The Fur Person by May SartonMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a delightful book that brought a cat's experience to life. The poetic prose and "miaowed" songs portrayed the hypothetical, mildly anthropomorphized contemplations of Tom "Terrible" Jones. The author did a great job of showing how a stray cat alongside the attentive caring of a "housekeeper" can ramp up its obeisance to its feline inner commandments to become a "Cat of Peace." In the end, the novel showcases how humans and cats can inspire each other to be more joyful with each other, especially while "reading the newspaper."
Written in 1957, the novel does feel a step ahead of its time. Still I can't help but frown inside at the ease with which the book seems to encourage keeping an indoor/outdoor cat. The dangers in real life to the feline as well as wildlife are real...on average an outdoor cat will live 4-5 years compared to 15+ for one loved inside, and the numerous wild animals killed and injured by outdoor cats is atrocious .
An updated rewrite of the novel would be amazing to explore a more modern connection between cats and humans including the use of "catios," pursuing plant-based diets for cats, and never buying pet store cats. We humans need to remember, domestic cats are not part of the the natural environment, they, like dogs, are our adopted companions, and without our care and indoor protection can damage the local ecosystem and themselves.
One of the most delightful features of the novel was the 10 Gentleman Cat Commandments, adding one Cat of Peace commandment that highlighted the shared love of cat and human companions. A prospective 12th Commandment could be A Philosopher Cat finds joy in knowing they are working alongside humans to realize a healthier planet.
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