Everyday Cat Excuses

Everyday Cat Excuses
Molly Brandenburg
Sterling
ISBN: 1-4027-5903-7
Humor
Reviewed by Tanya Boudreau

Author and illustrator Molly Brandenburg has been adopting cats from shelters and through friends for years. She is an experienced cat owner! She knows what cats like and how to keep them happy. She can’t always make them obey though. Cats have their own agenda and they rarely stray from it. They are social animals, but as much as we’d like their company, they are busy animals and sometimes they don’t have time for us. Molly learned all about this kind of behavior from her cats Frankie, Boots and Seymour. They are a part of her life and memories and now they are a part of her first book, Everyday Cat Excuses: Why I Can’t Do What You Want.

Illustrated with simple black and white line drawings, the cats in this book let the readers know why they can’t do what we ask. Excuses range from the expected behaviors like they’re shedding now or going to sleep to the more unanticipated explanations such as they are busy rotating their ears or bonding with their fleas. Many cat owners will recognize their cat’s behaviors on the pages in this cartoon book and then think about the ones the author missed! (e.g. spontaneous grooming).

Molly illustrates with a loose flowing hand. Her cats have subtle yet expressive gestures and her backgrounds are minimal. Each cat does have a bold straightforward statement to make though and coupled with the whimsical drawings, these cats are a pleasure to read.

Molly Brandenburg lives in California where she and her daughter Emma have made a happy home for many cats over the years. When she is not drawing cartoons, Molly can be found performing for audiences as a sixties lounge singer named Miss Peggy Judy.

Cat owners who enjoy reading about other cats can enjoy this book in its entirety.