Hello, everyone, I've roused myself from my afternoon nap to bring you a book review! The Feline Quasi, with his Human, Steve Fisher offering assistance as needed, has had a wonderful blog since 2008, and he was soon inspired to write a book that same year. The World is Your Litter Box is a How-To Manual For Cats cleverly disguised as a humor book for Humans. Siamese Cats are great talkers, as we all know, and this particular Feline is no exception, but he also is an outspoken, perceptive, dispensor of advice. This book clocks in at 117 pages, including a 3 page index which puts the location of specific topics right at your paw tips. In the intro to the book Quasi gives a deceptively simple description of what this book is all about: "A book by a Cat, for a Cat, chock full of important tips and information to make your life even MORE pleasant and enjoyable than it already is".
His story about how he came to live with Steve is a moving tale. There are 19 chapters for Adult Cats, 1 specifically for Kittens, and one meant to educate the Humans. So, let's get down to brass tacks, as the Humans say, and explore this book. Quasi has a friendly, easy-going, humorous touch to discussing even the most serious, and complicated subject, and makes the many ideas, and concepts, rules, and activities, easily understandable...to his fellow Cats, and a laughout loud funny bit of silliness to any Human who reads the book. The best thing about the book, to me, is that even if you find yourself disagreeing with him about something, his take will still make you think, and not immediately cough up a hairball in disgust. Did you know that there are, at least, a dozen ways to look cute, and probably twice as many, or more, reasons you may have need to use any given pose? I'm good at a variation of the "Upside-down Turtle", and Elvira has mastered a variation of the "Bliss Face"...probably becasue she is extremely ticklish on her tummy, and loves to play pattycake with Daddy. ;-D There are chapters about getting your Human to buy the food you want, and give you the food you want , when you want it, how to get away with unacceptable behavior, how to get your human to sing, and act like an idiot, how to wake your human when they are sleeping, how to be a paing around people allergic to you, how to deal with scary things like the vacuum, and trips to the vet, getting attention, and running circles around the pet sitter. Did you know there are 20 things Felines don't have to do, and 20 good places to throw up? There are intricate discussions about your job & responsibilities as a Cat, acceptable & unacceptable co-pets, tricks & games, not to mention important safety tips for surviving various Human holidays. I had issues with many things brought up, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book in the least.
Quasi was 9 years old when he wrote the book, and weighs even more than me (I weigh 13 lbs.) ! ;-D
Everyone knows we Cats are finicky eaters, even if such behavior may be more for show, and keeping the Human in suspense. ;-D
I did find the Food Reference Chart a valuable resource.
Unnacceptable is in the eye of the performer of said behavior, and the victim, or witness, so Steve's 5 Rules, in my view, should not be considered as "Set in Stone", and treated as flexible, and adaptable to circumstances, and the Human
Yes, it's true that Cats were put on earth to eat, sleep, clean ourselves, use the litter box, and look cute, but there is so much more to our job & responsibilities.
While Quasi lists 10 activities, this is just the "Short List" in my view, as there are many other jobs, and responsibilities, out there, including some jobs, such as Military Service, and Animal-Assisted Therapy, that require rigorous training, that Cats have been, and are, known to do.
In a related note to jobs that require training...
Some Cats do real work, and have to go to school to learn it.
They get paid for their efforts, so their Human has to pay their taxes, and some of those jobs make for complicated interpersonal relationships, require some Cats to attend boring cultural events with a bunch of snobby Humans, and even Felines, and Pseudo-intellectuals
Some require some Cats to go Xmas shopping, deal with their Humans annoying relatives more than absolutely neccessary, and make decisions that could affect their Human, maybe even save their Human's life.
Quasi makes the solutions in the Food discussions seem so simple to put into action but, trust me, it ain't. ;-D
I've never traveled to other dimensions, or levitated, and neither has Elvira...except when playing with our Catnip Toys, and certainly don't know what the Doppler Effect is. ;-D
Not all Cats are Jimi Hendrix, Grateful Dead, or Jefferson Airplane fans as not all Cats are into that music, and many of the new generation are into rap, and other such "modern" musical styles.
Not all Cats prefer Bud Light, either.
There are other things about Cats, that Humans wonder about, but Elvira & I won't say which we can do, and have sworn Daddy to secrecy on the subject as well. ;-D
The 20 Good Places to Toss Your Kibble List, and the similar List of 20 Good Places to Hide, are only as useful as the number of items, or places, your Human owns, &/or you have access to. ;-D
He makes waking up your human seem more complicated than it actually is, but the 2 warnings he gives are well worth considering.
As far as the list of unacceptable co-pets is concerned I have only one question, and that one is only to clarify any possible confusion.
William Shakespussy , in his plays, defined a Shrew as "a vexatious Human, or a troubleseome Human [of either sex].
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary brings up the animal - "any of a family (Soricidae) of small chiefly nocturnal insectivores related to the moles and distinguished by a long pointed snout, very small eyes, and short velvety fur."
Quasi doesn't make a distinction so readers might be excused for being confused. ;-D
Annoying Humans who are allergic to us may be our birthright, but there is no discussion about how to deal with Humans who like to annoy Cats who are allergic to Humans.
Not all Cats are afraid of the Vet, or of taking trips in carriers. ;-D
The chapter of advice to Kittens, in my view, is a waste of ink, & paper...Come on Quasi, you know kids, and teenagers....
No matter how valuable, and useful, the advice from an adult...some of them are going to do what they want, when they want to, and will just have to learn from their own successes, failuress, and mistakes. ;-D
So there you have it, Pussydom Assembled, my thought on the first book by Quasi.
I encourage you to visit his blog, and the website for the books!
The Long Awaited Review of the Sequel! = World is STILL Your Litter Box: More Catnip For the Feline Mind!
I love Quasi, and I've also enjoyed his books!
Posted by: Sparkle | May 13, 2011 at 11:00 PM
Quasi is quite the author!
And you, my dear man, are quite the reviewer!
What a purrfect team you make.
Posted by: Zoolatry | May 14, 2011 at 06:34 AM
Nikita,
Thanks for your very nice and very thorough review of The World Is Your Litter Box.
We're glad you enjoyed it (Although I must say, "Advice for Kittens" is one of my favorite chapters)... but again, that's why they make different flavors of cat food!
Your Friend,
Quasi (& Steve)
Posted by: Quasi | May 14, 2011 at 08:56 AM
Nikita,
Thanks once again for your support... we really appreciate it!
Also, we've added Opinionated Pussycat as a link under "Blogs" on The World Is Your Litter Box website.
Your Friend,
Quasi (& Steve)
Posted by: Quasi | May 14, 2011 at 04:33 PM