What's the Matter with Henry? The True Tale of a Three-legged Cat

by Cathy Conheim

When Henry was found, his left leg was seriously injured. This could have been the end for this kitten. Instead, it was the beginning of an incredible adventure. His is a story of triumph over bias and barriers as he was rescued by two people who didn't even like cats. Henry taught his rescuers the power of love to overcome all. He teaches us that hate is learned and that it is easy to hate what we do not know. When we come to know someone, human or animal, it is difficult to hold on to hate.

Genres: Cats, Animals

Hardcover

First published February 8, 2013

About the author

Business Consultant,Psychotherapist ,author, speaker, producer henrysworld.org / realwomenproject.org





My passion as a change agent is to give people the tools to transform their lives. I am known to be outcome oriented in all that I do. I only work with people who have the willingness and courage to travel beyond their comfort zones. I have been blessed with many special teachers, some with two legs, some with four and fur. Birthing new projects is one if my passions..

Specialties: Short term behavioral therapy, treating addictions, negotiating and conflict management and communications training

Reviews

[Cindra]

Actually a reread for me; I reread this book when I need to put things in perspective. It's one of the sweetest stories I've ever read, and a good lesson in diversity and embracing differences.

[Sara]

A cute book suitable for all ages that uses its adorable, eponymous feline to impart a deeper message about prejudice. For a woman who has always hated cats without having much firsthand experience with one, the author comes to appreciate Henry for what he is when they are forced to live together by circumstance. One of the messages that the book champions is that fact that bias or dislike towards something that someone has no real experience with is often based on false preconceptions, and spending time with that person, animal, or thing can help to erase prejudice. Applicable in more contexts than just pet selection! Proceeds from the book all benefit animal-rights organizations like the ASPCA. Awesome!

[Sharon]

Very sweet ending to a brutal start, Henry the cat is on a mission to spread an important message applicable to pets as well as people. Wisdom cleverly applied to life situations, there is much room for thought. I liked it, despite the areas of sadness that were included.

[Todd LaMontagne]

Synopsis: What's the Matter with Henry? The True Tale of a Three-Legged Cat by Cathy Conheim and BJ Gallagher is a book I love for a couple of reasons. First of all, it is a story about facing a handicap with strength and determination and not letting that handicap keep you down. In the case of Henry, the 3-legged cat that is meant to be taken literally. No matter how hard his adopted family tries to keep him in an enclosed space, he just wont have it. I also love this book because Henry comes to his new family when they discover four abandoned kittens outside their front door. That is how I came to adopt my kitty, Tiedye. My sister found Tiedye and three of her siblings near their wood pile. After she nursed the kittens for about six weeks, my sister had to find homes for them, and we were lucky enough to get our little bundle of multi-colored energy. She has been a great addition to our family and my son has really taken to the responsibilities of caring for a pet in a mature manner. The book has plenty of pictures of the real-life Henry and all the proceeds from sales of the book are donated to animal rescue organizations.
Themes/Curriculum Connections: Animals, cats, animal rescue, handicaps, perseverance, pets.
Age/Grade Recommendation: Elementary and up

[Mokamonkey]

It looks like this one might be self-published, but it is surprisingly good. It's a non-fiction book written by 2 women about their 3 legged cat. The writing made me smile and the pictures of the cat were great - they really enhanced the text. At one point they used pictures of his head and then just his eyes to convey the irresitable sweetness that compelled them to adopt him. My only quibble is that the end was too moralistic. I think they could have let the moral speak for itself a bit more, rather than spelling it out completely.

[Tori]

I am a sucker for special needs animals and my parents just adopted a three-legged kitten about three months ago.

[Theresa]

What's the Matter with Henry? The True Tale of a Three-legged Cat (Hardcover)
by Cathy Conheim
the real story of a three legged cat and how he survives

[Finny]

Chinaberry recommended, Holiday 2011

[Cana]

Chinaberry recommended, Holiday 2011

[Frances]

I just loved it. Photos added a lot to the story. Uplifting

[Helen]

This is a sweet picture book for kids! It tells how a cat needed a leg amputated, and how she got along after the amputation had healed. It has lessons for the child, plus some open-ended questions for the child and parent/teacher to explore.

[Hayla]

The heart of this story deserves 5 stars; who doesn’t love the perseverance of a kitten?

But the writing is not the best I’ve read. I think it could use some work to make it the best it could be.

[Timi]

The pictures make the book. I didn't realize it was intended for children when I bought it. The price made sense when I read at the end that all profits go to an animal shelter.