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Marge Says: Must-Have Books for Pet Lovers

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My cat Marge loves a gift. It doesn't matter whether she's giving or receiving, as long as there is one. Some of my favorite offerings from her are animal related books that I can read to remind me of how fabulous it is to share my life with a cat.

Marge thought your four-legged companion (or two-legged) might want to give you something good to read so she's recommending a few books that will put a smile on any animal lovers face.

When it comes to ways to while away the hours, it's hard to beat a good book. I've enjoyed many an afternoon curled up on the couch with Allen while he reads. That's why I make sure there are plenty around. Of course my favorites are about cats. Allen always gives me extra attention when he's reading a book about cats.

Whether you are a chicken, dog, fellow cat or something else I suggest you get your person some books so that you too can snuggle up while they read. Here is a list of a few that are sure to send them straight to the couch and a long afternoon of relaxing.

Book Old Dogs
  • Old Dogs: Are the Best Dogs
  • Gene Weingarten with photographs by Michael S. Williamson
  • 160 Pages
  • ISBN: 1416534997

Fabulous photos and witty biographies of dogs who have reached their golden years.

Book Flawed Dogs
  • Flawed Dogs: The Year End Leftovers at the Piddleton "Last Chance" Dog Pound
  • Berkeley Breathed
  • 48 Pages
  • ISBN: 0316713597

While I'm WAY too young to remember Bloom County, I can still appreciate cartoonist Berkeley Breathed's amusing book about the last chance dogs at the fictitious Piddleton Dog Pound. The artwork is amazing and hilarious.

Book Dewey the Small Town Cat
  • Dewey: The Small Town Library Cat Who Touched the World
  • Vicki Myron and Brett Witter
  • 228 Pages
  • ISBN: 0446407410

This is the story of the internationally famous cat Dewey Readmore Books, his life at the Spencer Public Library in Iowa and the life of the librarian who raised him.

Book Dog Joy
  • Dog Joy: The Happiest Dogs in the Universe
  • Editors of Bark
  • 192 Pages
  • ISBN: 1605297305

Over one hundred pages of smiling, grinning, snickering and laughing dogs. Anecdotes and funny musings accompany the photos.

Book The Complete Cat
  • The Complete Cat
  • Cleveland Amory
  • 812 Pages
  • ISBN: 1884822282

A compilation of Cleveland Amory's three books about his cat Polar Bear: The Cat Who Came for Christmas, The Cat and the Curmudgeon, and The Best Cat Ever. It's a poignant and witty look into the relationship between a cat and his cranky owner.

Book All Creatures Great and Small
  • All Creatures Great and Small
  • James Herriot
  • 448 Pages
  • ISBN: 0312330855

If your person hasn't read the tales of James Herriot a country veterinarian living in Yorkshire around WWII, well shame on them. This book will keep your person on the couch all day with stories about dealing with people and animals in the English countryside. Mr. Herriot manages to be both thought provoking and hilarious at the same time.

Book All I Need to Know I Learned from my Cat
  • All I Need to Know I learned from my Cat
  • Suzy Becker
  • 96 Pages
  • ISBN: 0894808249

Pearls of wisdom from a most wise feline. The life lessons are short and sweet and accompanied by hilarious illustrations.

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Showing comments 1 to 10 of 28 | Next | Last
Comment
Marge
Elise Beron
Reply #28 on : Sat March 06, 2010, 20:25:46
Marge, I love your suggestions of books. I've read all of them except one. Enjoy spring in Allen's garden, and give him my best wishes. Thank you, Meow
Comment
Cat Books
Karen O'Neil
Reply #27 on : Sat March 06, 2010, 15:51:03
Dear Marge,
I really love your column. Please let me add another good kitty book to your list. For Christmas, my three kitty kids (Ellie, Emma and Joey) gave me "Yoga for Cats", by Christienne Wadsworth. It's hilarious !! Allan will see you on many of the pages, I promise!!
Comment
Cat Literature
Carole
Reply #26 on : Sat March 06, 2010, 14:55:59
I am a fan of both cat and dog literature. We (my husband and I) have an adopted dog and a cat from a friend's cat's ltter (where are all these kittens going to go? ) Since I once raised Abysinians , I fell in love with the orientally clad runt of the litter who I called Jazzmine P. Cat. She is torti on her back, calico on the tum, and has a face only Picasso or Dalli could have painted. Our dogs are a Shi'tzu and a Chow (male and large in the latter case). They all love the garden (when we get to it in later March or early April, depending on Spring!
Carole
Comment
Books on Animals
Vicki
Reply #25 on : Mon March 01, 2010, 10:07:31
Thank you so much Marge for including this feature on your website. I love animals, especially cats, and found the books you recommended wonderful. I have already been to the library and got 3 of these books. Thanks again and please continue to include these types of articles.
Comment
Why Dogs are better than Cats by Bradley Trevor Greive
Mary Trout
Reply #24 on : Mon March 01, 2010, 07:51:19
Basically our cat Freckles says that the dogs Jeffrey & Lizzy will do anything that a human says for a dog treat! :)

Great pics with both dogs and cats together loving each other!
Comment
Animal Books
Debbie
Reply #23 on : Fri February 26, 2010, 16:19:11
You must also try Wesely the Owl!
Comment
Re: Marge Says: Must-Have Books for Pet Lovers
victheart
Reply #22 on : Mon February 22, 2010, 10:04:10
Thank you so much for sharing all of your wonderful gifts and your love of architecture, animals, gardening and nature. I have thoroughly enjoyed your television programs over the years.
Comment
Marge's Book Favorites
Nancy, Layla, and Shamus -- oh yea, Dan, too
Reply #21 on : Sat February 20, 2010, 20:31:14
Hi Marge~

So glad that your person enjoys James Herriot's books; so do mine! They let us, too. When Layla was a pup, she would lie on the bed for our Nite Nite read, but she's gotten too large [Great Pyrenees], so she lies on her bed next to the "big bed." Since I'm a Cairn, I get to sleep on the bed.
Our uncle has cats in his barn along with his horses. They seem to like it there, but OH NO -- not us! ...almost forgot, we like cats; we had inside cats, and we really got along quite well. Really!! His name was Lennie. Our persons' REAL daughter took Lennie away with her, and we didn't get to say, "Bye Bye" Sad......
Keep your person reading, Marge, it's the only way they'll learn!
See ya, Cutie
Comment
Re: Marge's books
Marilee Snyder
Reply #20 on : Sat February 20, 2010, 15:37:09
May I suggest "Homer's Odyssey"...a true story by, and about, Gwen Cooper and her blind wonder cat. Simply wonderful, and one that I imagine Marge would really enjoy!
Comment
ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL
CAROL SCHEIDEWIG
Reply #19 on : Sat February 20, 2010, 00:41:28
I HAVE READ THIS BOOK ON MANY OCCASIONS- IT IS WONDERFUL! JAMES HERRIOT HAS OTHER BOOKS , AS WELL, THAT ARE VERY GOOD!
THANKS FOR THE REMINDER! i WILL START READING THEM AGAIN:-)
Showing comments 1 to 10 of 28 | Next | Last

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