoned one, I believe everyone will learn something from this book.  It is an excellent reference for every human owned by a kitty.  I highly recommend this book to every cat owner.

About the Author: Pam Johnson-Bennett is a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant and best-selling author of seven books.  She also stars in the International series, Psycho Kitty, which airs on Animal Planet in the UK and on Nat Geo Wild in Canada.  She began making house calls to work with clients with cat behavior issues in 1982, and her first book hit the shelves in 1990.

Pam Johnson-Bennett served as VP of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC).  She also founded the IAABC's Cat Division and served as its chair for eight years.  Additionally, she has worked with the Winn Feline Foundation and served on American Humane Association's Advisory Board on Animal Behavior and Training.

Currently, she works with the American Humane Association as a member of the Cat Health and Welfare Forum.  She also participates on the Advisory Board for Tree House Humane Society.

You can learn about Pam Johnson-Bennett on her website, and you can follow her via Twitter and Facebook.

Disclosure: I received a copy of Think Like a Cat: How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat - Not a Sour Puss free of charge to review.  This did not change my opinions in any way.  All thoughts and opinions expressed are 100% my own.