Illustrated Books for Cat Lovers of all Ages

An autistic child once told his father that he believed all cats have autism, because "Cats are like me. They look at everything and think about it when everyone thinks they’re not paying attention and they only talk when they have something to say."

All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome points out further similarities between cats and children afflicted with this condition. The book is short on text, but long on beautiful photos of cats, chosen to illustrate the message:

but then he gets little words all mixed up
instead of coming to people for comfort, he may be overly attached to a toy

This book provides a simple way for parents, siblings, and asperger children to understand how these special children have a different perception of life.

Fans of the longest-running Broadway musical in history, "Cats," may enjoy a nostalgic tour through the book that caused it all to happen. Fans of t.s. eliot will certainly want to revisit the cats whose names have inspired the naming of cats since the book was first written in 1928: Mr. Mistoffelees, Rum Tug Tigger, and my all-time favorite, Macavity (the Mystery Cat.)

Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity, He's broken every human law, he breaks the law of gravity. . .

This edition is illustrated wonderfully by Edward Gorey, in the style of the era it was written. In my book, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats is a keeper for generations to come.

Mario Garza, a student and professional blogger, has capitalized on the popularity of his web site, Stuff on my Cat, which solicits photos of cats with ridiculous things piled, draped, precariously perched, or enclosing--cats. This book is only one of his commercial products, and is filled with photos of cats 'n' stuff. Great gift for a SOMC fan.

Although Kids Can Press publishes books for the younger crowd, Why Do Cats Have Whiskers? also appeals to older readers. Each page includes one or more full color photographs, and the accompanying text gives a nice summary of facts about cats. You can learn all sorts of esoteric information, such as the scientific term for hairballs (bezoars), or why a cat can't descend a tree head-first.

When I was a kid, one of my mother's favorite exclamations was, "Give you an inch, and you take a mile." If you Give a Cat a Cupcake was written much along these lines. After all, what is a cupcake without sprinkles, which make a mess on the floor, which... Written by Laura Numeroff and whimsically illustrated by Felicia Bond, "If You Give a Cat a Cupcake" might breach the silliness barrier, but it's worth the giggles by younger readers.

It seems like turning popular web sites into books is the lastest fad. There probably isn't a single casual user of the Internet who hasn't had one or more LOL Cats or I Can Has Cheezburger" cats mailed to them. Some of them are belly-laugh, spurt-Coke-all-over-the-Monitor funny, others may draw a chuckle, some just a smile or shoulder-shrug. Amazon reviewers reward the I Can Has Cheezburger? book a grudging 3.5 stars (out of 5). The top review today is a one-star with the title of "I Can Has Disappointment." Still, for less that $10, this book would make a food gift to that email buddy who is always sending you the ICHC photos. I've ordered two of them.

We sometimes are so lost in the pleasures of living with a cat that we forget the life lessons they teach us: things like "Cleanliness should not be underestimated as a virtue," or "It's hard to get in trouble when you're asleep." Glenn Dromgoole has learned well from his cats, and shares those lessons with a little help from some friends.

That cats are entranced by bird-watching is no secret, and Kit and George H. Harrison teach us how to design bird sanctuaries for indoor cats, to create the best of both worlds. This book is as much about birds as cats, and bird-watchers will appreciate the approach. Every page features stunning photos of either cats, birds, or both.