Dewey's Nine Lives: The Legacy of the Small-Town Library Cat Who Inspired Millions

When Cleo was delivered weeks later, she had no way of knowing that her new family had just been hit by a tragedy. Helen was sure she couldn't keep her--until she saw something she thought had vanished from the earth forever: her son's smile. The reckless, rambunctious kitten stayed.

Through happiness and heartbreak, changes and new beginnings, Cleo turned out to be the unlikely glue that affectionately held Helen's family together. Rich in wisdom, wit, heart, and healing, here is the story of a cat with an extraordinary gift for knowing just where she was needed most.

"A remarkable memoir. . .I realized that Helen Brown didn't break my heart at all--she opened it." --Beth Hoffman, New York Times bestselling author of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt

"An absolute must." --Cat World

"The next Marley & Me. Even non cat-lovers will be moved." --Good Housekeeping

Cats have fascinated and delighted humankind for millennia. Mysterious and enchanting or affectionalte and playful, they immeasurably enrich the lives of their human companions.

In this collection of stories about exceptional cats, Roxanne Willems Snopek explores the loving relationship between cats and their people. A dedicated women founds an organization to care for feral cats on the cold, hostile streets of Saskatoon. A clever cat becomes a famous columnist, with just a little help from his writer-owner. A stray cat moved into a Vancouver hotel and decides to stay, becoming the subject of a bestselling children's book. In Ottawa, an elderly man selflessly maintains a long tradition of caring for the cats of Parliament Hill. From Cats that heal and console the ailing to cats that survive only through the love of their caregivers, the stories of these memeorable pets will warm the hearts of all animal lovers.

They thought he was just a cat.

When Oscar arrived at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Rhode Island he was a cute little guy with attitude. He loved to stretch out in a puddle of sunlight and chase his tail until he was dizzy. Occasionally he consented to a scratch behind the ears, but only when it suited him. In other words, he was a typical cat. Or so it seemed. It wasn't long before Oscar had created something of a stir.

Apparently, this ordinary cat possesses an extraordinary gift: he knows instinctively when the end of life is near.

Oscar is a welcome distraction for the residents of Steere House, many of whom are living with Alzheimer's. But he never spends much time with them--until they are in their last hours. Then, as if this were his job, Oscar strides purposely into a patient's room, curls up on the bed, and begins his vigil. Oscar provides comfort and companionship when people need him most. And his presence lets caregivers and loved ones know that it's time to say good-bye.

Oscar's gift is a tender mercy. He teaches by example: embracing moments of life that so many of us shy away from.

Making Rounds with Oscar is the story of an unusual cat, the patients he serves, their caregivers, and of one doctor who learned how to listen. Heartfelt, inspiring, and full of humor and pathos, this book allows readers to take a walk into a world rarely seen from the outside, a world we often misunderstand.

From a wayward Calico that rescues his family from a deadly snake to a sophisticated Siamese that helps to heal her ailing owner, A Cup of Comfort for Cat Lovers celebrates the courage, healing, and affection of these mysterious and loyal companions. So snuggle in with your favorite feline and bask in the love that only a cat can give.Because a life without cats is no life worth purring about.

Colleen Sell has compiled twenty volumes of the Cup of Comfortbook series. She has authored, ghostwritten, or edited more than one hundred books and published scores of magazine articles and essays. Colleen has served as editor-in-chief of two award-winning magazines, associate editor of a national business magazine, and home and garden columnist of a regional newsmagazine. She lives in Eugene, OR.