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Editorial Review Product Description
Often revered, sometimes feared, cats have been companions to us for over 5000 years.As the old saying goes: Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods and they have never forgotten this. Cats are very discriminating in their relationships with us. Much is made of the unconditional offering of love and affection from a dog. By contrast, cats are very conditional, demanding, self-centered. Cats spend a lot of time keeping their options open and making us oblige, but can give comfort like no other.The Comfort of Cats explores the bond between Kitty, a creatively named Siamese cat, and the woman who lives with her, Pamela Wallin (notice we dared not say owner). Kitty has been at Pamela's side through many of the traumas that life offers up-divorce, being fired and battling cancer-and countless other emotional crises that punctuate a life story. Someone once said, in order to keep a true perspective on one's importance, everyone should have a dog that will worship him and a cat that will ignore him. In fact, the words of Albert Schweitzer more accurately reflect the sentiment of this book: 'There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.'Through the words and experiences of cat lover Pamela Wallin and through the eyes of award winning photographer, Anne Bayin, witness the strange beauty, history, elegance and humour of our feline friends.Anne Bayin is a Toronto based writer and photographer, who has exhibited internationally. In a former incarnation, she was senior producer of the television program Pamela Wallin Live. She is allergic to cats. ... Read more Customer Reviews (1) 
The joys of companionship with a cat
Most owners of cats already realize this, but there is something unique about the bond between cat and human. To those outside a relationship like this, cats appear to be fussy, stuck up creatures that veiw humans as scrapers of the cat pan and the opener of cans and little else. But those of us who have let cats into our lives know better. They are our quiet companions, elegant creatures with big knowing eyes and soft paws that come and are quite happy to be share our time with us. Some are a bit aloof, while others are clearly affectionate.
Pamela Wellin's book looks at the companionship that cats bring to us, and how they have given that love and affection to their humans in the past and the present. The author in particular talks about the mental and psychological comfort that her Siamese cat brought to her during difficult times of illness and separation. It was this aspect that especially appealed to me -- during my cancer treatment, I had a Siamese cat, Bushiko, who was my inseparable companion during those unpleasant days. She would nestle beside me, purring quietly, always within hand's reach, and never thought that anything that I said was too unpleasant to listen to. When I wept in pain, she would purr more loudly, and gently kneed my arm or leg. When I had recovered, I discovered that Bushi was quite ill herself, and was warned by the vet that she had not much more time left. It was as though she was waiting to see that I was going to be alright.
So, yes, there was going to be a rather strong sentimental reason for me to like this book from the start. Wallin uses stories and quotes from around the world about cats and those who love them. There are quite a few pieces of poetry, folklore, stories from Mark Twain -- himself no slouch when it came to having cats around -- and other bits of lore. One section delves into the odd link between writers and cats, and also between readers and cats, in that both species love quiet and stillness. There is an amusing story and letter from Florence Nightengale and her cats, and a tidbit that when she passed away of extreme old age her will made provision for her cats' well-being. Another section goes into how we name our cats.
Finally, and what sold the book to me, were the wealth of photographs in simple black and white of the writer's own Siamese cat. For obvious reasons, I am particularly attached to that breed of cat, and reading this small book brought back to me many pleasant memories and a sense of wellbeing and calm. While this isn't a very deep book in terms of learning new things about cats, it does satisfy on an emotional level.
It's a rather small book, more of what I would call a gift size book, and comes in at under 150 pages. The design is lovely, the photographs numerous and very pleasing. I was able to find my copy at Daedalus books at the cost of less than 3$US, and I consider the money well spent. It's a perfect book for any cat lover with a literary bent. Four stars overall.
Recommended.
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