An authoritative, 224-page field guide has been given a full review by Terzo. Read it HERE.

This clever book comes from weeks of analysis  by the Institute for Kitty Cat Research. Author Linda Miles and illustrator Betty Wilson have collaborated on the definitive guide to how many positions our feline companions can twist and curl into without losing their balance or causing embarrassment. Each cat is named, including its Latin version, to facilitate scholarly research. See Picky Kitty (Felis finicus),  Bedhog Kitty (Felis appropriatus), Double Press Kitty, Meltdown Kitty, Chaperone Kitty, and even Queasy Kitty.

For twenty years, the Institute For Kitty Cat Research has donated to spay/neuter and animal rescue groups. Purchases from their  website will continue that legacy, although the book is also available on Amazon. Go to: http://KittyCatResearch.com You'll also see mugs illustrating the various positions, and even a frameable Certificate of Excellence issued by the Bureau of Good Kitty Cats, a subsidiary of the Institute.

This cover has been nominated for cover of the month by All Author.com

A seemingly routine case becomes something far darker and deeper for novice private investigator, Care, and her feline companion, Blackie.         Blackie does not trust Care’s new client, factory owner Mr Gravitz, who has hired the young PI to shadow one of his workers, a man he suspects is stealing from him. With his feline sixth sense, Blackie knows the client is not telling the truth – but how can he protect and warn his companion, Care, when he is only a cat?         Combining elements of feline fantasy and traditional whodunit, As Dark As My Fur continues the adventures of this original and unusual detective duo: two small creatures in a nightmarish urban landscape, fighting for their lives and for the memories of those they love.          Clea Simon is the award-winning author of the Theda Krakow, Dulcie Schwartz, and Pru Marlowe mysteries as well as several nonfiction books.          As Dark As My Fur  was published by Severn House, and available from Amazon, B&N, and in various formats.          The latest book from Clea's new series is on the Recommended Books page.

Cover by  Bernadette Kazmarski Note cards also available. Amazon link

Patricia Fry is a prolific author. Her books appear in other categories on this site, including many books she's written for writers and entrepreneurs. Her foray into fiction has resulted in a series of delightful mysteries which feature cats.  The Klepto Cat series has been extremely popular, and this delightful Christmas story combines love, hope, and a child's innocent Christmas dreams. When Savannah Ivey agrees to teach photography to a group of at-risk children, she doesn't expect a sweet-spirited little crippled girl to steal her heart and become an important part of her family. Even Rags, the kleptomaniac cat, is captivated by the child named Marissa. When she goes missing, everyone, including Rags, experiences the pain of loss. Detective Craig Sledge fears that Marissa's unscrupulous, non-custodial father may be behind her disappearance and the search escalates into high gear. When even a pack of rescue dogs can't find the child, the detective turns to Rags and everyone prays for a Christmas miracle. Can Rags succeed where the others have failed? While this story involves some intense drama, it will also make you smile and even laugh out loud. Bring out the tissues for the beautiful ending. A Picture-Purrfect Christmas is one of those feel-good holiday stories you'll want to read over and over again.

Also available on Amazon:  http://tinyurl.com/gnefw89

As someone who raised a feral cat, I want to commend Alley Cat Rescue for producing this comprehensive guide. I adopted Simon Teakettle II from my local animal shelter, where his wild mother and five tiny kittens had been brought. I didn't realize how challenging it would be to raise a feral, but I was so successful that I based my award-winning article, Training Your Cat Like a Dog, on the methods I used.           I am delighted that Louise Holton has produced this comprehensive guide to correct misinformation about feral cats. Yes, they can be adopted and trained. Yes, feral colonies can live happily and safely without reproducing by utilizing TNR. No, feral cats are not responsible for the decline in the bird population!          We need to stop blaming cats for irresponsible owners. If all pet cats were spayed or neutered, there would be no problem to address. This book is an invaluable resource. Order from the The National Cat Protection Association website at: saveacat.org.

