Why am I passionate about this?

I adore cats and am anxious to improve their welfare. Late in life, I took a second degree and a masters in animal behaviour to learn more about feline welfare. People are now researching cats’ needs and discovering more about their welfare. I passionately want to get the message out there to ordinary cat lovers. Purrlease, the more you learn about cats, the more your cats will benefit. 


I wrote

Being Your Cat: What's really going on in your feline's mind

By Celia Haddon, Daniel Mills,

Book cover of Being Your Cat: What's really going on in your feline's mind

What is my book about?

What is it like to be a cat? Based on research, this book tells you how a cat feels, thinks,…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of What's My Cat Thinking? Understand Your Cat to Give Them a Happy Life

Celia Haddon Why did I love this book?

This is a really good book for someone who wants to be able to pick up a book and read a little bit at a time.

It’s got information about everything you need to know about keeping a cat, from cat problems to why cats do the odd things they do. Jo Lewis is a vet and obviously loves cats.

By Jo Lewis,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked What's My Cat Thinking? Understand Your Cat to Give Them a Happy Life as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Have you ever wondered why your cats behave the way they do? This authoritative guide has all the answers! 

Cats are weird, and sometimes their behavior can leave you scratching your head. Discover what’s really behind those things cats do – whether they’re amusing, irritating or just downright bizarre.

What’s My Cat Thinking will help cat lovers unlock the secret code of cats for a deeper connection with the feline in your life. Inside, you’ll find:

   • Accurate descriptions of behavior will help you understand your cat’s body language nuances and act accordingly.
   • Covers a range of breeds. 
   •…


Book cover of Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy

Celia Haddon Why did I love this book?

This book is a mix of science and cat anecdotes and easy to read.

We cat lovers all want to make our cats happier and if we don’t stay up to date, we won’t be the best owners we can be. I chose this book because I believe it is important for all cat lovers to increase their knowledge.

By Zazie Todd,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Purr as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"Definitely a book your cat would want you to read!"
-Dr. Sarah Ellis, coauthor of The Trainable Cat

"Zazie Todd has created a must-have guide to improving your cat's life."
-Modern Cat Magazine

We all love our cats and we all want them to be happy. But making our cats happy isn't about buying them lots of things-it's about finding out what matters to them. In Purr, animal behavior expert Zazie Todd addresses every stage of your cat's life and offers surprising and effective advice for even the most experienced cat owner, all with the science to back it up.…


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Book cover of The Model Spy: Based on the True Story of Toto Koopman’s World War II Ventures

The Model Spy By Maryka Biaggio,

The Model Spy is based on the true story of Toto Koopman, who spied for the Allies and Italian Resistance during World War II.

Largely unknown today, Toto was arguably the first woman to spy for the British Intelligence Service. Operating in the hotbed of Mussolini's Italy, she courted danger…

Book cover of Caring for an Elderly Cat

Celia Haddon Why did I love this book?

I chose this book because I recently adopted elderly Mr. Spangles.

He has helped me understand that I have never taken feline old age seriously: so this book was one that I personally needed to read. For all of us, our cats will end up being old (we hope) so this book will help us know how we can give them the best life possible.

It’s not a read-through book, but one that is best read in sections.

By Sarah Caney, Vicky Halls,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Caring for an Elderly Cat as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.


Book cover of Please Take Me Home: The Story of the Rescue Cat

Celia Haddon Why did I love this book?

I chose this book because it is a history of cat rescue. Rescuing cats was, and still is, a complex and difficult task. The book deals with the struggle to get cat rescue organised in a way that could benefit not just cat rescuers but also cats!

Individual cat lovers have always fed cats on the street, with the resulting increase in feline numbers! At one point, rescuers thought the only answer was to euthanase all street cats,  but nowadays, a concerted effort is being made to neuter and spay feral cats rather than try to turn them into unsatisfactory pets. The book deals with the growth of Trap, Neuter, and Return schemes, as well as the growing effort to get more cats adopted.

By Clare Campbell,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Please Take Me Home as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In Please Take Me Home, Clare Campbell takes us on a journey with the nation's rescue cats, from being treated as pests throughout history to being the pet of choice today.

For a long time, stray cats in Britain were seen as a nuisance and hunted down as vermin. Having invited this wild, independent creature into our homes, humans did not extend their welcome for long. Over time, thousands of cats were subsequently abandoned and left to live on the margins of survival.

There were, however, the kind few who sought to help. But these good spirited people were often…


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Book cover of Native Nations: A Millennium in North America

Native Nations By Kathleen DuVal,

A magisterial history of Indigenous North America that places the power of Native nations at its center, telling their story from the rise of ancient cities more than a thousand years ago to fights for sovereignty that continue today

Book cover of Cats in Medieval Manuscripts

Celia Haddon Why did I love this book?

Although this book seems quite different from my other choices, there is a serious message among the fun.

In between the glorious medieval cat pictures, the author tells us what past writers thought about cats. When I read how cats were misjudged and ill-treated in the past, I feel better about the present. So, I read this book to cheer myself up when I am feeling gloomy about cat welfare.

And the pictures are a joy too.

By Kathleen Walker-Meikle,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Cats in Medieval Manuscripts as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Cats were illustrated in medieval manuscripts throughout the Middle Ages, often in exquisite detail and frequently accompanied by their natural prey, mice. Medieval cats were viewed as treasured pets, as fearsome mousers, as canny characters in fables, as associates of the Devil and as magical creatures. Featuring an array of fascinating illustrations from the British Library's rich medieval collection, Cats in Medieval Manuscripts includes anecdotes about cats - both real and imaginary - to provide a fascinating picture of the life of the cat and its relationship with humans in the medieval world.


Explore my book 😀

Being Your Cat: What's really going on in your feline's mind

By Celia Haddon, Daniel Mills,

Book cover of Being Your Cat: What's really going on in your feline's mind

What is my book about?

What is it like to be a cat? Based on research, this book tells you how a cat feels, thinks, and experiences life.

Book cover of What's My Cat Thinking? Understand Your Cat to Give Them a Happy Life
Book cover of Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy
Book cover of Caring for an Elderly Cat

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