Top Ten Sci-Fi Cats to Read instead of Homework

Top Ten Tuesdays are hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.  The blog hop features lists related to all things bookish–characters, authors, titles, and favorites. They’re an excellent way to find new interesting books on a variety of topics, and to connect with bloggers who love the books you do.

This week’s theme is a Back To School Freebie — anything “back to school”. If you’re like me, homework is not your favorite pastime, so for all the cat-loving science fiction readers out there in cyberland, here’s a list of  homework-avoiders.

Number nine

Furzel’s from Games of Command by Linnea Sinclair. Furzels are telepathic feline creatures. Sinclair has stated that these are inspired by her two cats.

 

Number eight

Pixel from The Cat Who Walks Through Walls by Robert Heinlein. The book itself is subpar Heinlein, but any cat who rates being a title character is star enough to make this list. In one scene Pixel does, in fact, walk through a wall. How?   He succeeds simply because he’s too young to know that it’s impossible.

Number seven

Gummitch from various stories by Fritz Lieber. This is one of several selections that prove my weakness for classic science fiction but hey, I’m an old fart.  Imagine a kitten with an IQ of 160! They all think they’re that smart, of course, but Gummitch really is.

Number six

Sprockets from Mission to Universe by Gordon R. Dickson. Dickson was an ex-pat Canadian asthmatic who was allergic to cats. (All of which describe me, as well.  Too bad about the allergies, because I love cats!)

Dickson’s asthma that didn’t stop him from writing a great cat. Sprockets is a stowaway feral kitten who becomes spaceship mascot. He doesn’t purr. The crew believe that if he learns to purr, they’ll find success in their search for an inhabitable planet. That’s the old scientific spirit for you!

Number five

Chester from The Celery Stalks at Midnight by James Howe.  Okay, this isn’t strictly speaking science fiction; it’s a YA fantasy.  But it’s my list, okay? Also don’t miss Howe’s Howliday Inn.  Gotta love a writer who’s unabashed about puns, right?

Number four

The Green Cat from Green Millennium by Fritz Lieber. The book may not be Lieber’s best, but the cat sure is. The human hero keeps following after the (nameless) cat because of the contentment he feels in its presence. Anyone who’s ever petted a purring pussy can relate. Unless they’re a dog person. But what are you doing reading this if you’re a dog lover?

Number three

The Barque Cats (take your pick from a shipload of cats). They’re the stars of two booksby Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough: Catalyst  and Catacombs.

Number two

The Cheshire Cat, who else? This dude’s attitude is 100% feline. If a cat could talk and smoke hookah’s, it would be exactly as aloof and supercilious as this disappearing cat.  Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Number one

Petronius the Arbiter (AKA Pete) from The Door into Summer by Robert A. Heinlein. Daniel Boone Davis occasionally carries this smart, loving cat  in a carrying-bag and feeds him ginger ale. Dan calls him Petronius the Arbiter because Pete is a good judge of people. If Pete doesn’t like someone, Dan doesn’t. Like any self-respecting cat, Pete is, of course always right.

And that’s what I’ve come up with. I have only nine on the list, so if anyone would like to add a tenth, drop me a comment.