PAWSitively Sinister is the 11th in the Klepto Cat Mystery series. With the same intriguing and beguiling characters along with a few new ones, this story will surprise you to the very end. The Ivey family travels to San Francisco to help Arthur and his long-time friend, Suzette, clean out the mansion Arthur has inherited. News of the massive estate sale lures a variety of people, including former residents and long-ago visitors, each carrying stories of bizarre activities occurring at the mansion in the past. When Rags (the klepto cat) and his pawtner Koko make some ghastly and ghostly discoveries, everyone begins searching for answers and they're stunned by what they uncover--evidence of  people gone missing, a treasure-trove of loot, and spirits unable to rest. This is by far the most PAWSitively Sinister story in the series. Learn more at: http://tinyurl.com/nk9yfwq and see all 11 books at: http://amzn.to/1kAI8I2 Visit Patricia Fry's page at: http://www.patriciafry.com/

Allia Zobel Nolan was pressed to revise her most popular title, Women Who Love Cats Too Much, because of unprecedented demand from readers who acknowledge their cat co-dependency and want to get their lives back again, as well as a guide for those women  who still feel they are not doing enough for their babies and need to do more. This is the ninth cat book from Zobel Nolan, a longtime member of the Cat Writers' Association, who says, "This book speaks to the questions of When is eough enough? (Never!) And Is enough enough? (No way.) Women Who Still Love Cats Too Much is available by pre-order from Health Communications, Inc. (the Chicken Soup people) and launching on National Cat day,  October 29, 2015. It's also available on Amazon, at: http://tinyurl.com/pr8wcdp

Anne Moss has written this excellent book that deals with a difficult problem many cat owners encounter. The Cat Owner's Guide to Litterbox Problems offers readers concise advice about dealing with litterbox avoidance in cats. The book explains how you can identify what causes your cat to avoid the litterbox and how to stop this unwanted behavior. It takes you through the various possible reasons why cats stop using the litterbox and shows you how to address medical issues, identify signs of stress and tweak your current litterbox setup to perfection. I particularly appreciate the chapter on cats and discipline, which agrees with my training methods. Create your own specific plan of action to get Kitty back to the litterbox, and check out TheCatSite.com for a wide variety of other helpful information. The Cat Owner's Guide to Litterbox Problems is available as as ebook from Amazon.

Grey Howl is the seventh Dulcie Schwartz feline mystery by award-winning author Clea Simon. Publishers Weekly calls it charming, and Kirkus notes that a plethora of suspects keeps [readers] guessing. Read full reviews at http://www.cleasimon.com/Mew_press.html Clea's cat, Musetta, who inspires much of her writing, is a member of Terzo's MEWSical Society. Clea Simon is the author of the Theda Krakow, Dulcie Schwartz, and Pru Marlowe mysteries and also a handful of nonfiction books. Grey Howl is published by Severn House, and available from Amazon, B&N, and in various formats.

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Catnapped, a Klepto Cat Mystery by Patricia Fry (who has two cats in Terzo's MEWSical Society) This is the first in the Klepto Cat Mystery series starring Rags, an ordinary cat with a most unusual habit. When Savannah Jordan volunteered to help her Aunt Margaret out while she recuperates from a broken foot, little did she know that she would be involved in a murder mystery, be kidnapped by a deranged stranger and meet a steamy hot veterinarian. Neighborhood cats are going missing and Aunt Margaret's life is being threatened. It's a good thing Rags tagged along with Savannah as he has a paw in saving the day. Kindle only  $2.99 at: http://tinyurl.com/kn3ukma Cover design by Cat Writers' Association artist and writer, Bernadette Kazmarski.

AVAILABLE  from Amazon and from www.catherine­holm.com

Driving With Cats is not just about living in northern Minnesota, or living with cats. It's a book about devotion, adaptation, intuition, permanence, isolation, and living "in the moment." This book contains wisdom learned from  several memorable felines no reader will easily forget. Ann Catanzaro (aka Catherine Holm) is  also the author of  Kali’s Will and Last Wish. Several cats in the Holm household are members of Terzo's Fan Club.

Debbie is a ferret who goes to live in a high-rise condo with Charlie, the cat. Learn all about ferrets, including what they do best (mostly sleeping and borrowing things).  From Rocking Horse Publishing, and also on Amazon.

