Customer Reviews

An Unlikely Cat Lady: Feral Adventures in the Backyard Jungle

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I enjoyed this book more than I had expected. It was not only a delight to read,but informative as well. Being a cat lover and having adopted my share of "outside cats", I certainly could relate to the author's experiences. I read parts of the book to my husband who agreed that she captured the essence of many of our own experiences.

If you are a cat lover or interested in animal welfare, you will find this a worthwhile and quick read.

This is the first published book i've seen that describes someone's experience with TNR, (trap, neuter, return) which is what everyone should do if you have a feral cat in your backyard. You look up your local cat rescue or SPCA groups to find who is supporting TNR in your neighborhood, you get a vet appt or find out when the next TNR vet day is for feral cats (many vets won't work on ferals hence a good idea to hook up with an existing TNR group, or just start your own), you buy or borrow a cat sized humane animal trap (20-40$), trap the cat, take it in to be vaccinated and neutered, and then if feral, release it back in the same location. And then, ideally, feed and monitor your TNR'd cats (their ears will be tipped so you can tell who you've done and who is unneutered). No more kittens or cat explosions, and you have the security of knowing the ferals in the area are protected against rabies.

More and more people are getting on the TNR bandwagon. It's pretty easy to do, and you know you've done some good for the animals in your neighborhood. Feeding of course is not enough, because the animals continue to breed. Feral cats aren't easily adoptable, and many shelters will just euthanize them. They're in that middle ground between wild and pet animals, but with a little effort they can be given a niche to survive in the environment, and TNR is what they need, plus a bowl of kibble and some water.

This is a light and amusing book that describes one woman's first venture into TNR. The only cautionary note was that I didn't like it when she let one cat out of the trap and didn't TNR him because she didn't find him attractive. It's a sorry thing when such care is only available to cute kittens. And if she didn't like him, why leave him unneutered to sire more just like him? And I wondered if she had gotten him vet care, if he would have made it, since he seemed ill. At least he could have been humanely euthanized rather than being let out, ill and still unneutered. But other than that one diappointing occurance, it was a reasonably good tale.

This is a wonderful non-fiction book about cats, but it's so much more. It's about the beat of Brooklyn,the beasts that inhabit the borough (both four-legged and two) and rock and roll. Malkin writes about stalking and being stalked by wild animals. Although she feeds them and gives them names of dead and living rock stars, ultimately she learns they're not to be tamed but accepted on their own terms. She provides useful advice about dealing with a backyard invasion of stray cats, but in a narrative unlike any other animal book I've read. Think Marley and Me meets Hunter Thompson's Hell Angels.

Here is a witty, intelligent and poignant story that is similar to those played out across the world - what to do with your homeless cats? The author takes us down the road with her as she becomes more and more deeply entangled in a web of heartache and joy, courtesy of the urban cats she befriends and ultimately takes responsibility for. It is a story for anyone who loves cats, but it is especially valuable for those of us who find ourselves in the same situation. It is full of humor, small and large disasters, and much information on her experience with TNR (Which she sometimes calls "Trick, Neuter, Return"). I wish I had had this book in the early nineties when I was in the quagmire. Buy it - read it - be thankful for it!

The book was informative in general, but I became a little weary of the author's sarcasm. I was also greatly disturbed when they disposed of one of the dead ferals in the trash can. That was surprising to me given their level of emotional and financial investment in the cats. I would have expected that a proper cremation would be in order.

"Ms. Malkin gets cat, and cat people. She offers a real look into the stray cat/feral cat "problem", who causes it, and also how to solve it. Her book is informative and easy to read. She gives solutions and suggestions as to where to go for...moreMs. Malkin gets cat, and cat people. She offers a real look into the stray cat/feral cat "problem", who causes it, and also how to solve it. Her book is informative and easy to read. She gives solutions and suggestions as to where to go for help.
But what really makes her book wonderful is that she offers her own experiences as proof of not just the feral experience, but the human connection. She tells us her story, along with the cats she came to love, help, and often ultimately lose.
I love this book...and Ms. Malkin for sharing it.

I read up to page 32 where the author complains about some bad tenants

who are white and says "They are textbook examples of what black people

mean when they say white children get no home training."

I've lived in Chicago all my life (57 years) and have

never heard that black people say white children get no home training.

It was a racist slur against white people and since it accused blacks of

a racist belief which I don't believe they even have, it was also anti-

black. Her bigotry disgusted me. I threw the book in the garbage where

all racist trash belongs. I do not recommend this book.