James Herriot's Cat Stories

This short collection of stories concerns Herriot's favorite animal, the cat. In his introduction, he reminisces on his choice to become a vet, inspired by his love for cats, and how he soon found that, at the time, there were very few veterinary texts on the species and few veterinarians that practiced on them. Cats were only beginning to be treated as pets and companions rather than simply a replaceable implement to catch barn mice. This, of course, changed over the course of Herriot's career, and though he primarily treated livestock animals he was often called upon to tend to the village's feline population as well.

The stories here are some of the cream of the crop of Herriot's writing. First we meet Alfred, the large tom who was a daily fixture in the Yorkshire village's most successful confectionery, and then Oscar, the remarkable cat that attended all manner of meetings and social gatherings in town. Next we are introduced to Boris, an ornery and strong-willed individual who isn't afraid to give Mr. Herriot a piece of his mind.

The fourth story brings us to Olly and Ginny, two stray siblings that adopt Herriot and his wife, and actually appear in three of the book's stories. Spaced throughout the book, they actually take on a status as a sort of centerpiece. Undeniably feral, the two are stricly outdoor cats, and it's all Herriot can do to trick them into allowing his occasional veterinary ministations. And they, Olly in particular, clearly express their displeasure. They won't let the well-meaning vet anywhere near them if they can help it. Herriot makes it his mission to win them over, and takes over the job of feeding them every morning in hopes of gaining their trust and respect. He finally manages to befriend Olly, briefly, before tragedy strikes. Happily though, a sad loss leads the vet to share an even closer bond with Olly's sister, Ginny.

The other stories concern Emily, the beloved companion of a kindly, solitary man; Moses, a tiny black kitten found among the rushes one icy winter day, and who is ultimately adopted by the strangest of surrogate mothers, a laid-back and accepting sow; Frisk, the cat who has mysterious, recurring, rapidly-developing episodes of coma that vanish almost as quickly as they happen; and finally Buster, the Christmas Day gift from a dying mother who delights his new owner amazing dog-like antics.

With ten heatwarming feline tales (or tails, if you prefer), this book is a sure winner for any cat lover. If you're already familiar with Herriot's work, you won't be disappointed (you may even have come across a couple of these stories before), and if he is a new author to you, you may very well go on to seek out his other books. My one teensy-tiny criticism is the the editting could have been just a little bit better. It wouldn't even really be a problem except for the fact that, in one story, a cat is once inexplicably referred to with the wrong name. Other than this the book is perfect. The illustrations are beautiful and the stories delightful. A perfect read for a cozy evening by the fireside.

And if you like this, I recommend his other short-story anthologies: "All Thing Bright and Beautiful," "All Creatures Great and Small," "All Things Wise and Wonderful," "The Lord God Made Them All," and "Every Living Thing" (these titles are based on a poem with the same title as the last book), as well as "James Herriot's Dog Stories." He also wrote a variety of very nice short children's books.


Ginny and Olly   June 11, 2004
Sarah Sammis (Hayward, CA United States)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

I have read his All Creatures Great and Small series and his Dog Stories collection and enjoyed all of them thoroughly. Cat Stories doesn't disappoint. Besides his delightful writing style, the book is illustrated with lovely water colors that bring the stories to life. The stories of Ginny and Olly remind me of feral kittens who grew up in my backyard. They just adopted us. We eventually befriended all but one and found homes for them. Then there's the story of Oscar. We had another cat adopt us whom we called Brick because of his brickish colored fur and that he was as strong as a brick. He was a cat about town but always seemed to come home to us after his walk about the neighborhood.


Great, Related To All Of Them.   April 29, 2006
Steve Guardala (?????)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

As with all of Mr. Herriots books this surpassed any expectation I could have. His breezy writing style and the fine watercolors made the stories into a moving slide show. Ten Cat tales that most animal lovers will devour. How many of us can relate to Ginny and Olly? The two feisty ferals who refused to accept an indoor life. Have'nt we all at some point in our cat loving lives known an Emily? The story of Buster hit home for me the most. My Calico Noel arrived on my doorstep on Christmas day, like Buster. For ten years she was the love of my life. These stories will make the reader sigh, for those we have lost, and smile for the feline loved ones we still have.


If you love cats this will tug at your heart strings.   June 26, 1997
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

I loved this book. I actually cried while reading some of the stories. It reminded me of cats I have known over the years. I read the book in one day at one sitting, because I just couldn't stop reading it


Stories about life and living   June 2, 2006
A Pawtuxet Reader (Warwck, RI)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

This is a book to read one small story at a time and savor every feeling contained therein. Herriot slows us down and brings us a perspective on the basics in life. His connection to not only the cats, but to the people in his stories shows an amazing balance of love, medicine, and understanding. He is able to let each creature and each person be fully who they are. He reminds us of the meaning of community. A book for cat lovers, for animal lovers, and for anyone who wants to re-center (even if only momentarily) on the simple but important things in life.