Faithful Friends has won number awards, including from the National League of American Pen Women, the Cat Writers Association, and the  prestigious Maxwell Award offered by the Dog Writers Association of America.

FAITHFUL FRIENDS tells the stories of family pets that were left behind in World War II Europe, when Jewish families were torn from their homes and taken to ghettos and concentration camps. Dogs and cats often faced bleak and harsh conditions but faithfully guarded the house or farm. Most of these accounts are told by men and women who were children at the time. As they lost parents, siblings, and friends in the death camps, they often took comfort and courage from the beloved and loyal dogs and cats who represented happier times, and who never gave up hope. Author Susan Bulanda is a Certified Animal Behavior Consultant whose website contains information about dogs, cats, and parrots. She is also a Search and Rescue dog trainer, and teaches at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania.

God's Creatures: A Biblical View of Animals compares what the Bible says about animals to modern research, and how God used animals to teach many important messages.

Available at Amazon

Karen Demers has written two books which bring children into a special place where cats have their own unique, exciting and fun-filled escapades. They use a language especially created for them which  help young children understand why these precious animals captivate us all. The cats also have to learn to get along with each other and humans and bring forward their individual personalities and the skills they each possess. In book one, the cats are driven in a mini cat coach on their first day to their new school. They are met outside by the principal, Mr. Waltskers and a teacher named Miss Pawskie. They introduce themselves in their new a catemy (academy) to each of their catmates,(classmates) teachers, and  the principal. The description of each cat is completed  in detail right down to each of their tails! The first book is available now, and the second one will be coming soon.

Watch the video that inspired the novel.

Death Under the Crescent Moon by Dusty Rainbolt         The Baker Hospital and Health Resort is a luxury cancer hospital nestled high atop the Ozarks in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Before Norman Baker purchased it, the defunct Crescent Hotel/Crescent College for Girls had provided opulent lodging for rich people seeking the healing waters of Eureka Springs and educated the children of the Ozark privileged.         Retired silent movie star, Eva Dupree, dreams of a miracle cure when she enters the Baker Hospital & Health Resort. Instead she finds herself living a nightmare.          The hospital provides sanctuary to a few restless spirits who reveal themselves to Eva throughout her hospital stay, including an especially persistent male.           Who is the girl Eva watched plunge to her death from the fourth floor balcony? What happened to Eva's friend, Mossell, who nurses claim suddenly recovered and went home. And whose ghostly voice continues to whisper in her ear, "I want you"?            Death Under the Crescent Moon  is available in trade paperback from Yard Dog Press and in most ebook formats.  Ebook from Amazon.com or other formats from Smashwords.com

Da Capo Press    304 pages Available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, IndieBound and Indigo

ANOTHER INSANE DEVOTION [It’s] about the torments of grief and separation as much as it is about the nature of desire and devotion&ldots;Trachtenberg is an impish and intelligent essayist, his writing sinuous and sensual&ldots;Trachtenberg is an extraordinarily perceptive observer of cats and persons, but to observe, after all, is never to truly know. To his great credit, he embraces this, and his uncertainty brings the profoundest rewards. Not many things are better than a kitten, but a book like this comes close. (New York Times Book Review) This is surely the best book written about what it means to love cats, and to wonder if they love you, since Carl Van Vechten's The Tiger in the House. (Chicago Tribune) What makes [Trachtenberg’s] story truly compelling—and haunting—are the images he paints, the poignant moments with both feline and female that make up this dual love story.   (VIVmag) Another Insane Devotion is a discursive essay on personal growth, a public exercise in private exorcism, and a collection of notes toward a philosophy of love. (Slate Book Review)

Clea Simon is a writer, journalist and a regular contributor to the New York Times, Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle, Ms., Rolling Stone and Salon.com. The author of three nonfiction books, and several mystery series, she lives in Cambridge, MA, with her husband, the writer Jon S. Garelick,  and their cat, Musetta.   Order from Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0727882155?tag=simteaink-20

Clea Simon is an award-winning author who has written several mystery series with cats who are integral to the story. Among her heroines are animal psychic Pru Marlowe, then there's the Theda Krakow series, and the Dulcie Schwartz Feline Mystery series. In this latest book, Harvard grad student Dulcie Schwartz stumbles across the body of Melinda Sloane Harquist, a visiting scholar whose upcoming book threatens to ruin Dulcie’s thesis and whom she threatened to kill, in jest, just days before. Featuring the ghost cat Mr Grey and her kitten Esmé,  this is the fifth in Simon's intriguing paranormal books. Simon, who attended Harvard herself, provides an authentic and appealing view of campus life.  (Publishers Weekly) Simon's cat, Musetta, is a member of Terzo's Fan Club.

