10 books like For the Love of Cats

By Tom Colvin, Carol Griglione, Mick McAulife

Here are 10 books that authors have personally recommended if you like For the Love of Cats. Shepherd is a community of 8,000+ authors sharing their favorite books with the world.

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The Trainable Cat

By Sarah Ellis, John Bradshaw,

Book cover of The Trainable Cat: A Practical Guide to Making Life Happier for You and Your Cat

Celia Haddon Author Of A Cat's Guide to Humans: From A to Z

From the list on cat behaviour, which should be read by vets.

Who am I?

I am a writer and journalist who went back to study cats after my retirement. I realized I didn’t know as much as I thought I knew. I was out of date and overconfident that experience could beat knowledge. I needed knowledge as well as experience. So I took a degree and a masters. These books will help anybody who wants to improve their knowledge of cats. Rescuers, pet owners, and behaviour people: we need to stay up to date and learn more if we want to help cats lead happy lives.

Celia's book list on cat behaviour, which should be read by vets

Discover why each book is one of Celia's favorite books.

Why did Celia love this book?

Yes, cats can be trained. Training your cat is fun for you and it is fun for your cat. This is the best training manual you can ever buy and it also tells you a lot about cats. Have a go. You won’t regret it! I train my cats, even though I am a very amateur trainer, as you can see from my YouTube channel! They purr while they do it. 

The Trainable Cat

By Sarah Ellis, John Bradshaw,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Trainable Cat as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The idea of training rarely crosses cat owners' minds, and we often assume that cats can't and don't need to be trained. But in The Trainable Cat, bestselling anthrozoologist John Bradshaw and cat expert Sarah Ellis show that not only can cats be trained, but they absolutely must be in order to strengthen the bond between pet and owner, reduce their anxiety, and maximize their happiness. Twenty-first-century urban life can be taxing for cats who historically have been wild and solitary hunters, hostile to change and turmoil. Cats today are forced to live within the confines of cramped city apartments,…


The Nine Emotional Lives of Cats

By Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson,

Book cover of The Nine Emotional Lives of Cats: A Journey Into the Feline Heart

Belinda Alexandra Author Of The Divine Feline: A Chic Cat Lady's Guide to Woman's Best Friend

From the list on for cat lovers.

Who am I?

Belinda Alexandra is the author of nine bestselling novels and a non-fiction book on the relationship between women and cats, The Divine Feline: A chic cat lady’s guide to woman’s best friend. An ardent cat-lover and rescuer, she is a patron of the World League for the Protection of Animals in Australia and lives in Sydney with her three black cats – Valentino, Versace, and Gucci.

Belinda's book list on for cat lovers

Discover why each book is one of Belinda's favorite books.

Why did Belinda love this book?

This is a favorite of mine. Masson’s keen observations into what we emotionally need from cats and what they need from us are not only heart-warming but insightful: ‘We need cats to need us,’ he writes. ‘It unnerves us that they do not. However, if they do not need us, they nonetheless seem to love us.’ Beautifully written and drawing from both literature and scientific research, the book brings to life the delights and mysteries of the feline heart.

The Nine Emotional Lives of Cats

By Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Nine Emotional Lives of Cats as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Many people believe that cats do not have an emotional life, that they are cold and indifferent. Jeffrey Masson, author of several bestselling books about animal emotions, including When Elephants Weep and Dogs Never Lie About Love, is convinced that, on the contrary, cats are almost pure emotion. Masson lives by the sea in New Zealand with five cats, and in this fascinating, immensely readable book he reports on his close observations of their emotional lives. These he divides into nine categories - Narcissism, Love, Contentment, Attachment, Jealousy, Fear, Anger, Curiosity and Playfulness - and to each of which he…


Trim

By Matthew Flinders,

Book cover of Trim: The Story Of A Brave, Seafaring Cat

Belinda Alexandra Author Of The Divine Feline: A Chic Cat Lady's Guide to Woman's Best Friend

From the list on for cat lovers.

Who am I?

Belinda Alexandra is the author of nine bestselling novels and a non-fiction book on the relationship between women and cats, The Divine Feline: A chic cat lady’s guide to woman’s best friend. An ardent cat-lover and rescuer, she is a patron of the World League for the Protection of Animals in Australia and lives in Sydney with her three black cats – Valentino, Versace, and Gucci.

