The Inner Life of Cats

This book started a bit slow and rambling, good reading to be sure but at first I wasn't sure I wanted to go the distance with it. The first few pages made me feel like the author was just trying to spin imagery and impress us like a heavy-handed high school student writing something and trying to sound important. But it was atmospheric, and it quickly picked up speed and stayed that way the rest of the book, so I'm glad I got it, and recommended for cat lovers and non-cat people, it covers all the ground and does so impactfully. He takes generally realistic, balanced, and very open positions on topics, not afraid to say things that are not positive for cats so not rigged for cat lovers, but net, positive.The thread running through the book is a love story for their cat, Augusta, her trials and endearing character, the people's trials, mistakes, and learnings, and through it all the relationship and feelings between them that all pet owners can understand and that science has finally been proving the last few decades. The book ties things together via Augusta and her story, but it packs a lot of observations and experiences about cats, their character, and how humans interact with them, from around the world. Some are basically reported, some are critiqued (for and against) in rational ways with which most cat owners would probably agree. Some of the author's stated failings or mistakes with their cat are similar to ones we have made, we can relate to them, and he is very open about them and provides insight about the better alternatives. Frankly, I would not let a cat roam in an area infested with rattlesnakes and expect her to return each day but these guys love and have lived in rural Montana as well as other places (e.g., San Francisco), and experienced them fully, and it worked for them and the cat very well.At the end of the day, this is a very good, balanced, and powerful book to read, written from the heart, very emotional but based on factual material, and ties things together very well.

Author Thomas McNamee's infinite appreciation of the natural world, his diligent research skills, and his agile pen combine delightfully in this short book that should be on your short list if you're among those billions of people who consider themselves Cat People. While dogs may be obvious to us, cats are mysterious - it's a large part of their allure - but are they totally inscrutable creatures? Not if you're as sensitive, observant, and patient as McNamee. Framed as the story of the deep bonds formed between McNamee, his wife Elizabeth, and an abandoned kitten who literally walked into their life one fine day, the book alternates between science and poetry, between the head and the heart. His explorations are as much about the human soul as the feline paradigm. And he shares his insights, along with the fruits of his awesome research, with the reader in a manner that acknowledges his subjects' essential wildness at the same time as he proclaims the symbiotic connections between humans and cats in our civilized world. Whether you own a cat, are thinking about getting one, or grieving the loss of one, this book will offer you comfort, wisdom, and not a little emotional wallop.

The sample offered online proved to be an anecdotal account of a wayward kitten who wormed its way into the lives and hearts of some Montana ranchers. It was engrossing and adorable, and so I ordered this book thinking it was a light read that would be perfect for hiding out at home during the pandemic. The content was well written but I was dismayed that it seemed to be more of a study of...well...studies of cats. Not the cats themselves, but a study of studies..about cats. I kept waiting for the subject matter to return to the adorable kitten, but it was only mentioned in passing. I finally gave up on page 78. Mind you the subtitle does say: "The Science and Secrets". The word "Science" is given priority. However, the sample provided smacks of a "bait and switch" tactic, since they did not use a sample of the science to lure in a reader.

A great narrative: very engaging and informative! In short, a good read. Our latest cat is 10 years old and all of 7 pounds, and, after reading this book, I can say, as much as it can be said, that I UNDERSTAND her better. Cats are even harder to understand than women, but this book closes the gap. What women hate about men, they love about cats: cats will ignore you, walk away without explanation, take you for granted, and rarely express appreciation. Yet, they're still loved: "Isn't it cute!" Like so much in the book, the reference to "semi-owned" cats was defining: there's a cat which sits on my front doormat many mornings, but, whenever I approach as unthreateningly as possible, it stirs, and wanders away (I don't feed it -- someone else is obviously doing that). This cat, like every cat, has an "inner life" that I can now better appreciate. Thanks, Mr. McNamee!

I had already bonded with my cat, but after The Inner Life of Cats I have an even deeper human/animal relationship with this fellow sentient being. This book is an artful blend of hard science about cats together with their interaction with human behavior and emotions. In its description of academic research mixed with first and third person anecdotal accounts, it touches deep into the human psyche; don't be surprised or distressed if parts of it have you weeping over what cats experience. It effectively debunks the common assumption that cats are emotionally cold and selfish. Instead, it reveals them as sensitive creatures who need your emotional investment, something far too few domestic cats are fortunate enough to enjoy from their humans. If nothing more, this book will open for you a deeper experience with your cat (or appreciation of cats if you don't have one).In my opinion, this book also could help in bettering relationships just between humans. There are numerous analogs to be drawn between humans and cats in this book, that would show how to make all human interactions more productive and fulfilling.

Recommended

Ce livre est unique, un écrivain américain raconte leur vie avec un chaton appelé Augusta, et c'est en même temps tout un parcours de vie, avec des pages magnifiques sur les émotions, les erreurs parfois et l'amour que l'ont peut avoir pour un animal et vice versa, très belles pages aussi sur la nature, émaillée de découvertes scientifiques sur les chats. Quand Augusta meurt de maladie et de vieillesse le processus de deuil et la tristesse sont très émouvantes, ce livre est presque une réflexion de vie avant qu'un nouveau chaton puisse arriver. Une merveille.

This is a wonderful book and deserves a spot on the shelf in any cat lover's library! It contains lots of history about cats, as well as information about their instincts and habits. It's maybe not as much of a fun read as some other cat books, but I found it very interesting!

A well written story .

Ce livre est tellement bien écrit, comme un roman mais en même temps contient beaucoup d'infos pour les amateurs de chats. J'ai appris beaucoup sur les chats et ça m'a aidé à mieux apprécier mon propre chat. Les chats sont les créatures magnifiques car même en état quasiment sauvage, ils s'entendent bien avec les humains.