Book on Little Paws Kitten Rescue

[Mayday21]

Hi Folks Deb, president of Little Paws Kitten Rescue, wants to put a book together about LPKR profiling many of their fur babes who've come to them. I've put together a draft book proposal & a Facebook friend who's a reknowed international children's book author is providing guidance. She's also a cat lover & has offered to contribute poems to the book. She's looked at the proposal & provided some hints on researching like genre/competitors (internet/library/book agents/networks). We've thought of "Dewey's 9 Lives", "Dewey" & of course "A Street Cat Named Bob" but I'm wondering if anyone knows of any other publications. I have Doris Lessing's "The old age of el magnifico". Vivian

[Lilith]

Hi, were you thinking of books specifically about rescued cats or more general books with the idea of gaining tips as to style/length etc?

If the latter, you've got quite a reading list, and a very absorbing one too

Just off the top of my head I can recommend:-

'Uncle Whiskers' by Philip Brown, written in the 1950s I think, about a cat severely disabled in a RTA who nevertheless 'stood on his own two feet' - his forepaws were useless but he'd go hunting, leaping on his back legs like a kangaroo.

Any of Doreen Tovey's Siamese series - 'Cats in May', 'Cats in the Belfry' etc.

'Cat in the Window', 'Somewhere a cat is waiting' and 'Lama' by Derek Tangye.

If I remember any more I'll add to the list. Doris Lessing wrote another cat book, 'On Cats', but one episode describes a cat shoot on the farm where she grew up in less enlightened times

'The Silent Miaow' by Paul Gallico, whose cat learned to use the typewriter and write about 'kottebs'

Other people will have favourites too.

And if you're anything like me, do make sure you've got a stash of paper hankies in ... I'm usually awash after the first couple of pages!

Good luck with the project - it sounds great and you've picked a popular genre, once you get a publisher interested it should sell

[booktigger]

One of my local rescues produced this

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01G2NA95O/ ... TF8&btkr=1

[alanc]

How about Dennis O'Connors Paw Tracks in the Moonlight and Paw Tracks to Owl Cottage. Ones for the hankies especially if you own a Maine Coon.

[Lilith]

I've just ordered 'Little Jack' - and you're responsible for the tsunami, Booktigger!

Also this title came up -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Old-Mad-Wobbly ... GS4JWHVVJA

There's a preview too, and this is also about rescue work and seems well-written.

I daren't order those other titles, Alan - they'd have to pump the house out lol!

[Mayday21]

Hi Folks thanks for your replies. Lilith the book's on rescue cats. I visited the library yesterday & found "The Ugliest Cat in the Shelter" & "Your cat Did What?" Trinity was the 1st feral caught with her litter & the tom. Caught in Trinity Lane in East Brisbane. The title "Trinity's Ladder" based on Jacob's Ladder - faith, hope & charity. Deb had the faith, hope & LPKR is a charity. Catching up with her today. Kittens to be taken for speying. She picked up a kitty with rickets from a vet a couple of weeks ago! She was kneading when Deb saw her so she called her Muffin. She has a bit of ragdoll in her. Can't thank you all enough. Any advice accepted with open arms. Vivian

[booktigger]

While not strictly speaking based on a rescue, it is written by an author who has volunteered at a rescue (I have chatted to her via e-mail after reading her first book) - I have only read 2 of hers, but both enjoyable

https://www.amazon.co.uk/BUSTERS-LAW-An ... usters+law

[Lilith]

Ah. It's been so long since I read the Derek Tangye books that I'd forgotten that 'A cat in the window' and 'Lama' form part of 'Somewhere a cat is waiting'. Sorry.

Do DO buy 'The old, the mad and the wobbly'. I've only had chance to glance through it so far but it looks like a book especially written for the likes of us, who put up with eccentric cats and are somewhat eccentric ourselves (probably as a result!) The writer put in 30 years CP work so she has to know what she's talking about. She makes you laugh, too - I noticed an anecdote about being told by his owner about how much Gnasher loved to be brushed, so much so that the author spent hours in A&E after the first attempt... ring any bells?

[Lilith]

Oops, bit of explaining here to do.

I'm re-reading 'A cat in the window' and had forgotten the 'manly cat-hater' attitude that Derek Tangye cultivated (it didn't last long.) And what will be nowadays shocking details:- Monty the ginger cat arrived as a 6 week old kitten in the office of DT's wife Jeannie in the Savoy Hotel. Her secretary played with him, using a typewriter ribbon - the chemicals! The chef cooked him a sole bonne femme to take home ... this was in WW2 and obviously a compliment to any cat, but - cooked in white wine, shallots, mushrooms - especially when the poor little devil was only 6 weeks???

Then when he got older, the idea of starving him to make him catch a mouse?

It seems he survived all this and in fact settled very happily with them, and I suppose we have to make allowances for the outlook and period, and it's still an interesting book, but ...

I've finished the Heather Cook and have ordered 2 more titles- 'Paws for Thought' about a cat who was born with no hind paws came today, and I've read it already; hilarious but HC has got more stamina that I have; her house is filled with disabled, elderly and crazy cats! I think her books are an ideal model for any book on cat rescue - realistic without wallowing, witty and entertaining

[JenSTL]

It's a great idea - have you considered a kickstarter to help fund the project? Just curious if there's a link to donate to to help...

[Mayday21]

Hi Jen we're based in Australia & no there's no kickstart fund for the book just volunteer hours to pull it together. Alas I've only got to the draft book proposal. Deb & I need to sit down with her archive stories & pics. We had lunch with one of the vet nursers where we used to go to. She & the vet retired a couple of years ago but Annette's offered to provide some anecdotes of cats they operated or cared for & is also going to speak to Dr Wilson if he'd contribute. He really looked after Little Paws re: vet bills. I met Deb through the clinic in 2004. Little Paws Kitten Rescue has a FB page if you'd like to visit. Vivian