Must-Read Cat Book: “Letters from Cats”: Cat lover gift book, nonprofit for animals
The other day, I was brainstorming my in-progress book title, something like Letters to Cats. I checked to see if a similar title is already out there. And there it is. Letters from Cats: Hilarious & Heartfelt Notes, written by Stacey Ritz. Bummer. But after glancing at the sample pages, I immediately bought it and couldn’t stop reading the story until the end.
🐈 Heartfelt Animal Tales
What’s this book about? In Letters from Cats, each feline narrator shares what they would say to humans if we spoke the same language. They all have different backgrounds and personalities; some have been pets their whole life, while others live on the street or in shelters; some cats are playful and mischievous, while others are super affectionate. This book is a collection of hilarious, moving, and inspiring stories featuring these cats. It made me giggle on one page and cry on another. I had been waiting for a book like this!
And the author does speak “cats”. She is the co-founder and Executive Director of Advocates 4 Animals, Inc., a charity that helps dogs and cats. In her book, she vividly illustrates what it’s like to bond with humans from a feline perspective and what it must be like for a shelter cat to wait for a forever home. The letters aim to honor cats for being themselves rather than to seek our pity. The conversational tone sets it apart from sounding like a lecture and makes it easy to read. The voice of the letters is so descriptive, as if I’m watching a chunky orange tabby with a cynical look, holding a pen in his paw and scribbling on paper. This book will make you want to adopt all the cats!
❤️ Pet Rescue Leadership
At the end, there is a preview for another book called, Covered in Pet Fur: How to Start an Animal Rescue The Right Way, coauthored by Stacey Ritz and Amy E. Beatty. After reading the sample chapter, I decided to buy this book as well. The authors generously share their insights on planning, starting, and running an animal rescue organization, which they have gained from decades of dedicated work. I recommend this book to anyone interested in helping unfortunate animals in any way.
🙏 Animal Shelter Crisis
One shocking fact I learned from Covered in Pet Fur was that the number one cause of death among dogs and cats was euthanasia at shelters, not car accidents or terminal illnesses. Although this information was published in 2015, it is still an alarming fact today. Many people think that animal shelters are not an urgent matter and not their concern. However, every day, too many animals are facing this harsh reality. The overpopulation of shelter animals is a pressing issue in our society, and it requires a collective effort to resolve the problem.
🖋️ Writing for a Cause
I also read Ritz’s other book, Write Your Story: How to Jump Start Your Writing Career. Her writing talent has been apparent since she was little, but she unexpectedly became an animal book author, perhaps by fate. During a charity event for Advocates 4 Animals, a local newspaper editor asked if she would be interested in writing about her experience of rescuing animals. Since then, she has published five books on saving cats and dogs, and a portion of the sales goes towards a spay and neuter campaign in Ohio. Her work has gained recognition, and she is now not only an experienced animal activist but also an established author. It has been proven time and time again that animals do bring us luck.