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The Everyday Cat

by William R. Lallas

32 pages; Saddle stitched; illustrated; catalogue #04-1144; ISBN 1-4120-3317-9; US$17.50, C$20.95, EUR13.95, £9.95

A young boy finds himself alone together with the family cat in a quiet, coxy room on a crisp Fall day. Boy and cat slowly become adversaries of a sort because of the contradictory interests of their opposing natures. We learn how the results of this encounter have affected this boy's life with nostalgic remorseful memories.

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About the Book      About the Author      Excerpts      Catalogue Information

About the Book

We, as cat lovers, can appreciate and sympathize with the predicament of the boy in this scenario because we have all found ourselves in the same, or similar circumstances, any number of times in the past.

Anyone who knows cats can appreciate the joy and satisfaction of everyday contact with them. Occasionally, however, we must deal with the perplexing and puzzling side of their nature. In our attempts to anticipate and interpret their tendencies and motivations, we frequently misread or misunderstand them.

Such is the case with the boy depicted here. The impatience and inexperience of youth cause misunderstanding and a bad situation for both boy and cat. In the end we are brought to the realization that control of our cats is possible only as long as they agree to allow us to do so.

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Excerpts

Although cats appear to be simple creatures of casual significance to our lives, we realize that there are substantial benefits to be derived from day-to-day interaction with them that can produce many valuable lessons for later life.

Much of the value of that everyday contact comes from the good feelings we get from close associations with our pets. Sensitivity, loyalty, trust, compassion, and respect are but a few desirable traits that we acquire and develop in our early pet relationships. They are positive character ingredients that we develop and carry with us for the rest of our lives. We learn them first in our early pet encounters and later extend them to more significant human relationships.

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	The family cat just having been fed, Commences his search for a comfortable bed. And as he advances, parading past me, Peruses his options for the best place to be. He won't turn his head as I call out his name, Barely pauses to notice, shows me total disdain.
I snatch up a pillow and aim for his bed, And make it thump down up close to his head He explodes from his slumber, instinctively spits, Then pauses a second to gather his wits. He tenses a moment, looks quickly around For some friendly assurance, There's none to be found.

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About the Author

Mr. Lallas is a graduate of Boston College and has spent the past 40 years as an educator and teacher of middle school children. With his many insights into the behavior of young adults, he has begun a new career as a writer, exploring the psychology of adolescent behavior. Based on true experience, The Everyday Cat is a touching and lighthearted lesson in child psychology as well as an interesting study of animal behavior. Mr. Lallas currently resides in New Hampshire where he continues with this studies and his writing career.

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Catalogue Information

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