The Cat and the Curmudgeon [Paperback]

Cleveland Amory (Author), Lisa Adams (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 21, 1991

Despite his hard-knock beginnings, Polar Bear is finicky about his newfound fame. Will nine lives be enough for him to answer all his fan mail? This tale of two curmudgeons will tickle the fancy of everyone who has ever been owned by a cat. And it doesn't end here-Polar Bear's fans won't want to miss the third and most poignant installment of the trilogy: The Best Cat Ever.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Polar Bear the Christmas cat is back, continuing to thwart Amory, his keeper. Featured in the bestselling The Cat Who Came for Christmas , Polar Bear became a celebrity, but refused to act like one. Amory tries to improve the cat's socialization with cat videos (Mews and Feather Report), but Polar Bear is more interested in his fan mail with its gifts of catnip. Amory tries to train himself to train the cat, without result. Visiting Black Beauty Ranch in Texas--the refuge operated by the Fund for Animals--the author recalls the Fund's rescue of the Grand Canyon burros, wild goats of San Clemente Island and wild horses from the Nevada desert. Polar Bear, somehow, behaves when meeting the refugees, including Nim, the chimpanzee trained in sign language. On a later visit to Martha's Vineyard, Amory finds an orphaned white kitten, Polar Star. Pet owners and animal lovers will enjoy these lighthearted tales. BOMC selection.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

YA-- In the 12 years since Amory rescued Polar Bear in The Cat Who Came for Christmas (Little, 1987), he has been thoroughly trained by his feline owner. Amory pokes great fun at himself while heaping praise upon his beloved cat. Although most of the anecdotes are humorous, light reading, the section on cruelty to animals by individuals and institutions is serious. Students would find this chapter, which includes Amory's stance on medical research, useful for debates or reports, while the further adventures of this entertaining duo will please animal lovers.
- Judy Sokoll, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 295 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; First Edition edition (October 21, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316037451
• ISBN-13: 978-0316037457
• Product Dimensions: 4.9 x 0.9 x 7.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,083,419 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Laughed Heartily, January 14, 2008

By 

Rozarooni (Chicago, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cat and the Curmudgeon (Paperback)

A delightful read and a must-have for any animal lover or pet owner. I laughed until tears came to my eyes. Keepsake for always, as well as a fantastic gift for anyone who loves cats. The man was a legend with a brilliant mind and sharp wit. I highly recommend this book..and the entire series of Polar Bear books, as well as his other works.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Cat and the Curmudgeon, September 5, 2008

By 

D. Juenemann (Farmington, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Cat and the Curmudgeon (Paperback)

This is the second of three books about Polar Bear, the cat adopted by Cleveland Amory. It continues the story of their life together and Amory's work with animal protection. Polar Bear is a very interesting cat and the words and thoughts given to him by Amory are amusing. Anyone who is owned by a cat will enjoy all three books. The Cat Who Came for Christmas and The Best Cat Ever are the other two.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book Ever, February 5, 2008

By 

E. J. Pilch "book lover" (Ware, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Cat and the Curmudgeon (Paperback)

I read Mr. Armory's first book about his beloved cat, Polar Bear and loved it, but this one is even better. I only wish that I had found my love of reading and cats earlier in life so I may have had a chance to write to him in person and tell him how wonderful he is. This man should be deemed a Saint, in his life time, he did for animals what Mother Teresa did for the poor of Calcutta.
I also wish I could have met Polar Bear, a most amazing animal.This book is a great mix of humor and wonderful stories of Polar Bears antics with numerous animals that Mr. Armory rescued. I am taking my time reading the last couple chapters and plan to do the same with The Best Cat Ever as I know that is the last of the series.
I even rented the movie, Mr. North just to get a glimpse of this amazing man in a bit part.He is truly, The Best Writer Ever....