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Feline Frolics #8
A Comfort of Cats
Tucked away in an idyllic corner of the West Country, you'd think Doreen and her husband Charles would be enjoying a peaceful life—but far from it. Their wily Siamese companions still keep them on their toes. The Toveys are presented with a new problem when the local cattery closes down. Where will they leave Saska and Shebalu when they go on holiday? And so they buy a caravan to take the cats away with them, only to discover that packing up and leaving home is far from a holiday when seal-points are involved. As Saska grows ever more boisterous, he develops monkey-like climbing abilities, a knack for opening doors, and a somewhat inconvenient obsession with wool. With Annabel the self-willed donkey, Father Adams, and a host of gossiping villagers, this is a beguiling tale to enchant and amuse.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
29 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Doreen Tovey
21 books34 followersDoreen was born in Bristol on 24 October 1918. At this time a flu epidemic was raging and her mother died from this leaving her two week old daughter to be brought up by her Grandmother, as her father, being an engineer, was away from home for long periods of time.
It was this upbringing that introduced Doreen to a variety of pets, as Grandmother was an inveterate rescuer of anything in need.
Together with her Aunt Louisa they shared a house with cats, dogs and an owl called Gladstone whose perch on the bathroom door dictated that the use of this room was a swift one as no heat could be kept inside with the continually open door.
Doreen went to Grammar School and passed her matric (as it was called then), she would have loved to go to university but knew her grandmother could never have afforded it.
After a couple of boring jobs she joined Imperial Tobacco and was with them for many years. Starting as a typist, then a secretary and, when they discovered that she could write, in their public relations department.
It was here that she met Rene, who was in the Accountants Department. They met on the staircase one day and six months later Rene went to war in the Royal Navy.
Rene came home on leave and they were married in Bristol by special licence on a Monday afternoon and spent a two-day honeymoon on a farm and Rene went back to war.
She spent most of the time Rene was away with her Aunt Louisa who made life quite fun for Doreen after the austerity of her Victorian grandmother, who loved her dearly but had set ideas how a young lady should be brought up.
Two and a half years later Rene was on his way home. His convoy coming via the Cape to avoid the still roaming enemy submarines, the war was still on and he was sent to London where Doreen was transferred to be with him. He was then posted to a shore station in the West Country and Doreen and Rene set about to find their dream cottage. They rented a very dilapidated ex public house with an earth closet, the dream cottage put on hold, both back working in Bristol for their old firm, Doreen now as their statistical librarian, writing reports that were read by the Board. A job normally only considered for a man.
After a couple of further moves, a Georgian relic and a happy period in a farm, they found the perfect place at Rowberrow, Somerset. They had also found a baby squirrel, which had fallen from its drey and Rene refused to climb the thirty feet necessary to return the little bedraggled mite to its nest. So Blondin became part of the Tovey family and unwittingly the reason Doreen and Rene got their first Siamese cat, Sugieh.
Blondin was a hoarder and the cottage soon became infested with mice looking for Blondin’s nuts and pieces of bread that he had stuffed under cushions and carpets for his rainy day. Whilst the mice had plenty to eat they did not cause too many problems but when Blondin caught a chill and died, their supply died too and they took to eating anything and everything. Doreen decided to get a cat and having seen a neighbour’s Siamese out for a stroll one day on a rather fetching collar and lead, decided that a Siamese would be the answer, she could also have a litter and maybe raise the Tovey finances.
Sugieh produced a litter of four kittens. Doreen decided that one’s fortune was not going to be made that way and when Sugeih died whilst being spayed (a far less straightforward procedure in the mid 1950s than it is today), decided to keep a sealpointed boy called Solomon and his bluepointed sister Sheba.
The antics of these kittens, a donkey called Annabel and the following Siamese inmates of The White Cottage were to bring Doreen world wide recognition of her books and writings, starting with ‘Cats In The Belfry’ published in 1957. The Canadian Government sponsored her and Rene on a trip to the Rockies to write about the Canadian Wildlife, with special focus on Grizzly bears. This trip can be read about in ‘The Co
It was this upbringing that introduced Doreen to a variety of pets, as Grandmother was an inveterate rescuer of anything in need.
Together with her Aunt Louisa they shared a house with cats, dogs and an owl called Gladstone whose perch on the bathroom door dictated that the use of this room was a swift one as no heat could be kept inside with the continually open door.
Doreen went to Grammar School and passed her matric (as it was called then), she would have loved to go to university but knew her grandmother could never have afforded it.
After a couple of boring jobs she joined Imperial Tobacco and was with them for many years. Starting as a typist, then a secretary and, when they discovered that she could write, in their public relations department.
It was here that she met Rene, who was in the Accountants Department. They met on the staircase one day and six months later Rene went to war in the Royal Navy.
Rene came home on leave and they were married in Bristol by special licence on a Monday afternoon and spent a two-day honeymoon on a farm and Rene went back to war.
She spent most of the time Rene was away with her Aunt Louisa who made life quite fun for Doreen after the austerity of her Victorian grandmother, who loved her dearly but had set ideas how a young lady should be brought up.
Two and a half years later Rene was on his way home. His convoy coming via the Cape to avoid the still roaming enemy submarines, the war was still on and he was sent to London where Doreen was transferred to be with him. He was then posted to a shore station in the West Country and Doreen and Rene set about to find their dream cottage. They rented a very dilapidated ex public house with an earth closet, the dream cottage put on hold, both back working in Bristol for their old firm, Doreen now as their statistical librarian, writing reports that were read by the Board. A job normally only considered for a man.
