Truth and lies about cats
I don’t profess to be an authority on cats, but I always thought I knew a fair amount. Then I had the opportunity to read Max Cryer’s book, The Cat’s Out of the Bag. This is a 191-page compendium of everything cat.
Did you know that:
- 40 percent of cats are ambidextrous?
- the average cat spends 30 percent of its time grooming itself and loses almost as much fluid through this behavior as it does through urine?
- Florence Nightingale owned 17 cats at one time and more than 60 in her lifetime?
- Isaac Newton is credited with inventing the cat door?
- the white patch on the Turkish Van cat’s forehead is known as “The Thumbprint of Allah”?
- Shakespeare refers to cats 42 times in his writings, but the cat is not mentioned even once in the Bible?
Have you ever wondered the origins of expressions you use every day, like “Has the cat got your tongue?” or “Curiosity killed the cat.”? Cryer tells how and when these and so many other expressions came into existence. He also discusses the myth of cats having nine lives as well as the nine emotions/behaviors of cats as identified by Jeffrey Masson.
If you live with cats or have even a smidgen of interest in cats, this is a must read. Find out the name of Elizabeth Taylor’s favorite cat, the origin of the game, Cat’s Cradle, and the word for “cat” in 34 other languages. Read poems and quotes about cats and find out where you can go to have your cat mummified.
This is all just a small sample of what you will find in The Cat’s Out of the Bag. Some of the chapters in Cryer’s book are: Idioms, Poetry, Bodies and Behavior, History and Cartoons. And the book is filled with drawings of cats as well.
The Cat’s Out of the Bag is available in paperback and as an e-book for Kindle and Nook.
Max Cryer
Cryer is a writer, entertainer and broadcaster. He’s had a varied career, including schoolteacher, television host and cabaret performer. His books include: Who Said That First, Every Dog has His Day, Preposterous Proverbs, Love Me Tender and others.
Giveaway
The Cat on My Head is giving away two copies of Cryer’s The Cat’s Out of the Bag. The giveaway is for U.S. residents only, but you may gift your book to someone in the U.S. should you win but live outside the U.S. Winners will be selected using Random.org. To qualify for the drawing, leave a comment on this post prior to Friday, October 9, at 5 p.m.
Disclaimer: The Cat on My Head received one copy of The Cat’s Out of the Bag for the purpose of review. I was not told what to write. All opinions expressed here are mine alone.
Yes, We definitely would love to win this book. I am Moms to Hello Kitty,Lovers Cat Scouts Aspen, Willow, Mango&Tigger!
This sounds like a great book! I’d love to win a copy.
Mrioaws from Scout Aspen to Scout Mau and his Sisfurrs and Brofurrs! I just got caught wondering what it would be like to have a Brofurr! Well, I will be age 11 this December 22nd, 2015, I am well past wishing for such things. Eighteen long months ago, New Neighbors did something horribly wrong to,Simon Peter,Moms had been slowly taming this intact male. Most likely, the old Apartment A people had fed this feral cat on the back porch! Moms fed (and named) this feral Tom Cat! Its been a little over a year since Simon Peter disappeared! By reporting Simon Peter’s loss to the Landlord. He did attempt to get Simon back. Moms then, late that same night, heard the new Apartment A neighbors screaming at one another at what a stupid idea it was of the man to think he could just come take my cat! Apparently, the new neighbors didnt understand that Simon Peter responded only to Moms! He couldn’t be brought inside some stranger’s home and assume he would play “nice” when invited for tea and Crumpets! Oh, Mom believes Simon to be OTRB now. Moms knows she gave this cat love and she was trustworthy with meals, water, and love!
Moms has a psycho-therapist named Diana. Moms drew Simon Peter twice, and, she gave this Tomcat a strong Apostolic Name! Moms protected Simon Peter also with his name, as Jesus asked, “Who do people say that I am?” Only Simon Peter knew,”You are the Christ, the son of the Most High! Then, Jesus says, “The Holy Spirit has revealed this to you. You are Peter, ie Petros, upon this Rock, I shall build My Church! So, giving Moms was to the Tomcat, giving him the STRONGEST of Names! And, to show loving care to the least of these is show
It does sound love a book we should read, so please enter us in the drawing. Thank you for this opportunity.
That sounds like an amazing book! I hope I win!
That sounds like one fascinating book. We love everything cat, and we bet this would be a fun and informative read. 🙂
Hugs!
We already have this fun book, so you don’t need to enter us, but we really enjoyed reading your review!
OMC! Tonk’s Tail had done a series on those. I hope he didn’t rip her off. I’m sure he didn’t.
I would love to win a copy of this book. I love cat books!
That sounds like a good read
Hope I’m not too late to enter! I’d love to read this cat book. 🙂
Love your Caturday art, too.
Great giveaway, I love cat books.
Gweat review. Sounds very innewestin’.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Lexi
That does sound like a fascinating book. Could you enter my name and I’ll gift it to someone in the US.
Shoko
This book sounds very interesting. Would love to win a copy. Thanks for the giveaway.
That sounds like a very interesting book.
Sounds a great book!! Lions are mentioned in the Bible and they are cats aren’t they!! 🙂 xoxox
We think we’d enjoy that book very much! Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy!
Purrs,
Angel & Isabella
I don’t live in the US, but I this book is going straight to my wishlist. There are so many things about cats that we don’t know and this book seems like a great source of information.
Those were very very interesting tidbits!
This looks like an excellent book to read.
Sounds like a fun book! We’d like to be entered in the giveaway!
Sampy sends a kiss to Astrid for every cat in the world! We all send love and hugs!
That sounds pretty cool and we would like to be entered please!
Sounds like a fun book! Count me in! 😀
mom loves books about all cats thanks for the contest moms always entering a bunch have a meowy day
This sounds intriguing. I will have to check this out! Thanks for all that you do. ❤
Sounds like a really interesting read! We enjoy ANYTHING cat-related in the reading department……..wonder why that is???!! Maybe because our household revolves around ME ME ME ME!!
Love, Sammy
You are talking my language! Books and cats! Can’t get any better!
Sounds like a purrfect read while my Nicko (neeko) makes muffins on my tummy!
This sounds like an awesome book! Humans can never know too much about kitties!
sound a really good book,xx Speedy
Sounds like a cool book!