My Cat Saved My Life

by Phillip Schreibman

"This is a small story in the stories of the world," announces author Phillip Schreibman in his introduction to My Cat Saved My Life. "It's about a man and a cat and what the cat showed the man before it was too late."

Schreibman was a composer for theater and television in Toronto when both of his parents died, six years apart, after long illnesses. The losses hit him hard, and he plunged into despair. He found himself "confused among people, angry at trifles, depressed and distracted in all my endeavours." At 39 years old, he felt that his life had "ground to a halt."

Enter Alice, a tiny, abandoned kitten in desperate need of rescue. Schreibman, whose own cat had been killed two weeks earlier in an act of monstrous cruelty, could see that if he didn't save the kitten, it would die. What he didn't yet know was that the 6-week-old life he was saving would in turn revive his own.

As he and the cat began living together, Alice insisted that Schreibman pay attention to her. She'd wake him up early, sometimes by knocking the alarm clock on the floor if he didn't respond to gentler urgings. "C'mon, let's have breakfast," she was telling him. When he was stuck indoors fretting over bills at his desk, she would pull him away to show him something in her world. "Usually it was a bird in a branch or a sudden summer downpour; maybe a burst of midwinter sunshine was flooding the yard. I had ceased paying attention to these things." And that may have been Alice's greatest gift to Schreibman (and to us): teaching him to notice and appreciate the small wonders of everyday life.

My Cat is a book of rare emotional candor. Its beauty lies in the author's willingness to expose his rawest nerve, describe his own pettiness and fears, and recognize the fallacy of human superiority over other life. "My cat woke me up," Schreibman concludes. If we're willing to pay respectful attention, perhaps our cats will do the same for us. --Charles Smyth

Genres: Cats, Nonfiction, Animals, Memoir

113 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1998

Reviews

[Lacey Louwagie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short, quick little book, and I wanted more of it.

I wanted to understand more about the shape of Phillip's life when his cat Alice came into it. He talks some about the recent deaths of both his parents, but very little about his current life situation. Perhaps this is because he struggled with depression and felt disconnected, but he did not indulge in even the smallest amounts of contextualizing, such as letting us know if "Mary" is his girlfriend or his wife or his room-mate. I wanted to know more about Mary in general, as I think our primary relationships are pretty key to how we interpret everything that's going on around us.

I also wanted to know more about his other cat. It always strikes me as a little strange when a multiple-cat owner writes a memoir and it focuses on one particular cat, with the others relegated to mere "side characters." The same thing happened in both Homer's Odyssey and Cat Daddy: What the World's Most Incorrigible Cat Taught Me About Life, Love, and Coming Clean. Do these cat owners really love one cat more than the others, or is it just that one cat has a more unique story? It seems to be the "underdog" cat that gets written about, while the healthier cat is relegated to the sidelines. Sucks to be a healthy cat when it comes to your literary potential, I guess!

Still, I gave this book four stars because it really is beautifully written. It absolutely drags you through the grief of losing a cat in a way that is so visceral that I found I had to put the book down and read just a few paragraphs at a time in the chapter where Alice dies. I think that is why this book is so healing to people who have lost cats, because Schreibman really articulates the agony of the empty place they leave behind. It's difficult to read but also cathartic. I would not recommend it to folks who own cats but have not yet lost one -- better to cross that bridge when you get there rather than get such a visceral preview and reminder of your cat companion's mortality as this book offers.

[Madelyne! · Rating 3 out of 5]

felt bad only leaving 3 stars. The story of Alice ... brilliant, 5 stars. Partway through I wanted to send this book to anyone I knew who had a cat.
Then the energy deflated (for me) when he moved into the philosophical/spiritual mentality.
Alice was all about being ... then his thinking took over in a way that lost our connection.

[Ed Vaughn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cutesy self help book. We all know depression is a bitch and yes, animals call relieve anxiety. I stay surrounded by my pets.

[Hayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Takes me back to when my Kitty saved me; and all the beautiful memories of her. I cried reading this.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful short book that is about a man who was having an existential crisis triggered by the death of his parents, and the little cat who helped him really learn to live and see the world around him with new eyes. It was a very relatable story for me. Even though it is short I took my time to savor it.

[Toni · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up off the curb in Toronto bc I liked the cover, and idk you could say my cat also saved my life??

Zen in the art of cat ownership (friendship).

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful book and just the right read for me after losing our beloved fur baby. It helped me in my grief to recognize some of the wonderful lessons our cats teach us, and to see reflected in the author's experience with Alice a special bond like the one we shared with our kitty. It felt like having my hand held in grief by someone who understands. Thank you to the author for the comfort of your story.

[Celine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I normally am not a huge fan of cat books. However this book was so engaging and I don't want to spoil it for you but I did do a lot of crying.

[Olwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delightful heartwarming story.

