My favorite books for cat lovers and cat rescuers

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 your cat – to see, hear, feel, and think like your cat does?

Being Your Cat takes you into your cat’s mind, based on loving imagination and the latest feline research. You will understand your cat better after reading this.

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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.…


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…


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.


You might also like...

Evil Alice and the Borzoi

By DK Coutant,

Book cover of Evil Alice and the Borzoi

DK Coutant Author Of Evil Alice and the Borzoi

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Professor Cross Cultural Psychologist Dog Lover Traveler Reader

DK's 3 favorite reads in 2023

What is my book about?

Cleo Cooper, a cross-cultural psychology professor, is living the dream on the Big Island of Hawaii. With ocean-dipping weekends, she enjoys her dog, her job, and her boyfriend Ben - until the day she’s on a research vessel and a dead body is caught in the dragline.

The police determine it is murder and set their sights on a gentle former student, Kai. It doesn’t take much urging from Kai’s auntie for Cleo to investigate. But Ben grows distant, and Cleo’s dog grows ill. A couple of accidental deaths later, and someone makes an attempt on her life.

What happened to Cleo’s life in paradise? Can she discover the true killer? Can she stop the killer before the killer stops her?

Evil Alice and the Borzoi

By DK Coutant,

What is this book about?

Paradise is shaken when the body of a young woman is dragged onto a university research vessel during a class outing in Hilo Bay. Cleo Cooper is shaken when she finds her favorite student is on the hook for the murder. Danger lurks on land and sea as Cleo and her friends are enticed to search for the true killer. In between paddling, swimming, and arguing with her boyfriend, Cleo discovers all is not what it seems on the Big Island of Hawaii. But will she figure out the truth before she becomes the next victim?


5 book lists we think you will like!

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