We have three cats at our house, and have recently acquired a dog. The cats are not impressed. But, I am hopeful that they will someday all be friends.
I feel like I have been living and breathing cats and dogs lately, which has put me in mind of this quote about cats from Anne:
“I love them, they are so nice and selfish. Dogs are TOO good and unselfish. They make me feel uncomfortable. But cats are gloriously human.” – L.M. Montgomery, Anne of the Island
I love our dog (along with some others- Leo, Eddy, Lucy, and Nellie, to name a few), but I would still have to call myself a cat person. How about you? Dogs or cats?
Here are a few animal books that I have read and liked (Lassie, Winn-Dixie, The Art of Racing in the Rain, A Dog’s Purpose, The Incredible Journey), or haven’t read but would like to (this is just a sampling – there are so many!):
Has anyone read any of these? What are your favourite animal books?
Consumed by Ink 
I am definitely a dog person yet my favourite animal book would be a favourite from my childhood – Jenny and the Cat Club by Esther Averill. I hope your cats and dogs become friends soon!
I have never heard of Jenny and the Cat Club. I think my kids might need to have it, though. 🙂 Thanks for the suggestion!
I loved it when I was a kid. My two are a but young for it yet!
Dogs have owners. You know what cat people are called? Staff. I have three cats.
They make up for it by being so cute and interesting. 🙂
Right.
Cats all the way! And I have the I could pee on this. 🙂
That looks like such a cute book! And, your cats are adorable!
Thank you Naomi :). And yes we loved the book ^^
I love cats (I have two) and dogs but I also consider myself a cat person. I absolutely love this quote from L.M. Montgomery!!!
I plan to read the “Compleat Cat” by Cleveland Amory forever now. I found it in a thrift store (really!) and it looks just too cute!
This looks like another cute suggestion. Thanks!
I think I actually should be a cat person: my ideal day involves sitting under a blanket reading with tea nearby. Cats are very conducive to this lifestyle. But I am decidedly a dog person. Dogs always and forever. I’m also kind of allergic to cats so…dogs.
I rarely read books about animals too. Normally bad things happen to the animals and it’s always worse when bad things happen to animals. People can die, it’s fine. But please let the dog/cat/horse be ok.
I am with you on that! It is so much worse when an animal dies. I was reading A Dog’s Purpose out loud to my kids, and they were getting impatient with my constant need to stop and try to gain control of myself while reading about the dog’s many re-incarnations. It was such a nice story, though. Just better not to have to read it out loud. Same for Lassie. I think I scared my children when I read them that one! 🙂
I adore cats, and have very little patience with dogs. My favorite animal books of all time are James Herriot’s All Things Great and Small books. Those were popular in the eighties, and I don’t know if people are still reading them or not, but they are terrific. Happy to see Jenny the Cat here, and there is another children’s picture book that won the Caldecott called April’s Kittens that is a good one too.
I don’t know how James Herriot got left off my list! I read those books a long time ago, but I think they are still going. Thanks for the suggestions!
I have only read The Art of Racing in the Rain, which I found silly. But I highly recommend Farley Mowat’s Never Cry Wolf, which is sort of dog-like! 😉
I loved The Art of Racing in the Rain, but I am a very sentimental person. I have read some of Mowat’s books, but I don’t think Never Cry Wolf is one of them. Good one for the list!
I don’t remember it very well, but I just think I thought the dog part was silly. Never Cry Wolf is nonfiction, but it is really good. Surely you saw the movie? The movie is not to be missed!
If I saw it, I don’t remember it. Which probably means I didn’t see it. So, it’s going on my movie list of all the movies I’m going to watch someday!
I also meant to say on this one that it’s funny you quoted Anne of the Island, because I just recently re-read Anne of Green Gables. I’ll probably be reviewing it in January.
Are you going to keep going with them?
Probably not. I just picked up a copy and thought I’d read it again. I think I read several of them as a girl but really only thought the first one was great. I don’t know how far along I got in the series back then. I may have only read two of them. I remember Gilbert and Anne got married and he became a doctor. That’s about it.
The 3rd, 5th, and 8th are my favourites! The 6th, 7th, and 8th are more about their children, and the 8th takes place during WWI.
Wow! I didn’t know there were so many!
And then there is Emily… Only 3 of those, though.
I’m not familiar with those at all.
I haven’t read any of the books you listed there but I did watch the Marley & Me movie. I can’t decide between cats and dogs; I love them all! I do love the Anne quote though… she’s so wonderful. Congrats on the new dog!
Thanks, Karen! I do love all my furry children, even though they can be just as much of a handful as my furless ones. 🙂
I saw the Marley movie, too, which is why I probably won’t ever get to the book. I had a good cry over that one!
Just wanted to wish you a very happy Thanksgiving from below the border. Don’t think you guys celebrate it but still. You have a great one.
Thanks, Don! We celebrate ours in October. Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!
Darn, I missed it. Guess you know what that means. I flunked Canadian.