After a couple of further moves, a Georgian relic and a happy period in a farm, they found the perfect place at Rowberrow, Somerset. They had also found a baby squirrel, which had fallen from its drey and Rene refused to climb the thirty feet necessary to return the little bedraggled mite to its nest. So Blondin became part of the Tovey family and unwittingly the reason Doreen and Rene got their first Siamese cat, Sugieh.
Blondin was a hoarder and the cottage soon became infested with mice looking for Blondin’s nuts and pieces of bread that he had stuffed under cushions and carpets for his rainy day. Whilst the mice had plenty to eat they did not cause too many problems but when Blondin caught a chill and died, their supply died too and they took to eating anything and everything. Doreen decided to get a cat and having seen a neighbour’s Siamese out for a stroll one day on a rather fetching collar and lead, decided that a Siamese would be the answer, she could also have a litter and maybe raise the Tovey finances.
Sugieh produced a litter of four kittens. Doreen decided that one’s fortune was not going to be made that way and when Sugeih died whilst being spayed (a far less straightforward procedure in the mid 1950s than it is today), decided to keep a sealpointed boy called Solomon and his bluepointed sister Sheba.
The antics of these kittens, a donkey called Annabel and the following Siamese inmates of The White Cottage were to bring Doreen world wide recognition of her books and writings, starting with ‘Cats In The Belfry’ published in 1957. The Canadian Government sponsored her and Rene on a trip to the Rockies to write about the Canadian Wildlife, with special focus on Grizzly bears. This trip can be read about in ‘The Co
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 24, 2018
I love all of Doreen Tovey's books. This one revolves around their Siamese cats, Shebalu, and Saska .. called Sass, for short. Annabel, the donkey, of course, is still around. The villagers are still gossiping, and shaking their heads, about the latest 'goings-ons' up at the Tovey place. There is a heart-rending episode with a friend's cat, Franz .. but it comes good in the end.
If you're like me, and enjoy true tales about cats, various animals, and country living, then you'll probably enjoy Doreen's books.
5 Stars = It made a significant impact.
If you're like me, and enjoy true tales about cats, various animals, and country living, then you'll probably enjoy Doreen's books.
5 Stars = It made a significant impact.
January 19, 2015
Absolutely charming story about a loving couple their live in rural England with Siamese Cats, a donkey, pheasants and an assortment of quirky characters.
April 8, 2021
(2.5) Not one of the better examples from Tovey’s Feline Frolics series, but I couldn’t resist the title (and the final line from which it comes: “what is home without the comfort of cats?”). The plot, such as it is, is about the closure of the local cattery and the decision to buy a caravan so that Doreen and Charles can take their Siamese cats with them on their travels. But mostly the book is about the everyday trials and amusements of life with cats, and their quirky neighbors. I’ll keep going with the series wherever I can find the books via the library or secondhand bookshops; they are perfect for when you’re in need of a light read.
A favorite passage:
“Siamese have that effect on people. Noisy, destructive, imperious to the point of autocracy – one look from those compelling blue eyes and they have you in bondage for life.”
A favorite passage:
“Siamese have that effect on people. Noisy, destructive, imperious to the point of autocracy – one look from those compelling blue eyes and they have you in bondage for life.”
August 29, 2017
I cannot stand it when authors Use Capital Letters Like This to emphasise points. Gave up four chapters in when this irritating formatting choice showed no signs of abating, and I couldn't concentrate on the story.
May 1, 2024
A lovely gentle read about a couple of eccentric cat owners. Very funny in places.
April 23, 2014
La trama principale di questa nuova collezione di disavventure dei Tovey è proprio quella di decidersi a partire con i siamesi... decisione che tardano a prendere seriamente in considerazione. Grazie ad un nuovo gattile che li ospita, il desiderio sembra essersi allontanato, ma le continue lettere e visite di patroni gatti (anche siamesi) che viaggiano in perfetta armonia li fa sospirare al pensiero delle avventure che potrebbero vivere con loro... e con Annabel... e...
Ma la realtà è più complessa, possedendo siamesi in grado di aprire le porte, arrampicarsi ovunque e pronti ad infilarsi nei buchi più impensabili. Nel frattempo il villaggio è sempre il viallaggio. poco sopreso nello scoprire che i Tovey hanno un camper e che fanno "esercizio" dormendoci dentro con i gatti, passano il tempo discutendo di muretti pericolanti, di vicini poco cortesi, di stranieri invedenti e dei Tovey, ovviamente.
Ma la realtà è più complessa, possedendo siamesi in grado di aprire le porte, arrampicarsi ovunque e pronti ad infilarsi nei buchi più impensabili. Nel frattempo il villaggio è sempre il viallaggio. poco sopreso nello scoprire che i Tovey hanno un camper e che fanno "esercizio" dormendoci dentro con i gatti, passano il tempo discutendo di muretti pericolanti, di vicini poco cortesi, di stranieri invedenti e dei Tovey, ovviamente.
December 1, 2021
I love these books, they always make me laugh out loud at the antics of the cats, Charles and Doreen herself. Sadly this lovely lady passed away in 2008 so no more books and the people who bought the cottage in which she lived promptly knocked it down so its a little bittersweet knowing that the places and people in her book are no longer there.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews