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Desser the Best Ever Cat
A heartwarming and cathartic book for anyone who has ever loved, and lost, a cat.
This is the story of a cat, told by the little girl who loved him best.
From his first plaintive mew to his last loving purr, Desser was an essential member of the family. And for the little girl, especially, he was a constant companion. He was the catalyst for her first steps, thrilled when she got her first big bed, and he was waiting for her after her first day of school. But as the girl grows bigger, Desser grows older. And eventually it is time to say good-bye. Still, by telling his story and remembering him well, the girl finds a way to keep him alive in her heart.
With the simplest words and truly adorable illustrations, Maggie Smith captures the special bond we have with our pets and offers a helpful method for coping with their loss.
This is the story of a cat, told by the little girl who loved him best.
From his first plaintive mew to his last loving purr, Desser was an essential member of the family. And for the little girl, especially, he was a constant companion. He was the catalyst for her first steps, thrilled when she got her first big bed, and he was waiting for her after her first day of school. But as the girl grows bigger, Desser grows older. And eventually it is time to say good-bye. Still, by telling his story and remembering him well, the girl finds a way to keep him alive in her heart.
With the simplest words and truly adorable illustrations, Maggie Smith captures the special bond we have with our pets and offers a helpful method for coping with their loss.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published April 10, 2001
1 person is currently reading
39 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 26, 2025
A good book about the loss of a beloved pet for a child. Although, I wouldn't have chosen it for my cat-book read if I had known that Desser dies, it does fit in. Just, now I am all weepy.
Library copy
Library copy
November 1, 2024
This is a heartfelt, sweet story about a family and the cat they love. "Desser" grows up right alongside the family, having a special bond with the daughter in particular, who tells the story from her perspective.
But as Desser grows old, his health begins to fail, and the family comes to terms with their pet's life coming to an end. They find a special way to memorialize their cat and grieve together. This is presented sensitively, but straightforwardly, and will be helpful to families with young children who are grappling with the loss of a pet.
The book wonderfully concludes with the family visiting the animal shelter together and adopting a kitten. It is made clear that they will always love and remember Desser, even as they enjoy the antics of the new cat.
Great humane education messaging here--everything from a family seeking vet care and doting over an ill pet, to taking a child's sadness over the loss of a pet seriously, to the modelling of shelter adoption as a great way to rescue a cat and give her a forever home.
But as Desser grows old, his health begins to fail, and the family comes to terms with their pet's life coming to an end. They find a special way to memorialize their cat and grieve together. This is presented sensitively, but straightforwardly, and will be helpful to families with young children who are grappling with the loss of a pet.
The book wonderfully concludes with the family visiting the animal shelter together and adopting a kitten. It is made clear that they will always love and remember Desser, even as they enjoy the antics of the new cat.
Great humane education messaging here--everything from a family seeking vet care and doting over an ill pet, to taking a child's sadness over the loss of a pet seriously, to the modelling of shelter adoption as a great way to rescue a cat and give her a forever home.
June 15, 2022
My son had a really hard time with this book because the cat dies. We only got to the part where it was sick, and he literally ran away and asked me to let him know when it gets happy again.
It does get a happier when she gets to pick out a new cat.
This may be a good story for those who have dealt with the loss of a cat and want empathy and catharsis, but for my boy it was not good timing since our cat has some injuries at the moment. A little too scary and tramatizing.
It does get a happier when she gets to pick out a new cat.
This may be a good story for those who have dealt with the loss of a cat and want empathy and catharsis, but for my boy it was not good timing since our cat has some injuries at the moment. A little too scary and tramatizing.
August 25, 2017
So sweet but sad.
February 8, 2018
It is sad because the cat dies, but it's a very sweet story that teaches children about death.
August 18, 2021
So sweet but so sad. Read this story with my nephew. 🥺❤️
March 25, 2024
One of my favorite books when I was a kid. Bought it for my own kiddo. It's a great book for dealing with pet loss.
April 17, 2025
A wonderful story sharing the life, love, and passing of a beloved pet along with adopting a new pet and developing a relationship with them while sharing memories of the past pet.
September 13, 2020
When a child has grown up with a pet and the pet dies, especially the first one that they were really close to, it is difficult for them, and frequently the entire family, to deal with. Often we don't know what to say or do to help our children navigate through their emotions and loss. Desser the Best Ever Cat portrays a great example of how we can help children process loss.
The story is told by the girl, the oldest child in the family. She tells about Desser's life and their life together from her own childhood, through his getting old and finally dying. When Desser is dying, she tells her mom she doesn't want him to leave her and her mom tells her that Desser will always be with her because she will always remember him. The story shows how the family prepares a special bed for Desser as he is dying and shows how she spent time with him before he died. It also showed the family burying him under his favorite tree together. His dying and death were not candy-coated. They were dealt with directly and maturely.
