You Might Be a Crazy Cat Lady If ...

by Janet Vormittag

Everybody knows one--a woman who has an affinity for cats. She feeds the local ferals, takes in the friendly strays and is the go-to person when you have a cat question. She could be your neighbor, your sister, your aunt, your mother or your daughter. Does the phrase 'Crazy Cat Lady' come to mind when you think of this person? If so, you'll enjoy reading this book. Janet Vormittag takes the crazy out of the cliché Crazy Cat Lady. In this collection of stories, she gives us an intimate peek into the mindset of a woman who might have too many four-legged furry friends In this book, you'll meet more than 20 cats including Lucy, a partially paralyzed kitty who loveshunting mice; Buddy, the Basketball Cat, who has a slight eating disorder; Frosty Flake, a foster kitten who never left; Wild Cat, who took more than a year to domesticate; and semi-feral littermates Pumpkin and Pearl. This book will give you a better understanding of why and how someone ends up with a house full of cats. You might even be convinced to replace the word crazy with compassionate.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Cats

144 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2017

About the author

Janet Vormittag is an author, editor and animal advocate. She is the publisher of Cats and Dogs, a Magazine Devoted to Companion Animals, a free publication distributed in West Michigan that promotes pet adoption and spay/neuter. Janet has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Grand Valley State University and was a correspondent for The Grand Rapids Press for ten years. She has had articles published in Cat Fancy, The Muskegon Chronicle and the North Ottawa Weekly. Her story of the taming of a feral cat, Wild Cat I Think You Love Me, was published in The Ultimate Cat Lover (HCI, 2008). She is a member of Toastmasters International’s club GVSU 4380 and is the Division L winner in the 2011 Tall Tales Contest.

Reviews

[Sue Merrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I admit I'm a Crazy Cat Lady. This book would be worth it just for the photos the author's darling kitties. But Janet tells dozens of real-life stories about her cats from the loveable snuggly ones to the aloof, unapproachable feral ones. There are kitty-tastrophies like "The Great Spraying War." And the mysterious appearance of kitty doubles. There are momma cats and lively litters, as well as aging cats coming to the end of nine lives. Janet weaves in bits of her own life as the stories unfold, an old farm house replaced with a new home. A marriage that falters and fails. And the cats that grow up through it all. Janet's love for all life is readily apparent. She doesn't want her cats killing mice or chipmunks. But she isn't about to put up with indoor kitties who can't learn to behave. Her solutions to providing good homes are inspiring. Crazy Cat Ladies everywhere will enjoy.

[Diana Duell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not an animal owner but many of my friends and family are so I can appreciate the love people have for pets. Now that I said that, this book was filled with funny stories about cats. I had a good laugh with several of them. This book is not just for crazy cat ladies, it is fun for anyone.

[Rebecca Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks

I officially know I am crazy now. Cat crazy. The charming antics of the bad boys, to mom cat and her two girls, to izzy the mom, this book was hilarious. I totally recommend. Phew, imagining that heater smell.
.... All I have to say is, 5 stars would read more. -Cat crazy 10 year old who reads a lot

[Marie Shirley Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

For animal lovers

I have 4 indoor cats,all rescued as kittens. Several have health issues, but with love and care they are just fine.

My barn has 12+ cats. I'm not quite like the author, but it's hard not to care for them.

[Alissa Notine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilariously true

As a cat lady myself, I loved this book.
It was hilarious and points out so many things that are common when you have cats.

I will say that the last chapter deals with animal death, and if you are anything like me it will probably make you cry.

[Suzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cat lovers can relate

Very heartwarming and heart-wrenching stories that any cat lover can relate to. As a cat mom to 2 furbabies I found similarities between Janet's experiences and mine.

[Barbara Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a crazy cat lady!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book as I could relate to the the things she did to make life better for her kitties. It amazes me that there is a kindred spirit living across lake Michigan!

[Debora M Wiseman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feel good story

This is a heart warming story, well written and one that us crazy cat ladies can easily relate to. Easy read and I recommend it.

[Cheryl A. Breidigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice Surprise!

Wasn't expecting too much from a free book with term"crazy cat lady" in it. Book was well written and held my interest.

[Billie Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

Thank you for making such a great book. Thank you so very very much.I have 4 cats and 2 fish

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to my Goodreads friend, Karen, who gave me this book. Reading it makes me very, very glad that I do not live on a small farm with a barn and enough acreage to make it harder to limit the number of cats in my life. (Full disclosure: I have never had more than 3 cats at one time, and I currently have only one. I don't think this makes me quite a crazy cat lady, though the fact that I once brought home a "souvenir" kitten from vacation probably does put me in the running.)

[Sherri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very fitting title

As a cat lover, I commend Janet for what she does, because, I know I could never do it. Loved the short little vignettes that just took a couple minutes each to read. . Made it a nice book to be able to pick up and read every time I only had a few minutes to read

[Becky Salazar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun book. Mostly a story of her cat acquisitions but the show fits most cat lovers.

[Nan Pokerwinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though I haven't had a cat in my life for almost forty years, I grew up with scads of them. Vormittag's stories brought out my inner cat lady, along with memories of my kitties' distinct personalities, peculiarities, and knack for soothing spirits with a purr and the soft touch of a paw. "You Might Be a Crazy Cat Lady If . . . " documents three decades in the life of a kind-hearted animal lover, but also makes it clear that the cats she befriends are not the only ones to benefit. In return for the food, shelter, and love she provides, they offer comfort when life delivers heartbreak and loneliness.

Not only is "Cat Lady" an entertaining read, with accounts of using a wildlife trail cam to catch male cats spray-marking their territories indoors, it's also informative. I learned, for instance, the meaning of "tortitude"and found out there's such a thing as a catio--a cat patio.

Only confirmed cat-haters will fail to find something to appreciate in this book (and even some of them may be won over).