The Cats' House (Hardcover)

by Bob Walker (Author), Frances Mooney (Author) "Frances and I met while stuffing envelopes for a California political cat campaign..." (more)
Key Phrases: Dias de los Muertos

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
What began as a simple floor-to-ceiling scratching post to prevent Walker's nine cats from sharpening their claws on the furniture is now a whole set of ramps, stairs, and cat walks throughout his house. The playfulness of this house, which has been painted in over 40 bright colors and contains Walker and his wife's collection of Dian de los Meurtos figurines and toys, comes across in the numerous photographs. Instructions are included for building ramps, cat walks, and mouse holes through which the cats pass from room to room. This fun book is recommended for large interior design collections.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
It's not exactly architecture or do-it-yourself art. What Walker has created is a colorful tribute to the roles cats play in our lives by offering a way to reward them for simply being their feline selves--an environment called the "cat house." The directions for reproducing his 110-foot series of catwalks, staircases, mouse (and other) holes, and shelves are admittedly sparse; a few architectural renderings and some minimalist instructions guarantee that an imitator will need to check other sources. But practical advice does appear in the description of how to secure treasured accessories and furniture, and there are some suggestions on remodeling (e.g., don't position the new feline aerie next to the curtains). Above all, it's the spirit that counts as well as the photographs; every one of the nine felines sharing the Walkers' lives is pictured rather contentedly walking, sitting, rolling over, and smiling on one of the structures. Definitely catwalks to heaven. Barbara Jacobs

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 92 pages
• Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing (August 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0836221834
• ISBN-13: 978-0836221831
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #264,589 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a marvelous, marvelous book!, May 3, 1999

By	Patricia O'Tuama "rissa" (Illinois) - See all my reviews

Don't buy this expecting detailed woodworking plans or construction blueprints because you'll be disappointed if what you're after is a how-to guide. What the author has given us instead, however, is a magical book full of inspiration and cats and color and ideas and cats and textures and cats that will help you decide how you want to design your own special feline walk-ways, steps, balconies, boxes, alcoves, entrance and exitways for your cats in your house or apartment.

The author and his wife are avid collectors not only of cats, but of Mexican folkart as well. Their house abounds with colorful textiles, furniture, masks, frames, pottery and numerous carvings. They have incorporated their love for these things into the type of catwalkers and connecting pieces they designed for their house: everything is done in vivid shades of red, purple, yellow, blue and green and the cat pieces compliment them beautifully. My husband and I don't collect Mexican folk treasures but after reading this book and studying the pictures, I realized how easy it would be to incorporate our own color schemes, style and art objects into making a unique set of catwalkers for our own cats.

The author does provide enough instructions and measurements so that someone who is reasonably well-acquainted with woodworking could install the basics (or you could always show the book and your designs to your contractor). The author also has suggestions on cat-proofing your house and your collectables (such as using "Quake Hold" to attach breakable objects to tables)

Also included in the book are pictures of a cat habitat designed by the author for the National Cat Protection Society in Newport Beach.

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Make sure to get the FULL sized edition!!!, May 31, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Cats' House (Little Books (Andrews & McMeel)) (Hardcover)

Great book, just make sure you get the FULL sized version, I believe it is ISBN: 0836221834. The pictures are too good to be wasted on the teensy weensy edition offered by Amazon. Oooooops!! It never crossed my mind to look at the dimensions. [(in inches): 0.39 x 3.81 x 3.25]

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cat People Just Understand: This is GREAT!, May 4, 1999

By A Customer

I received this book as a Mother's Day gift from my daughter on the other side of the country, and I haven't stopped smiling since I popped open the package -- It also effectively stopped work productivity for the next several hours as fellow cat-lovers and not-so-enamoured co-workers marveled at the charm, whimsicality, and rich, vibrant colors. If you yearn not to be an 'all-white walls' person AND have been properly trained by your cat(s) to think constantly of their amusement and mental & physical needs, you can only be inspired to let your own imagination get to work. I will enjoy this book for a very long time and love that something so special and delightful was correctly seen as JUST what I'd adore.