The story ends as we learn that after Desser has been gone a month the family goes to the pound and get a new cat, Ginger. The girl tells us about Ginger and how it is similar to Desser. She continues to talk about Desser and tells Ginger all about him. It ends with her telling us that Ginger's going to know Desser was the best ever cat.
I really appreciated the way the issue of Desser's impending death was addressed in this book and also how the child was assured that keeping her memories of him was a good way to process her feelings. I also liked how she continued to tell her new cat, Ginger, about Desser, instead of life just becoming about the new cat as if Desser never existed at all. The fact that Ginger came from the pound - not a pet store - also resonated well with me. I'm a huge supporter of rescuing pets.
Death and loss are the kinds of things none of us really want to talk about until they happen and we feel like we have to. However, bringing them up and creating a safe space to discuss them before it is necessary is a valuable way to prepare for the sad, sometimes devastating, eventuality that we all must face - the death and/or loss of a loved one (pet or human).
Children are frequently not given enough credit for being able to understand and process complex emotions and situations like illness, old age, and death. We do them a disservice hiding these topics away from them until they come crashing into our children's lives, often without warning. Death and dying are an absolutely natural and inevitable part of all of our lives. The more normal we can make the experience and discussion of it in our lives and the lives of our children, the less traumatic and disruptive death and loss can become in our and their lives. Give that some thought as you're picking out books to read to the children in your lives as well as in the conversations you have with others of all ages.
The story is told by the girl, the oldest child in the family. She tells about Desser's life and their life together from her own childhood, through his getting old and finally dying. When Desser is dying, she tells her mom she doesn't want him to leave her and her mom tells her that Desser will always be with her because she will always remember him. The story shows how the family prepares a special bed for Desser as he is dying and shows how she spent time with him before he died. It also showed the family burying him under his favorite tree together. His dying and death were not candy-coated. They were dealt with directly and maturely.
The story ends as we learn that after Desser has been gone a month the family goes to the pound and get a new cat, Ginger. The girl tells us about Ginger and how it is similar to Desser. She continues to talk about Desser and tells Ginger all about him. It ends with her telling us that Ginger's going to know Desser was the best ever cat.
I really appreciated the way the issue of Desser's impending death was addressed in this book and also how the child was assured that keeping her memories of him was a good way to process her feelings. I also liked how she continued to tell her new cat, Ginger, about Desser, instead of life just becoming about the new cat as if Desser never existed at all. The fact that Ginger came from the pound - not a pet store - also resonated well with me. I'm a huge supporter of rescuing pets.
Death and loss are the kinds of things none of us really want to talk about until they happen and we feel like we have to. However, bringing them up and creating a safe space to discuss them before it is necessary is a valuable way to prepare for the sad, sometimes devastating, eventuality that we all must face - the death and/or loss of a loved one (pet or human).
Children are frequently not given enough credit for being able to understand and process complex emotions and situations like illness, old age, and death. We do them a disservice hiding these topics away from them until they come crashing into our children's lives, often without warning. Death and dying are an absolutely natural and inevitable part of all of our lives. The more normal we can make the experience and discussion of it in our lives and the lives of our children, the less traumatic and disruptive death and loss can become in our and their lives. Give that some thought as you're picking out books to read to the children in your lives as well as in the conversations you have with others of all ages.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2010
From School Library Journal
A girl honors the life of a much-loved pet by telling Desser's story, from the time her father found him when he was still single to his death as an elderly cat. As she talks about all the things she and Desser liked to do together, snapshotlike illustrations of the pair are spread across the pages. In essence, this is a scrapbook documenting the long years of friendship between a child and her pet, including their ups and downs, which saves the book from becoming saccharine. As Desser ages, he goes blind in one eye, and sometimes loses big tufts of fur. The pictures show an older girl who understands that she must handle her old friend gently. The artwork is sometimes overly sweet, but always pleasingly detailed, which lends an air of truth to the story. Desser's house and his family are depicted as comfortably messy with lots of homespun prints and patterns as colorful accents. Those who look carefully will see the girl and cat reading some favorite titles, including Puss in Boots and Millions of Cats. The reassuring message here is that loved pets live on in our memories. This will be a welcome addition for children coping with the loss of an animal, but it stands on its own as a charming story of one cat's life.
I would definitely recommend this for young ones dealing with the loss of a pet, or impending loss of a pet.
