An Unlikely Cat Lady: Feral Adventures in the Backyard Jungle [Paperback]

Nina Malkin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2007

Who in their right mind would try to befriend the wild cats in her backyard? In this first ever feral cat narrative, writer Nina Malkin does just that.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In a tone that's delightfully sassy, Malkin, a resident of Brooklyn, N.Y., describes her escapades with feral cats beginning when Flaca wanders into her backyard. After Flaca leaves for parts unknown, a hungry mother cat with four kittens arrives. Malkin, already an owner of two cats, and her not-so-cat-friendly husband, Jason, do not attempt to domesticate the strays, but find themselves naming, feeding and bonding with them. This leads to several unavailing attempts to find new owners for the kittens. She and Jason then employ the TNR (trap, neuter, return) strategy, which aims to control the feral population in the immediate area. The strategy not only aids the cat population, but protects Malkin's reputation as the "crazy cat lady." Malkin's background as a magazine journalist serves her well as she relates humorous anecdotes: building the cat shelter in their basement, watching the kittens' antics during a snowstorm and surviving a raccoon invader. Malkin interjects useful information on cat care and cat behavior along with her story, and only occasionally does she show her "crazy cat lady" side with overly feline-infatuated prose. This sprightly tale will please cat lovers everywhere, and maybe even convert a few dog lovers along the way. (Jan.)
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Review

"This sprightly tale will please cat lovers everywhere, and maybe even convert a few dog lovers along the way."--Publisher's Weekly

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Lyons Press; 1 edition (January 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159228972X
• ISBN-13: 978-1592289721
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 6.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #638,152 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wish more people were like Nina and Jason......, February 8, 2007

By 

Judith E. Ramsey "Bookworm" (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Unlikely Cat Lady: Feral Adventures in the Backyard Jungle (Paperback)

First, Flaca didn't wander into Nina and Jason's backyard. Nina spied her on the sidewalk down the block when she left her brownstone on her way out the front door and made the Psst, Psst sound and soon had a hungry and very sweet friend. Publishers Weekly must have forgotten the specifics of that meeting. Sadly, Flaca stopped showing up one day and Nina envisioned, first all the worst things that might have happened, then thought someone else may have taken her in. But soon, the little family of Momma and four tiny kittens did stroll into the back yard and latched onto both Nina's and her husband, Jason's heart.

This true story is a journey for both the very kind people involved as well as their helpful friends and, of course, the cats. Nina named the momma cat Axl Rose and the 4 kittens Sid (Vicious), Nancy, Paul (a girl) and Raylene, also a girl.

The investment of the time, energy, and their money was mainly a step in the desire to help feral cats, as well as to stem the proliferation of more and more colonies in their neighborhood. Education first was key to doing it right and Nina and Jason did it right.

This isn't a how-to book, although it provides the information if one is inspired to get involved. It reads like a can't put down novel, for me. It's funny, it allows us a look into Nina and Jason's everyday life and it's also sad - just like all of our lives are, but especially when a life includes beloved animals.

I've personally been involved with many stray cats over the past 13 years, having them spayed or neutered, then taking them to one or two cat shelters who then take them to places like Pet Smart on special days to find an owner. In the process of the testing phase though, I've lost 2 because of positive FIV or Leukemia tests, but I think more than 15 found loving homes through the adoptions. This was before T/N/R became so popular - and it's a wonderful solution. I've also added 4 to my own existing 2 house cats, which has been a mixed joy. I believe that's more than enough to classify me as one of those "crazy cat ladies", but age and exhaustion has put a stop to that.

Read this book, guys. It's wonderful and inspiring.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical inspiration for your own acts of kindness and humanity towards feral animals, February 9, 2008

By 

Jessica Lux (Rosamond, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Unlikely Cat Lady: Feral Adventures in the Backyard Jungle (Paperback)

In her sassy, humorous memoir, Nina Malkin describes life as an accidental cat lady. She and her husband noticed feral cats in their Brooklyn neighborhood, had their hearts stolen away, and then educated themselves about proper handling of feral colonies. Nina and Jason quickly became Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) advocates. TNR is a grassroots effort to trap feral cats (a humane trap will run you $50), have them neutered and vaccinated, and return them to the wild. A true cat lover can not just feed feral colonies, encouraging continued breeding, so TNR is a true way to show humane support for animals.

Nina lovingly names her cat-neighbors after rock stars Axl Rose and Sid Vicious, and throughout the course of the book, she teaches the reader to appreciate these lost and wild cats on their own terms.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Should've been called "The Nice, Yet, Discriminating cat lady"..., August 24, 2008

By 

Shana "That's my opinion- I could be wrong!" (Northern NY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: An Unlikely Cat Lady: Feral Adventures in the Backyard Jungle (Paperback)

Basically, this book is about Nina Malkin's feeding a feral group of cats in her backyard and she gets involved in the TNR Program (Trap Neuter Release). She names her Ferals mostly after rock stars and tv personalities and their comical antics. While I deeply admire anyone who feeds and cares in any way for feral cats, there were a few things that I didn't care for in this book. Ms. Malkin has one stray who died, so she just throws the corpse into the dumpster and she attempts to make this comical.?! Also, there was an unattractive feral tom cat who's not very healthy and he was sleeping in an old kitty condo in their backyard and Ms. Malkin and her husband chase him away "because he's ugly". Later when setting a TNR trap, they trap the same "ugly" tom cat. Rather than take him to get neutered, she releases him in order to trap a more "attractive" cat. Did the author ever think that maybe with a little care, medical treatment and love that the "ugly" cat's looks might improve? Also, if you're conservative about curse words, the author uses quite a few. She also makes a commit about white people & Koreans which is a bit racist, tho I don't think she meant it to seem that way.

Don't get me wrong, there were things I enjoyed in this book too. Being my mother cares for over 70 homeless and stray cats, I really appreciated the author drawing attention to other people (the unsung heroes) who have helped cats. Also, this book gives readers ideas for helping feral cats. As, I should, I do applaude Nina Malkin for all her efforts in the TNR program.

Overall, I'd recommend checking this out of the library first or swapping for it. While there were parts I enjoyed, I doubt I'd read this book again.