Happy Black Cat Appreciation Day!

This post was originally written by M. Elwood for Toronto Public Library's web site. It was first published on August 17 2016

August 17 is the annual day to celebrate the wonders of black cats. The one I had as a child was wonderful -- smart, beautiful, devious and kind of a jerk. Basically, she was a perfect cat. 

If you've never been lucky enough to have your own black cat, you can live vicariously through these memoirs by Tom Cox. Cox has published several memoirs about life with his cats, most notably The Bear (@mysadcat), an earnest black cat.

Under the paw Good bad furry Close encounters of the furred kind

Under the Paw: Confessions of a Cat Man
In the first of Cox's memoirs, Tom meets future wife Dee and has his first encounter with her cats, The Bear and Janet. Through the book, more and more cats enter their lives including Ralph (@mysmugcat) and Shipley (@myswearycat).

The Good, the Bad and the Furry: Life with the World's Most Melancholy Cat
Is Tom's life complicated enough? A difficult new kitten named Roscoe joins the family and Tom tries to befriend a series of ginger strays.

Close Encounters of the Furred Kind: New Adventures with My Sad Cat and Other Feline Friends
In the latest installment, Tom and his cats move from Norfolk to Bristol where a new ginger stray named George enters the picture. I was lucky enough to get this one when it was published in the UK last year. It's just come out in Canada, so place your holds!

Although Under the Paw features a "posh actor kitten" on the cover, The Bear is the model for the other two books. You can spot Shipley and Roscoe in the background of Close Encounters of the Furred Kind. 

These books are delightful but some online reviews have complained about profanity, so be aware, that they may not be suitable for all readers.   

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