Belinda's book list on for cat lovers

Discover why each book is one of Belinda's favorite books.

Why did Belinda love this book?

Trim was the ultimate ‘adventure cat’. Matthew Flinders was the ultimate navigator and cartographer. Together they circumnavigated the globe 1799-1804 and shared many daring and dangerous sea voyages. If you love both history and cats, I can highly recommend this book which celebrates the bond between a remarkable man and his equally remarkable feline companion.

Trim

By Matthew Flinders,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

the story of a brave, seafaring cat who, in the company of Matthew Flinders, circumnavigated the globe in the years 1799-1804. to the memory of trim, the best and most illustrious of his Race, the most affectionate of friends, faithful of servants, and best of creatures. He made a tour of the Globe, and a voyage to Australia, which he circumnavigated; and was ever the delight and pleasure of his fellow voyagers. Returning to Europe in 1803, he was shipwrecked in the Great Equinoxial Ocean; this danger escaped, he sought refuge and assistance at the Isle of France, where he…


Honourable Cat

By Paul Gallico,

Book cover of Honourable Cat

Belinda Alexandra Author Of The Divine Feline: A Chic Cat Lady's Guide to Woman's Best Friend

From the list on for cat lovers.

Who am I?

Belinda Alexandra is the author of nine bestselling novels and a non-fiction book on the relationship between women and cats, The Divine Feline: A chic cat lady’s guide to woman’s best friend. An ardent cat-lover and rescuer, she is a patron of the World League for the Protection of Animals in Australia and lives in Sydney with her three black cats – Valentino, Versace, and Gucci.

Belinda's book list on for cat lovers

Discover why each book is one of Belinda's favorite books.

Why did Belinda love this book?

This is a book of poetry that will warm any cat lover’s heart – even those that would not normally read a book of poetry. The verses are deliciously insightful and will have many cat-lovers smiling at themselves and their relationships with their cats. It’s a lovely collection of cat lore, logic, and observations.

Honourable Cat

By Paul Gallico,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

A foray into cats' behaviour and habits by Paul Gallico.


Can I Be Your Dog?

By Troy Cummings,

Book cover of Can I Be Your Dog?

Alexandra Thompson Author Of A Family for Louie

From the list on joyful picture books about dogs.

Who am I?

As a little kid, I wanted nothing more than to be best friends with every dog I met. Our family dog was a Yorkie and she was my little buddy for 17 years. A Family for Louie came about because of my love of dogs, food, and family. Naturally, my first picture book would be about all of these things! Dogs are such wonderful creatures, brimming with love, loyalty, and so much personality. I hope this round-up of books featuring our furry four-legged friends brings a little joy and laughter to your storytime. 

Alexandra's book list on joyful picture books about dogs

Discover why each book is one of Alexandra's favorite books.

Why did Alexandra love this book?

This adorable and funny picture book is about a stray dog looking for his forever family by writing letters to each family on Butternut Street, but no one wants to take in poor Arfy. The illustrations are bright and colorful with lots of fun details for kids to point out. I love the exchange of letters between Arfy and the prospective families - each one unique to the sender. Will he ever find the right family? You’ll have to read to find out!

Can I Be Your Dog?

By Troy Cummings,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Can I Be Your Dog? as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The New York Times bestseller featured on THE TODAY SHOW!

A heart-tugging dog adoption story told through letters--deeply sincere and almost desperate pleas for a forever home--from the dog, himself!

This picture book shares the tale of Arfy, a homeless mutt who lives in a box in an alley. Arfy writes to every person on Butternut Street about what a great pet he'd make. His letters to prospective owners share that he's house broken! He has his own squeaky bone! He can learn to live with cats! But, no one wants him. Won't anyone open their heart--and home--to a lonesome…


The Cat Who Played Post Office

By Lilian Jackson Braun,

Book cover of The Cat Who Played Post Office

Joan L. Kelly Author Of Notions of Murder

From the list on cozy mysteries to snuggle up with now and then.

Who am I?

I’m a person who likes to nibble on poetry and taste history and non-fiction. But I love to devour fiction, especially mysteries. Reading a feel-good adventure with an excellent plot and engaging characters is my way of relaxing. My philosophy is that life can often be difficult, and fiction stories, such as cozy mysteries, are good therapy. When I’m not reading, quilting, or spending time with my grandkids, I’m writing stories. As a former teacher, I try to live up to the saying: Writing is painting pictures with words.

