Review: Man vs Cat, an amusing read for cat (and all animal) lovers
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 4, 2013
I'm a cat person, always was, always will be. That makes me attuned to the vagaries of stewardship when it comes to issues of ownership (not pertinent), companionship and staffing.Staffing: this is the real nitty-gritty of living with cats and the delightful subject of this man's journey toward accommodation and acceptance. Or therapy. Sometimes it's easy to confuse the processes.What `seemed like a good idea at the time' had (and apparently still has) quite amusing consequences involving world domination and the singular dismantling of one's man's toehold on sanity and a feeling of well-being.Not to mention the state of his household and the irrefutable evidence of strategic thinking when it comes to plots, counter-plots and general mayhem.Mr. B has six cats, acquired in pairs and singly, two to the tune of Norwegian Wood. Mrs. B was, by necessity, instrumental in the matter of acquisitions, allowing her a measure of devotion and endearments not accorded to the Mister, aka Beard Face.Through `biographies' and amusing anecdotes via a Journal of the Feline Year, Mr. B takes us through the feline counter-culture, one quite alien to him but filled with warmth and quiet recognition for the reader with the singular good taste to have been selected by a feline for their very particular use.The second part of this `improbable tail' contains carefully amassed evidence as to the intentions of Mr. B's felines: namely, to `get rid of him'. It's compelling reading.It's also a bit of a hoot, at least those sections dwelling on popular culture references not specific to UK culture (BBC America provides some useful addenda to Brit pop culture but not every show is available so some stuff simply sailed over my head).This read ought to bring a smile and a nod of understanding, for after all, in even the most exaggerated of allegations, there sometimes lurks the kernel of truth.So be warned, and enjoy.Man vs Cat is a nice read for cat lovers (and those on the fence about `kittehs'): a solid 4-Stars.