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A Cat's Life: Dulcy's Story

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When I was fourteen years old my best friend, Tina (my faithful collie) died and I felt the first awful stirrings of grief. Night after night I laid on her favorite old rug crying, engulfed in loneliness and sorrow at her passing. To me it was the end of the world and no amount of comforting by my parents or friends could ease the pain. She had been my faithful companion, and since I was an only child she was in many ways my sister. As I grew older the grief subsided but the all of the lovely memories did not. When I read "A Cat's Life, Dulcy's Story" by Dee Ready, I knew there existed at least one more person on earth ( and one more pet in heaven!) who felt EXACTLY as I did. It made no difference that Dulcy was a cat and Tina was a dog; they were the same in spirit to each of us. This book is a must read for anyone who has ever loved or been loved by an animal soul mate.

As one who has been "owned" by many felines during my lifetime, I found "Dulcy's Story" to be the history of a wonderful relationship between human and pet, all of the joys and all of the sorrows until the ultimate sorrow of losing a companion of many years. I've gone through it so often and it never gets easier, whether the decision to take the pet to its final rest is made by me through euthanasia or by a natural death. Reading "Dulcy's Story" demonstrates just how these beautiful creatures wrap us around their little paws until we become slaves to all their whims and demands, and we love every minute of it! Unfortunately, many of our family and friends don't understand our loyalty to our pets and, therefore often dismiss us as a little crazy. But that's all right - we know we're OK; it's the rest of them that we worry about and even feel sorry for them if they have never known the unconditional love of a furry friend. Dulcy was a very special cat to a very special human, and the story of their life together is a wonderful testament to their relationship.

It makes me wonder if one or both of my current cats were to write a book on their life with me, what would they say? I would like to think that they would say their lives have been enriched as much as mine has been living together for nearly nine years and hopefully many, many more years.

On a late winter day in 1972, a cat (soon to be named Dulcy) found a woman worthy to be her human and with whom she would live for the next seventeen and a half years. When Dulcy's lithe and graceful hunter's body began to fail, and the time came to say good-bye, then her story became a song of acceptance and bravery that would drive to the core of anyone who has ever felt close to an animal companion. Dee Ready's A Cat's Life: Dulcy's Story is beautifully, memorably illustrated by the spectacular artwork of Judy J. King and simply wonderful reading from first page to last.

If you were to take a survey that asked what a cat did with its life, chances are people would say "nap, look out the window, and get into stuff." And of course theyŐd be right. If those people lived with cats, however, they might have a lot more to add, and if they loved their cats, they might understand the magic that a cat brings to the life of the family it lives with.

The author of this book invites us to observe how this magical bond comes about between human and cat and how deep such a relationship becomes when each learns the ways of the other and grows to love and depend on the other.

Dulcy fits the stereotype many people have of cats. SheŐs independent, persnickety, bossy, and fastidious. But as we read, we find out some amazing things. Dulcy actually teaches her human how to understand cat language; and we learn that she is very complicated indeed and experiences many human feelings. We see her express jealousy, superiority, intelligence, impatience, understanding, loyalty, and above all, love.

Dulcy lives a long, full life and has many adventures, some humorous and some humiliating. And because the book is written in her voice, she shares many of these adventures with us. We get to know her human, too, and while we sometimes wonder how Dulcy puts up with her humanŐs foolishness, we come to understand her human in the special way that Dulcy understands her.

In the end, when Dulcy has been very ill for a long time, her human does not want to let her go. When she takes extraordinary measures to prolong Dulcy's life, we get the sense that Dulcy hangs on to life purely for the sake of her human. Just when her human feels that there is no hope, Dulcy manages to scrape together a few more days, even weeks. And when she goes, she goes sweetly, leaving behind a look of love and a lifetime of memories.

This outstanding book is a story about the befriending, training, hurt, and love that a cat, Dulcy, and her human experience throughout their life. As Dulcy's tells her life story with her human you will smile, laugh and even cry as their life together unfolds. As an animal lover and friend this story made me remember all the patience my dogs (2) and cats (2) have had to endure while training me. This is a 'must read' for anyone who loves or has loved an animal and will bring back memories of the special bond you had with them. The illustrations were great and the story wonderful!!

This is a very special and beautifully told story, from a cat's point of view. Dulcinea, "Dulcy", tells the story of her life with her human, Dee Ready.
The perspective and awareness is remarkable. From the beginning, their interaction was based upon a mutual respect and love. The result was a strong yet tender bond, lasting a lifetime and beyond.
Both cat and human were present both physically and emotionally for each other, through many of life's changes and situations. They shared a spiritual connection. Not only was Dee blessed by Dulcy, I believe Dulcy was most assuredly blessed by Dee.
Anyone who has experienced a deep emotional connection with a pet will not only understand, but appreciate this very heartfelt book. It is a joy and a tribute to that special bond between the two species of human and cat. All those who have shared love with a cat should have this book on their shelf. It is sure to be a favorite book, read often.
To quote Dulcy (and Dee), "At the end, all that matters is love..."

After 17 years together, Dulcy, Dee Ready's beloved cat dies, but she is not silent. In the midst of her sorrow, Ms. Ready hears her cat's voice as she begins to give her a precious gift: Dulcy's life story.

I have never read a book that touched my heart in the way Dulcy's Story did. I have shared my life with many cats and know they keep much to themselves and remain mysterious, always. Dulcy begins her story by sharing the gifts her own mother gave to her when she was a kitten. Then she tells the story of her life with Dee Ready. It is a story of misunderstandings, of many ups an downs, but also of much fun and many adventures shared. Most of all, it is a story of a love that develops over time and grows so strong toward the end of Dulcy's life that it does not end there. I was deeply touched by Dulcy's story. And I cried, but I didn't cry because the ending was sad, or because I remembered my cats that have passed on. No, I cried because I felt overwhelmed and surrounded by all the love contained in this slim book. Those of you who have ever owned a cat will know exactly what I mean.

Dee Ready both heard her cat's voice and was able to find the words to tell Dulcy's story. I strongly recommend this book. It is one of the best books I have ever read.

I started to read A CAT'S LIFE: DULCY'S STORY about an hour & a half ago & just finished. I could NOT put it down. I am so moved I truly do not know what to say.

First, I must comment on her prowess as a writer. She made this book--& Dulcy--come alive to me. I felt Dulcy was actually telling me her story. I felt the true love that creatures of two different species had for each other. How fortunate the two of them were to have found one another. I laughed when she was "training" her & I cried when she said, "I had to try to live--for her".

I had long considered "Marley & Me" to be my favorite animal book. She has now moved it out of 1st place. Although, to be fair, I really am not sure if DULCY'S STORY is an animal book or a love story. I guess it's both!

I would recommend it to anybody & everybody!

Dee Ready is truly a treasure--Dulcy knew that!

This beautiful book found me a year after my precious cat died from throat cancer. I bet I read it 10 times, each time finding something new that related to us. It is tucked away, forever to be kept, tear-stained in the hallows of my mind and heart.

If you've never had or loved an animal, this book will change your heart and life forever...trust me!