Joan's book list on cozy mysteries to snuggle up with now and then

Discover why each book is one of Joan's favorite books.

Why did Joan love this book?

The best way I can recommend this book is by informing you that, over the years, I have purchased every book in the series and read them more than once. Between 1967 and 2007, Lillian Jackson Braun wrote twenty-nine Cat Who books. This prolific writer passed away in 2011, but her novels are still popular. Her cozy mysteries do not feature the usual female sleuth. Instead, the main character is a reporter named Jim Qwilleran and his two Siamese cats, Ko Ko and Yum Yum. The story I picked to feature is The Cat Who Played Post Office. After millions were bequeathed to Qwilleran from Francesca Klingerschoen, known to Qwilleran as Aunt Fanny, he moves himself and the cats to the enormous mansion he’d inherited. After hiring a staff of local servants, a shocking murder takes place. Qwill’s ability to listen to others and his desire to investigate, combined…

The Cat Who Played Post Office

By Lilian Jackson Braun,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Cat Who Played Post Office as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Inheriting unexpected millions has left reporter Jim Qwilleran looking like the cat who swallowed the canary. While his two Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum, adjust to being fat cats in an enormous mansion, Qwilleran samples the life-styles of the rich and famous by hiring a staff of eccentric servants. A missing housemaid and a shocking murder soon show him the unsavoury side of the upper crust. But it's Koko's purr-fect propensity for clues amid the caviar and champagne that gives Qwilleran pause to evaluate the most unlikely suspects...before his taste for the good life turns into his last meal.


I Am a Cat (Bilingual)

By Soseki Natsume,

Book cover of I Am a Cat (Bilingual)

Gwen Cooper Author Of Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned about Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat

From the list on with cats as characters.

Who am I?

Gwen Cooper is the New York Times bestselling author of the memoirs Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat, as well as the novel Love Saves the Day (narrated from a rescue cat's perspective) and The Book of PAWSOME: Head Bonks, Raspy Tongues, and 101 Reasons Why Cats Make Us So, So Happy--among numerous other titles. The first book in her forthcoming "Homer Whodunit" Cozy Mystery Series, You Only Live Nine Times, will be released in Summer 2022. Gwen's work has been published in more than two-dozen languages, and she is a frequent speaker at shelter fundraisers across the U.S. and Europe.

Gwen's book list on with cats as characters

Discover why each book is one of Gwen's favorite books.

Why did Gwen love this book?

The original, and still unsurpassed! First published in Japan in 1906, this gleeful skewering of the foibles of Japan’s upper-middle-class during the Meiji era—told in first-person narration from the perspective of an eminently observant and sardonic housecat—manages to feel fresh and modern more than 100 years later and reads like something that could have been published last week. When I first set about writing my own novel from a cat’s perspective, Love Saves the Day, this was the first book I turned to for inspiration. It was so good, it almost left me too intimidated to write mine. Almost.

I Am a Cat (Bilingual)

By Soseki Natsume,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked I Am a Cat (Bilingual) as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"A nonchalant string of anecdotes and wisecracks, told by a fellow who doesn't have a name, and has never caught a mouse, and isn't much good for anything except watching human beings in action..." -The New Yorker

Written from 1904 through 1906, Soseki Natsume's comic masterpiece, I Am a Cat, satirizes the foolishness of upper-middle-class Japanese society during the Meiji era. With acerbic wit and sardonic perspective, it follows the whimsical adventures of a world-weary stray kitten who comments on the follies and foibles of the people around him.

A classic of Japanese literature, I Am a Cat is one…


Warriors

By Erin Hunter,

Book cover of Warriors: Into the Wild

Joy Kita Author Of Fable Nation

From the list on convince kids to put down the controller.

Who am I?

I am a middle-grade author and mother to four children. I have been an avid reader my entire life. I love fantasy novels and feel that this passion not only makes me a better writer, but an excellent reader. I appreciate well-rounded characters, fun and twisty plots, and intriguing conflict. When I wrote Fable Nation, it was to convince my own children that reading was fun. I had them hooked by page two. A good story has the power to transport readers to new worlds. My goal as a writer is to create such places. My goal as a reader: to find myself blissfully lost in someone else’s world.