A 2010 Ursa Major Award nominee for              Best Anthropomorphic Novel. http://www.marylowd.com/OttersInSpace.html

Humans have left the Earth, and dogs rule.              Kipper is an oppressed tabby-cat who dreams of a better place, where cats run their own lives. When she discovers a secret that sends her out of this world, Kipper must navigate through the mysterious otter space station and befriend a spaceship full of eccentric otters to find out: is there really a cat paradise?             Author Mary E. Lowd lives in Eugene, Oregon, with five cats and two dogs, who provide inspiration for her science fiction.             Order the book through Amazon or her website, at: http://www.marylowd.com/OttersInSpace.html             Two of Mary's cats, Heidi and Theresa, and her dogs, Trudy and Quinn, are members of Terzo's Fan Club.

Formerly Feral Lucy Miracle is the Clever Island cat featured in this delightful memoir. Narrated by a perceptive and adorable kitten who happens to understand humans, Taming Me follows this clever cat from a humble and hungry beginning in the wild to the luxurious lifestyle of a housecat, as she slowly opens her heart to the humans that wish to love her. A cat-hating villain provides intrigue and comic relief. This rags-to-riches adventure is suspenseful, sad, joyful and tender, coming to a wonderfully satisfying and dramatic end. With an uncanny ability to imagine the thoughts and emotions of a cat, author Cathy Unruh’s writing is richly metaphorical, honing every detail to its fullest potential. Ms. Unruh grew up on a hobby farm and is passionate about animal welfare; this story champions her views about the humane treatment of animals. Published by Collage Books, Inc. Trade paperback ISBN:  978-0-938728-15-3 Hardcover ISBN: 978-0-938728-25-2 E-book ISBN:  978-0-938728-20-7

On an iron mining range in Northern Minnesota where cats have magical powers, the warrior cat Kali must take action to deal with corrupted magic, even if it means making a terrible sacrifice.        Kali’s Will blends fantasy, romance, magic, and compelling feline characters. Join Kali, Tedral, and the cats of Ironton as they act to save the web of Cat Magic. A charming and inexpensive  mini gift book:     AVAILABLE  from www.catherine­holm.com The newest title in this series is Last Wish. Set in the same magical world as Kali’s Will, Last Wish is the story of Coralee, the cat with a magic whisker, and her apprentice Target. Can Coralee and Target help an old man trapped in a nursing home achieve his last wish? This gift booklet is a great gift for any cat lover or animal companion lover! Purchase it at www.catherineholm.com

Ann Catanzaro (aka Catherine Holm) is a lover of cats and of cat fantasy stories. She has lived with and cared for cats for more than 20 years, and enjoys their friendship and the gifts they bring to this life. She writes cat fantasy fiction, literary fiction and creative nonfiction. Her work has been awarded with Minnesota state and regional artist grants.      As Catherine Holm, she is the author of My Heart is a Mountain: Tales of Magic and the Land (Holy Cow! Press, 2010), a short story collection about people who are shaped by the landscapes they live in. She is a freelance writer, editor, and yoga instructor, and lives in northern Minnesota with her husband, a dog, and six cats. Jamie Bluebell is the latest addition to the Holm household. He's just joined Terzo's Fan Club:

Here's another cat who shares an office with a human author. Cujo also has a blog just like Terzo. Order from Barnes & Noble Cujo shares his household with an orange tabble called Ivan The Tolerable, and a gray, female tabby named Tiger Lily. His human is a member of the Cat Writers' Association.

