Cats as Characters in Movies and Books
Cats and kittens bring people joy with their playfulness, affection, independence, and antics. No wonder they are often featured in films and books! Pixabay photo.Cats play a special role in the lives of thousands of people – in fact, nearly 43 million households owned at least one cat in 2019. No wonder many books and stories feature felines as characters.
One of the most memorable books I read as a child was The Incredible Journey, the story of three animal friends lost in the woods who embark on the journey of going home. The story features Sassy, a precocious feline, along with two dogs. This book was first published in 1961 and was developed into a Walt Disney film two years later. Another movie version, entitled Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey released in 1993, features the voice of Sally Fields as Sassy the cat. Although I’m now 60 years old, the ending still makes me cry (in a good way!).
The Adventures of Milo and Otis is another movie featuring a cat and a dog, and a cute film to watch with kids. Other fun, family-friendly films featuring cats include Oliver and Company (with music from Billy Joel, Huey Lewis, and Bette Midler) and The Aristocats, also Disney movies.
Most children enjoy animals, therefore, books and movies about dogs, cats, and horses appeal to them. Pixabay photo.Numerous books for children feature animals because most children enjoy stories featuring horses, dogs, cats, and other creatures. Children’s books with cats as characters include the Pete the Cat series, Splat the Cat series, the Skippyjon Jones series, The Warriors series for older kids, the board book Kitten’s First Full Moon, Amelia Bedelia and the Cat, and of course, Dr. Suess’ The Cat in the Hat. Many other books for young readers have cats as characters – find a list here: https://bookriot.com/cat-books-for-kids/
For adults, there’s also a plethora of reading material where cats are part of (even the primary character in) the story. The mystery genre seems especially packed with furry felines, including Lillian Jackson Brauns’ The Cat Who series, the Nine Lives Cozy Mystery series by Louise Clarke, the Cat Café Mystery series by Cate Conte, and Bookmobile Cat Mysteries by Laurie Cass (the latter three have 2021 releases). True stories of cats, especially rescued kitties, often hit bestseller lists, like Dewey: The Library Cat, Cleo: The Cat Who Mended a Family, A Street Cat Named Bob, Homer’s Odyssey, and Nala’s World: One Man, His Rescue Cat, and a Bike Around the Globe, released last year.
Romance books also make marvelous reads with pets as part of the story. Here’s a short list of romance novels with cats as part of the story:
Hemmingway’s Cats – new release by Lindsey Hooper
Family Affair by Debbie Macomber
The Good Ones by Jenn McKinlay
The Christmas Cat by Melody Carlson
Whisper Falls – A Destiny Novel by Toni Blake
Cats and Cowboys by Ruth Hartman
Cats as characters in mystery stories are widespread, adding excitement and humor to the story at times. Unsplash photo.Three of my Pet Rescue Romance books feature cats as well: Montana Love, released earlier this year features feline friends Emmy and Scarlett; Rhiann’s Rescue, prequel of the series, features Rhiann and Grams’ rescued kitty, Poppy (based on a dainty Persian/Siamese cat that lives next door to me), and Finding Love at Compassion Ranch, my May 2020 release, in which the primary female character, Erin, adopts a pair of bonded cats for her daughter. Those kitties are also based on real cats I once met at Kindness Ranch, an animal rescue sanctuary in Wyoming, to which I dedicate the book. Find my books on my Author Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/Gayle-M.-Irwin/e/B008J5KJSQ%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
So, as your summer reading commences in North America (or winter reading in other parts of the world), check out some of books I’ve listed. And perhaps pick up a movie or two with cats as primary characters and enjoy with family and friends this season!
My Pet Rescue Romance books feature pet rescue and adoption for dogs, horses, and cats. AllAuthor graphic.Pet Principle: Although many people adopted cats, dogs, and other animals during the COVID pandemic, often emptying shelters of adoptable pets, now that businesses, travel, and other places are opening up, these animals are being returned to animal shelters and rescues. June is National Adopt-A-Cat Month. Sadly, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) reports 3.2 million cats enter animal shelters in the United States every year, and nearly 860,000 are euthanized. Not only are people needed who are committed to their adoption and pet ownership responsibility, but also spaying and neutering of cats and dogs are vital procedures needed to keep the pet population down. We who love animals and have pets in our care need to do our part to lessen the number of dogs, cats, and other creatures going into animal shelters/rescues and lessen the number euthanized.
I recently transported two sets of kittens into rescue; their mamas were feral cats also rescued who were taken to a local vet for medical care and then adopted. These kittens were going to a rescue in another state, and they will eventually be adopted into loving homes … and likely spoiled!! G. Irwin photo.
