About a man at the mercy of his unpredictable, demanding and endlessly lovable cats.

The Good, the Bad, and the Furry: Life with the World’s Most Melancholy Cat by Tom Cox

About this book: (from the publisher) Meet The Bear–a cat who carries the weight of the world on his furry shoulders, and whose wise, owl-like eyes seem to ask, Can you tell me why I am a cat please? Like many intellectuals, The Bear would prefer a life of quiet solitude with plenty of time to gaze forlornly into space and contemplate society’s ills. Unfortunately, he is destined to spend his days surrounded by felines of a significantly lower IQ.

There is Janet, a large man cat who often accidentally sets fire to his tail by walking too close to lighted candles; Ralph, a preening tabby who enjoys meowing his own name at 5AM; and Shipley, Ralph’s brother, who steals soup but is generally relaxed once you pick him up and turn him upside down.

And then there’s Tom Cox, writing with wit and charm about the unexpected adventures that go hand-in-hand with a life at the beck and call of four cats.

About the author: Tom Cox has a monthly column in the Guardian‘s Life and Style section called The 21st Century Yokel. He also has regular slots in Golf International magazine, Your Cat magazine, and reviews books for several newspapers. He lives in Norfolk, England. Learn more about him (and his cats) on his blog, Under the Paw: Adventures in Mog Servitude and Beyond… .

Genre: Non-fiction/Memoir

Why I read this book: After my recent review of a book for dog lovers, thought I should cover the other side of the aisle.

If this book were a movie, I would rate it: PG-13.

Reminds me of… a contemporary James Herriott, substituting British writer/columnist for veterinarian

Will especially appeal to… who do you think? Cat lovers, of course.

This story matters because…it reveals the unbreakable bond between humans and their beloved pets.

My take: This guy knows his cats! Never before did I understand all the myriad ways life might be sliced and diced from a cat’s point of view. That Tom Cox knows cats should come as no surprise, given the number he shares his home with. In fact, it’s the quantity that lends so much humor to the author’s material.

Cox maintains a light touch, though every once in a while an unexpectedly raunchy or profane comment caught me off-guard. Not really a read for the under-13 crowd.

[Tweet “Feline fanatics won’t want to miss Tom Cox’s latest #GoodBadFurry @MySadCat”]

I like cats and am prepared to love them, but to this point in my life I simply haven’t had that much experience with them. I think that may be why this book didn’t totally hit my mark. I dare say if I were an avid cat lover, I’d probably find much more to appreciate about these stories. And I do have to say, Tom Cox certainly knows how to make these feline creatures appealing, despite–nay, precisely because of–their idiosyncrasies.

Thanks to Thomas Dunne/St. Martin’s Press for providing me a free copy to review. All opinions are mine.

After words: Do you follow Tom on Twitter @MySadCat? If you are a feline fanatic, you probably should.

So here’s the question: which side of the aisle do you fall on? Dog…or cat? Poll opens today.