Animal behaviorist September Day has lost everything—husband murdered, career in ruins, confidence shot—and flees to Texas to recover. Forced out of hibernation when her nephew Steven and his autism service dog Shadow disappear in a freak blizzard, September has 24 hours to rescue them from a devastating medical experiment impacting millions of children, a deadly secret others will kill to protect.  September's Maine Coon cat, Macy, helps save the day at the end when, on command, she literally "nails" one of the bad guys. from Cool Gus Publishing Video Book Trailer

This book keeps the peace in a multi-cat household. Award-winner Amy Shojai, a Certified Animal Behavior Consultant, tackles common problems such as how to recognize and diffuse cat-to-cat aggression, settle disputes over territory, and how to introduce a new arrival to the current cats. There's also a 3rd edition of ComPETability dealing with the cat-dog household. ComPETability is fun, practical, and informative. Order this new guide from Amazon.

FLASH CARDS FOR CATS! This clever product is designed for the cat to train  the human, rather than the other way around  (which most agree doesn't work very well!) Developed by Su Ewing, a part President of the Cat Writers' Association, this won the top prize, a Muse Medallion, at the 2011 CWA annual conference. Su has written a number of books about dogs,  including a few "dogs for dummies" books (we certainly approve of her view that dogs are dummies) and it seems she was intimidated by a cat and had to capitalize on the fact that THE CAT WAS TRAINING HER! Pubished by Cider Mill Press Order from Amazon

Have a question about your pet? I‘ll bet you‘ve written to ask columnist Steve Dale about it.      Dale ferrets out the answers from internationally known experts, as well as from his own expertise as a Certified Animal Behavior Consultant. Finally, he has compiled the most common problems and their suggested resolutions in easy-to-read eBook.     —Darlene Arden, certified Animal Behavior Consultant, author of The Complete Cat‘s Meow: Everything You Need to Know about Caring for Your Cat? Forward by Betty White.  Good Cat! by Steve Dale ISBN-13: 978-1-930645-01-1    Kindle ($2.99 at AMAZON)     iPad ($2.99 on iTunes)     Nook ($2.99 on Barnes & Noble)     Kobo ($2.99 on Kobo)     Sony Reader ($2.99 with Sony) NOTE: Download the award-winning article by Barbara Florio Graham, Training Your Cat Like a Dog, HERE.

Juliane is a young witch that lives on the border  of a magical forest. She knows its secrets and  the magical creatures that live there. Many of  the King’s knights and other peasant travelers  seek her help to guide them through the forest. One day, in a vision, Juliane is shown a very large egg. She has no idea what the vision means.  As the day unfolds, her cat Magicus will lead her  to a place where her quest will be revealed.  Juliane will need to call on a few of her magical  forest friends to help her fulfill a very important promise. Available in both French and English versions,  this book can be ordered from the author's website, Topsy Books.

Square One $14.95 Purchase from AMAZON

Thirty-five years ago, Jeanne Adlon became New York City's first official full-time cat sitter. This is her amazing story, filled with anecdotal cat tales alongside her unique brand of common-sense advice for cat owners. With the help of co-author Susan Logan, editor of Cat Fancy magazine, Jeanne's escapades will warm the hearts of animal lovers everywhere. Follow her as she dodges tarantulas, keeps certain cats kosher, feeds pampered felines in Waterford goblets, wrestles a determined kitty for a Thanksgiving dinner, plays ghost with a psychic cat and much more. Read her practical advice on everything from adopting a new cat, litter box behaviors, food issues, and health care to play time, cat nip, grooming, scratching and elder care. Both authors will donate a portion of their Cat Calls royalties to animal rescue, rehabilitation and preservation organizations.

Why are cats better than dogs? Isn't it obvious? Still, there are hold-outs who'd argue the point. To end the controversy once and for all, best-selling author and ailurophile, Allia Zobel Nolan, went to the cats themselves for backup of their claims.  And in her new kitty expose, I'd Rather Be a Cat: The Official "Better than Dogs Cat Book, she reveals why cats believe--no, actually, why they KNOW-- they are better than the competition.   All ages: $9.99            Harvest House Publishers Order from AMAZON Simon Teakettle made a similar argument in his article, Cats vs Dogs: A Continuing Controversy, which appears in MEWSings.