Recommended for PreSchool-Grade
A girl honors the life of a much-loved pet by telling Desser's story, from the time her father found him when he was still single to his death as an elderly cat. As she talks about all the things she and Desser liked to do together, snapshotlike illustrations of the pair are spread across the pages. In essence, this is a scrapbook documenting the long years of friendship between a child and her pet, including their ups and downs, which saves the book from becoming saccharine. As Desser ages, he goes blind in one eye, and sometimes loses big tufts of fur. The pictures show an older girl who understands that she must handle her old friend gently. The artwork is sometimes overly sweet, but always pleasingly detailed, which lends an air of truth to the story. Desser's house and his family are depicted as comfortably messy with lots of homespun prints and patterns as colorful accents. Those who look carefully will see the girl and cat reading some favorite titles, including Puss in Boots and Millions of Cats. The reassuring message here is that loved pets live on in our memories. This will be a welcome addition for children coping with the loss of an animal, but it stands on its own as a charming story of one cat's life.
I would definitely recommend this for young ones dealing with the loss of a pet, or impending loss of a pet.
Recommended for PreSchool-Grade
October 23, 2014
The kitty cat's name in this story is actually Dexter, but she's named Desser since the little one messed up on the pronunciation, (She IS 3 years old, y'know.) The kid grows up and old with Desser...and so does Desser. The cat dies near the end, and it is sad, but ultimately it's very uplifting with a positive message of people and animal friends we love. What may be sad for little ones is when the death scene comes up and Desser goes to kitty heaven...but then kids in the 40s had to endure Disney's Bambi when his mommy gets blown to hell, and the 50s had Old Yeller, so I see no problem for kids who wish to connect with grief in a good and healthy way. But some may still be sensitive, so take precautions, and hold your little one's hand when necessary. Maybe even give them a hug. Kids love hugs when sad.
May 12, 2012
A girl tells the story of Desser. Her father found him as a kitten and named him Dexter. He was at her parents wedding, moved with them to the new house, and he helped to watch over the girl when she was only a baby. Dexter was hard for the girl to say as a toddler, but Desser liked his new name too. Desser and the girl did everything and went everywhere together. But as the girl grew up, so did Desser---he got old and sick. One night, he died. The girl's family buried him with his favorite belongings and after a while, they adopted a new kitten.
The story of Desser and the cozy illustrations will be comforting to children who have experienced the death of a cat (or other pet) and help them to overcome their grief without forgetting their beloved pet.
The story of Desser and the cozy illustrations will be comforting to children who have experienced the death of a cat (or other pet) and help them to overcome their grief without forgetting their beloved pet.
September 11, 2008
I absolutely love this book! I stumbled upon it while helping my cat-obsessed toddler find a book at our local library. Not knowing the ending ahead of time, I actually had to cut the book short while reading it to her because I was overcome with emotion as the cat grew older and was expected to soon pass away. I had to read through the book a few times on my own before I was able to read it with her. It is a beautiful story that teaches us all how to understand and express our feelings of loss in such a way that allows us to move on and continue to enjoy life. Yes, all that from a sweet, little children's book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2015
My six-year-old son checked out this book from our library because he thought the cat on the cover looks like our Buster, and it does. So he was calling the cat in the book "Buster" -- until it died. The he decided that Buster wasn't Desser after all.
This is a very sweet story about special cats and the kids who love them, even if it did make me choke up as I was reading it.
This is a very sweet story about special cats and the kids who love them, even if it did make me choke up as I was reading it.
January 16, 2008
Story of a little girl who is raised with a cat and then loses her cat. It has a hopeful ending.
April 5, 2008
Another tear jerker for those who love felines.
August 13, 2008
Anyone that is a cat lover with truly enjoy this book. It is one of the few books that brings tears to my husbands eyes.
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February 2, 2010read in children's lit; even though i knew the plot, it got me. a non-cheesy sad kids book.
October 2, 2010
This book was very touching for us! We have an old cat who may die soon and it really made her understand more about they get old but we can still love them when they are gone!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2010
For anyone who's had a cat (or any pet) that has passed on. My 6-year-old brought this home from the school library. She cried when I read it to her, but loves it just the same.
December 21, 2011
Really touching book about dealing with the death of a pet.
May 3, 2012
This was probably the first book I ever read. It's also maybe why I'm a cat person XD.
December 28, 2015
Excellent book on dealing with the death of a beloved pet. Celebrates the life of the dead family member and reassures kids that it's okay to find a new pet to love.
June 20, 2014
Really sweet book dealing with loss of a pet.
January 23, 2015
We read this in my children's lit class and I almost started crying like four times.
August 26, 2015
Do not read this if you don't want to cry. DAMN YOU MARTHA!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews