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Thursday Themes: Cats

Anyone who knows me knows that I love cats. Growing up, we always had a cat or three around the house. They were mostly free-range cats, living outside and roaming around with no collars, only coming by for food and ear scratches. But when I was in 7th grade, we acquired a cat that we named Tabitha (she was a tabby cat; super creative, I know). She was my best pal for years. When she died three years ago, I was beyond devastated.

And now, this past Saturday, my husband and I got a new little kitten named Jinx. He's all black with yellow eyes and is spunky, playful, adventurous, and loves to cuddle in my lap. I love him so much already!

In honor of kitties, here are five books that have fun feline characters:


1) The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents - Terry Pratchett


Set in Pratchett's famous Discworld, Maurice the cat and his rats are self-aware and can talk (they ate wizard rubbish), and they have the perfect scheme to get rich. The rats "infest" a town, and then a pied piper named Keith leads them away, for a fee. All is going well, until they come to a town where something dark lurks beneath the surface. Can they uncover the mystery, and survive?


2) Calling on Dragons - Patricia Wrede

This is the third book in the Enchanted Forest Chronicles and is told from the perspective of Morwen the witch, who has a cacophony of cats (eleven, in fact). They add chaos and snarky commentary to the story. The whole series is fun and each book features some kitty characters.


3) Socks - Beverly Cleary


This entire book is told from the perspective of Socks the cat. As a kitten he's brought home by a young newlywed couple. He enjoys a wonderful life of attention and food and soft laps, until one day a small, crying human is brought home. Short and sweet, this is a fun and heart-warming book.


4) In The Hand of the Goddess - Tamora Pierce


The second book of the Song of the Lioness quartet, Alanna is a girl pretending to be a boy so she can train as a knight. She meets a mysterious black feline with purple eyes that is more than what he seems. She names him Faithful, and he becomes her companion as she navigates magic, relationships, and fights to become the realm's greatest knight.


5) The Blue Sword - Robin McKinley


If you haven't read this book, please put it at the top of your list! Harry (Angharad) Crewe is sent to live with her brother out in the desert, in the last Homelander outpost. She is kidnapped by the ruler of the native Damarians, and surprisingly has the ability to use their magic. She learns to ride and fight like the Damarians, and along the way a half-wild cat named Narknon becomes fiercely attached to Harry. Their relationship is full of affection and loyalty.


BONUS: Basically any book by Lloyd Alexander features quirky and charismatic felines.



What are some of your favorite books featuring cats? Let me know in the comments below!


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