I Am the Cat, Don't Forget That: Feline Expressions [Hardcover]

Valerie Shaff (Author), Roy Blount Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 26, 2004

What would cats say if they were of a mind to talk? Valerie Shaff and Roy Blount Jr. have a good idea ...

On the heels of their hugely successful I Am Puppy, Hear Me Yap and If Only You Knew How Much I Smell You, Shaff and Blount have paired again, this time for a witty and insightful look at America's other favorite pet -- the cat. Shaff captures the essence of the ever-elusive cat in her gorgeous photographs, and Roy Blount Jr., who the New York Times says is "in serious contention for the title of America's Most Cherished Humorist," provides accompanying verse that seems to speak a cat's thoughts. The combined result is a touching and often hilarious take on the minds and hearts of felines.

When I purr
Don't infer
It's because you pat.

No, you pat
Because I purr.

I am the cat,
Don't forget that.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Valerie Shaff's photographs have been exhibited internationally and have appeared in The New Yorker, Martha Stewart Living, and In Style. This book is Valerie's fourth collaboration with Roy. She lives in upstate New York.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 124 pages
• Publisher: Harper (October 26, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006056041X
• ISBN-13: 978-0060560416
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #215,872 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars inspired wonderfulness, March 18, 2005

By 

Brian Watson "brian from studiomomo.com" (New Westminster, BC, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I Am the Cat, Don't Forget That: Feline Expressions (Hardcover)

It may sound odd to say this, but I loved this book so much, I gave it away.
As soon as I read through it, in love with the poetry as much as the photos, I knew immediately that my cousin, a dear friend who loves cats as much as I do, should have it.
As a long-time fan of Mr Blount, especially from NPR, I was very much delighted to see his poetic side. Each poem is akin to haiku, in that they illustrate a single moment of awareness, in this case, for cat owners.
Yes, sometimes the awareness is one you've already experienced. But the combination of the photos and poetry will therefore only resonate that much more deeply.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great present for cat lovers!, January 1, 2005

By 

Teacher K (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Am the Cat, Don't Forget That: Feline Expressions (Hardcover)

I received this book as a Christmas gift and couldn't put it down. It's a great book for any cat lover you know and will make you laugh out loud!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Wisest Species, July 3, 2006

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I Am the Cat, Don't Forget That: Feline Expressions (Hardcover)

Whether a cat lover or one puzzled by the history of cats in stories or one who feels intimidated by their presence, this is a book to cherish and to entertain and to remind us that felines have their own distinctive personalities that can vary from utter devotion and comfort to conscience-prying demigods!

Photographer Valerie Shaff and writer Roy Blount, Jr. have collaborated in presenting this visually stunning, beautifully designed and charmingly written commentary on the cat. The photographs somehow manage to capture those looks that cats can capture that seem somehow to put us in our place, or at least give us a strong dose of reality testing. Far from presenting the cat as the household ogre, Shaff and Blount combine their talents to unravel the meanings of gestures, of body language, and of responses between cats and people that is as astute as any other book out there.

Blount is a fine writer and commentator (reference his NPR work), but here he is content to offer simple haiku-like mini-thoughts that reflect the transient moods of the subjects. This book is a must for cat lovers and an introduction to the humor and mystery of cats to those considering adding a cat owner to their household! Grady Harp, July 06