Joy's book list on convince kids to put down the controller

Discover why each book is one of Joy's favorite books.

Why did Joy love this book?

Only a few books can engross a reader so fully they forget to play video games. This first book in the Warrior series is so captivating it will cause the most reluctant reader to spend hours turning pages. This book focuses on clans of wild cats.  It is full of heroism and adventure. As a writer, I am always searching for characters to keep my readers engaged. Erin Hunters has done a masterful job with each and every one of her many feline characters. Is this book all about cats? Yes. It is fun and engaging? Absolutely.

Warriors

By Erin Hunter,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

Epic adventures. Fierce warrior cats. A thrilling fantasy world. It all begins here. 

Read the book that began a phenomenon—and join the legion of fans who have made Erin Hunter’s Warriors series a #1 national bestseller.

For generations, four Clans of wild cats have shared the forest according to the laws laid down by their ancestors. But the warrior code has been threatened, and the ThunderClan cats are in grave danger. The sinister ShadowClan grows stronger every day. Noble warriors are dying—and some deaths are more mysterious than others.

In the midst of this turmoil appears an ordinary housecat named…


Yon & Mu

By Junji Ito,

Book cover of Yon & Mu

Abby Denson Author Of Kitty Sweet Tooth

From the list on cat-themed graphic novels and manga.

Who am I?

I’m a cartoonist who often features cat characters in my books, including Cool Japan Guide, Cool Tokyo Guide, Dolltopia, and Kitty Sweet Tooth. As a life-long cat-lover, I enjoy drawing and writing about my beloved feline friends. I’m also an avid reader of manga and frequent visitor to Japan, where I studied in my college days, so I particularly love reading manga featuring cats and collecting Maneki Neko lucky cat figures as well. I hope you enjoy these books and consider adopting a cat!

Abby's book list on cat-themed graphic novels and manga

Discover why each book is one of Abby's favorite books.

Why did Abby love this book?

Famed horror manga author Junji Ito brings us this delightful collection of autobiographical stories about interactions with his family cats. Those familiar with his chilling and grotesque horror stories will be amused at the unnerving style in which he draws himself, his wife, and cats. Ultimately, it ends up being sweet and heartwarming, even if the art is not exactly cute. This is a favorite of mine!

Yon & Mu

By Junji Ito,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

Horror comics author Junji Ito has recently purchased a new house and has decided to invite his girlfriend to move in with him. However, when she moves in, she comes with two cats, Yon, a strange-looking white cat with a ghastly fur pattern on its back that resembles a skull, and Mu, Yon's cute counterpart and playmate. This manga is a diary of the author's life as he tries and often fails to connect with his two feline friends. The manga is drawn in Junji Ito's horror comic style featuring intricate and finely drawn images.


The Guest Cat

By Takashi Hiraide, Eric Selland (translator),

Book cover of The Guest Cat

Ash Watson Author Of Because Japan

From the list on nostalgic stories set in Japan.

Who am I?

I’m a British Author who spent two years living and working in Tokyo. I have always had a strong love for the country, and while there I observed and experienced daily life while navigating many hardships and overcoming even more life lessons. Upon reflection, I am able to look back on the things I gleaned with a sense of proud nostalgia. The list of books I have compiled all centre around the same warm and familiar theme of nostalgia—with a heavy focus on life in Japan. 

Ash's book list on nostalgic stories set in Japan

Discover why each book is one of Ash's favorite books.

Why did Ash love this book?

You cannot get anymore Japanese than a central storyline surrounding the daily life of a stray cat. The attention to detail is my favourite thing about this book as it turns the simple and mundane aspects of daily life into poignant moments to cherish. I really appreciate the translation of this book as it offers a unique side into Japanese life not well known to the west. 

The Guest Cat

By Takashi Hiraide, Eric Selland (translator),

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

A bestseller in France and winner of Japan's Kiyama Shohei Literary Award, The Guest Cat, by the acclaimed poet Takashi Hiraide, is a subtly moving and exceptionally beautiful novel about the transient nature of life and idiosyncratic but deeply felt ways of living. A couple in their thirties live in a small rented cottage in a quiet part of Tokyo; they work at home, freelance copy-editing; they no longer have very much to say to one another. But one day a cat invites itself into their small kitchen. It leaves, but the next day comes again, and then again and…


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