[Isabel Fontes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used to have a cat named Charlie but couldn't bring him with me for personal reasons. Charlie helped me through a dark time in my life, and I have felt hurt and anguish since the day I left him behind with the person who was causing me pain. Although it was a selfish decision, I had to do it to save myself. I want to believe that he's okay and safe now, even though I wasn't at that time.

Now that I no longer have Charlie, I feel a profound void in my life. It feels like I am mourning the death of a still-living cat.

For reasons I cannot explain, I am unable to have him with me, and I experience a deep pain in my chest every day.
I believe that pain has turned into anger towards the person responsible for destroying the bond I forged with this little animal from the moment we brought him home at just 8 weeks old, almost 3 years ago.
This anger gradually turned into a feeling of hatred and loss.

I felt a deep connection with the author as I read the book.
I experienced the same emotions that have been accompanying me since I lost my cat, Charlie: tenderness, love, dedication, anguish, anger, and even hatred. All of these feelings stem from having Charlie in my life and losing him, even though I believe he is still alive in some way.

While reading the book, I often felt distressed because I could relate to the author's experiences. The pain of losing a cat was so intense that I found myself needing to put the book down. During the chapter where Alice reminded me of my cat, I could only read a few paragraphs at a time.

Phillip Schreibman faced the heart-wrenching loss of his parents, enduring a challenging time filled with sadness. However, everything changes when a tiny orphan kitten named Alice enters his life. Her playful spirit and unconditional love brought joy back into his world, guiding him through his grief. Alice taught Phillip invaluable life lessons and helped him embrace the beauty of every moment, preparing him to face life's transitions with grace and acceptance.

While this book has poignant moments that tug at the heartstrings, it ultimately radiates hope as Phillip embarks on a transformative journey at "Cat School." There, he discovers profound lessons that enlighten him and empower him to take charge of his life once more, finding strength and purpose in his newfound understanding.

I was truly captivated by this remarkable story, especially knowing it was based on actual events. It reminded me that I'm not alone and offered me so much comfort.
I've learned that it's perfectly okay to grieve and to embrace those tougher days along the way.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, maybe I'm a superficial cat video watcher, but I wanted a simpler story. This man was totally depressed and still grieving the loss of his parents, who both died painful deaths and for what? He was there as each breathed their last breath. He doesn't understand death, or God's role or lack of it. He isn't functioning well. Enter: Alice, the cat. Alice taught him how to live in the moment, like a cat does, and how to appreciate creation. He felt it saved his life. I wanted to hear MORE about Alice and how they interacted and how his feelings changed, and how his LIFE changed for the better. He was apparently married, how did that impact his relationship with Mary? What about his working life, did that get back on track? I'm glad he was able to write a book, but it was all philosophy and existential questions. It's short, too, I should mention that, about 100 pages, short chapters.
PS. I have to talk about the name of his cat----he wrote this BEFORE the "Alice Epidemic" in novels!! I could not believe that now a CAT is called Alice!! Where will it end??

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently picked this book up from a charming used book store and it looked like it had never been read, which is a shame. I adore my cat and I appreciate every ounce of my boy every day. The author had me thinking over how my boy has saved me in my own life, too.

I've had people in my life tell me that I shouldn't get torn up about my cats' health, and that "it" is "just" a cat. My cat is not an "it", he is a he. He does have a soul, and I believe he has more weight to his soul than some humans out there.

My cat is my family. Just like how Alice was apart of Philips' family.

I am envious of my cat and how it is effortless for him to exist and be content in Creation, just like Alice. I hope to learn more in Cat School.

[Jerry Levy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know I'm late to the party since this slim book came out in 1998, but I only found it at Value Village this past weekend. It's a lovely read, thoroughly enjoyable, and the author is bang-on (in my opinion) with some of his observations, such as cats come into our lives to help us (teach us, even) and when they've taken us as far as they can, they leave on their own terms. I also loved the references to the Talmud and the Kabbalah.

The only thing about this book is that it might have been longer and not missed a beat.

I actually needed this book at this time in my life since my own beloved cat, one I rescued from a terrible situation, passed away in my arms 3 years ago. I only had him for 4 years, not nearly long enough, but long enough that he taught me what I needed to know, just like Alice taught the author of this book. I'm pretty sure my own cat, Cookie Bear, went to the same cat school as Alice. Anyway, reading this book has sparked my interest in getting another cat, a cat I can provide a loving home to, and of course, a cat that can help open some doors for me.

I'm curious about the author, whether he ever got another cat. I tried to check him out on FB but couldn't find him; if anyone knows, let me know!

[Mandi Hidalgo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good cat story. Hearing how others have experienced the joy and wonder that is having a feline companion makes me feel like there are people who understand. I love being a cat mom, after all.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, sweet story. Sad at times, but very beautifully written.