The Divine Feline

Cats and women share many traits: beauty, elegance, sensitivity, affectionate natures, a knack for nurturing and a love of the luxurious. Cats also embody the feminine dark side, with a tendency towards neurosis and fear of change. Then there are the qualities that cats possess which women long to emulate: fighting fiercely to protect themselves, never saying yes when they mean no, and being unafraid to claim the best seat in the house. Cats are loyal to those who love them but couldn't give a toss about what others think. They don't suffer self-esteem issues or worry if they're overweight. And then there is that enviable air of mystery, that slinky walk . . . oh to be a cat! They're the ultimate totem of female strength. Belinda Alexandra, writer and ardent cat lover, makes no apology for celebrating the special bond between women and their cats. In The Divine Feline, she shares her own experiences with cats, describes the relationship between women and cats throughout history and solves behavioural and philosophical issues in a whimsical and practical way. Viva la cat lady!

Cat lovers, your secret is out. Now everyone will know why you’re crazy over cats! Read true stories about a feline friend helping a man get his “purr” back, a cat miraculously protecting and comforting a young girl during the Holocaust, a mother-daughter cat team serving as a woman’s heart specialists, sister cats coaxing a major league baseball player through a losing season, and a cat named Cuddles who writes her own advice column. Angel Cats proves that cats are as compassionate as they are curious.

Icons of Power investigates why the image of the cat has been such a potent symbol in the art, religion and mythology of indigenous American cultures for three thousand years. The jaguar and the puma epitomize ideas of sacrifice, cannibalism, war, and status in a startling array of graphic and enduring images. Natural and supernatural felines inhabit a shape-shifting world of sorcery and spiritual power, revealing the shamanic nature of Amerindian world views. This pioneering collection offers a unique pan-American assessment of the feline icon through the diversity of cultural interpretations, but also striking parallels in its associations with hunters, warriors, kingship, fertility, and the sacred nature of political power. Evidence is drawn from the pre-Columbian Aztec and Maya of Mexico, Peruvian, and Panamanian civilizations, through recent pueblo and Iroquois cultures of North America, to current Amazonian and Andean societies. This well-illustrated volume is essential reading for all who are interested in the symbolic construction of animal icons, their variable meanings, and their place in a natural world conceived through the lens of culture. The cross-disciplinary approach embraces archaeology, anthropology, and art history.

“Life often offers miracles; you just have to see them and take action.” – Max Sometimes life calls upon us to take matters into our own paws. Soul Cats is a book that carries with it a very special and personal mission. The dying wish of “soul cat” Max was for his human guardian to write this very book, as he passed away just a few short weeks after. Within the pages lies a story overflowing with deep love between Max, Flix, Howy, and their human guardians. Together, their love is the prevailing force that sees them through times of significant challenges. Our animal-human relationships exist on a plane of consciousness that transcends that of our relationships between other humans. Soul Cats puts the reader in the perfect center of our animal-human relationship, engaging in a journey about communication, true connection, distress, and the light that gets us all through it. We all come with our own mental and physical baggage, something that older cats from the animal shelter share in common with us. Soul Cats explores the symbiotic healing power of cats and their humans caring for one another until they one day cross the rainbow bridge on their own terms. Soul Cats is teeming with stories—following the alpha cat Max, cerebral thinker Flix, and the ever-bright Howy. The cats and their human guardians experience situations laced with joy and emotion, but also those of profound and sobering reality. At its core, Soul Cats makes an indisputable case for how conventional medicine, natural healing methods, and energy clearing work can create a powerful trinity of relief and deep meaning in our lives. The experience of reading Soul Cats is one that touches the soul of the reader. It’s a beautiful story that weaves together courage, deep care, and shows the power that a legacy of love can produce. “Let love and joy be your guiding principles.” – Howy

Err, I think you mean Downward Cat How can you tell whether your cat is purrfecting its Sphinx pose or just being, well, a cat? You may think your cat is just a naturally bendy weirdo, but the truth is, they’re probably one of the growing number of Zen Yogi Cats – and this book is here to expose what happens when yoga and cats collide. Whether they’re paws-ing to enjoy their morning Sun Salutations, working on their flexibility, searching for the divine (laser) light or exhaling hairballs, these cats are getting their om-meow on in the world of Cat Yoga.

Cats have lived alongside humans for thousands of years, but until now, they've remained silent partners. In Conversations with Cat, professional animal communicator Kate Solisti-Mattelon poses some of life's most challenging questions to our feline friends, and the cats' responses offer surprising insights into the spiritual, physical, and mental awareness of our feline neighbors. Cat people won't be surprised to learn that by connecting with our cats and being humble enough to understand how they perceive us, we can actually learn more about ourselves and begin to model cats' examples of detached love in our human and animal relationships. In addition, Lynda Niemeier's photography captures the essence of cats, making this book the perfect gift for anyone wishing to understand more about these beautiful creatures.

Cats again? You can never have too many . . . Drawn from the hundreds of cartoons published in The New Yorker in the seven years since The New Yorker Book of Cat Cartoons--as well as from fabulous older cats--this new collection is as hilarious and irresistible as the first. The cartoons provide a cat's-eye view of the world and the important things in life: food, sleep, love and affection, adventure, food, good friends and doggy enemies, back rubs, and food. We see the essence of the feline world captured with verve, humor, and warmth by classic New Yorker artists such as Ed Koren, George Booth, William Steig, Saul Steinberg, Lee Lorenz, Robert Mankoff, Mick Stevens, Danny Shanahan, and Bruce Eric Kaplan. Purrfectly divine!