Cary's Shelf: Living With Wild Animals

Published Monday, April 10, 2023

"A house cat is not really a fur baby, but ... something rather more remarkable: a tiny conquistador with the whole planet at its feet. House cats could not exist without humans, but we didn't really create them, nor do we control them now. Our relationship is less about ownership than aiding and abetting." - Goodreads reviewer.

I couldn't have said it better! I have cohabitated with cats my entire life, and each one has been very different, and conversely, surprisingly similar in basic cat habits. They are our familiars, yet still a mystery. Love them, or leave them, they will not be ignored!

Cats
The Lion in the Living Room, by Abigail Tucker

"House cats rule bedrooms and back alleys, deserted Antarctic islands, even cyberspace. Unlike dogs, cats offer humans no practical benefit. The truth is they are sadly incompetent mouse-catchers and now pose a threat to many ecosystems. Yet, we love them still [and always will.]" - Goodreads

Delve deep into this enjoyable, readable exploration of the beasts we think we've "domesticated." The joke and the fur allergies are on us!


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My life in a cat house : true tales of love, laughter, and living with five felines, by Gwen Cooper

Be ready for humor mixed with poignancy as you purr-use this collection of eight cat stories. Cooper has plenty of experience to back up her cat knowledge, having shared her home and life with five kitties at a time!

"An adorable, five-week-old rescue kitten slowly learns to trust the woman who saved her. An obsessive cat teaches himself to play fetch and demands it morning and night from his hapless mom—whether she’s working, sleeping, eating, bathing, or trying to enjoy some “alone time” with her husband. And Homer, the Blind Wonder Cat himself, returns triumphant in a new story about life and love after worldwide fame." - from the publisher

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Understanding cats: with Roger Tabor (DVD)

Enjoy the PBS series, Understanding Cats (as if) on DVD. Cat lovers everywhere are fascinated and infuriated by this most enigmatic animal. Cat expert Roger Tabor reveals why cats behave the way they do in an eight part video that covers understanding cats and kittens, caring for them and learning about their world.

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On Cats, by Charles Bukowski

This is not a fluffy read. It's gritty and real and the language may not be for everyone. "Felines touched a vulnerable spot in Charles Bukowski's crusty soul," the blurb reads. Bukowski was an "underground" American poet, novelist, and short story writer who used rough, crass vernacular to speak out for the downtrodden and forgotten. But, he loved cats. "For the writer, there was something majestic and elemental about these inscrutable creatures he admired, sentient beings whose searing gaze could penetrate deep into our being..."

Funny, tough, and caring, On Cats encompasses the poet's reflections on these animals he so admired. "Bukowski’s cats are fierce and demanding—he captures them stalking their prey; crawling across his typewritten pages; waking him up with claws across the face. But they are also affectionate and giving, sources of inspiration and gentle, insistent care." - from the publisher

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About the Author

Cary's idea of a perfect day is a complete stereotype: reading or watching British crime fiction with a cup of hot tea close at hand, her favorite quilt, and her cats Clio & Junie on her lap.