There is never a time of day unsuited for humor. Humans live lives often wrought with relational, financial and professional stress, so it is no wonder that we turn to our pets for entertainment (and sometimes enlightenment). Part of our dedication to providing tips about pet care is to support the humans who provide for their beloved animals, by giving them something to smile about.
Below are some of the most ridiculously comical books about cats, for those days when you feel the need to take life less seriously. Flip through some of these farcical pages to enjoy the best and brashest of feline fiction.
Comedic Books About Cats
How to Tell If Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You (The Oatmeal & Matthew Inman): Most cat parents have likely considered this possibility at some stage in their feline-rearing careers. This New York Times Bestseller enlightens humans with tips like: “If your cat is kneading you, it’s not a sign of affection. Your cat is checking your internal organs for weakness.” Learn to identify the signs of insurgence and discern what your cat’s behaviors really mean in regard to your inevitable demise.
The Devious Book for Cats: A Parody (Joe Garden): This handy little book offers a life-coach instructional written by cats, for cats on topics like the powers of catnip, to the horrors of vacuums, and how to get humans to do their bidding. Get a glimpse into a cat’s mischievous mind (or how we imagine it to be, anyway!).
I Could Pee on This: And Other Poems By Cats (Francesco Marcuilano)
Though we are not sure what inspired such literary eloquence, this book of eclectic and odd poems from the “perspective of cats” is sure to be a favorite. Anyone who has been confused and entertained by the quirks of their kitties will enjoy perusing poems titled “Kneel Before Me” and “Some of My Best Friends Are Dogs.”
101 Reasons Why a Cat is Better Than a Man (Allia Zobel Nolan): This snarky 101 book is a farcical page-turner full of jokes, rather than a bitter feminist’s on-the-nose attempt to man-slam. Either way, this book is decked with cartoons from the esteemed artist Nicole Hollander and is a must-read. (And if her first 101 reasons weren’t enough, Nolan offers a follow-up 202 Reasons Why a Cat is Better Than a Man.)
Grumpy Cat: A Grumpy Book (Grumpy Cat): As the authorship implies, it would appear that the renowned king of all sour grapes himself has penned this classic advice book. He includes a detailed review of the anatomy of a frown, and uplifting tips like “Flowers are cesspools of urine, and cute laughing babies are responsible for 99.5% of all diseases in the world.” This book is sure to put a cranky expression on your face, if you can get through it without laughing. Another favorite book for Grumpy Cat fans is The Grumpy Guide to Life: Observations by Grumpy Cat.
Bad Cat: 244 Not-So-Pretty Kittens and Cats Gone Bad (Jim Edgar) Another New York Times Bestseller, Edgar proves that a picture can be worth a thousand words, especially when little explanation is offered for the cute kitties who have irreversibly gone to the dark side. Keep your eyes out for the glorious page dedicated to Mr. Fliegel who is convinced that “chicks dig him” no matter how unflattering his fur-tight sweater might be.
Get Out of There, Cat! (Kristina Knapp with Sam Stall): With over 150 delightfully captioned photographs of cats getting themselves into sticky situations, cat-lovers will enjoy the visual treats before them. The felines charm their ways through fish tanks, bubble baths, shoe boxes and drawers with a commentary that is guaranteed to make you giggle.
Cats Are Weird And More Observations – A Cat Book (Jeffery Brown): After his well-received Cat Getting Out of a Bag, cartoonist Jeffery Brown works his magic on these pages to show all the idiosyncrasies of the feline world. This fabulous comic book is perfectly designed to enthrall children and adults alike.
Sorry I Barfed On Your Bed (Jeremy Greenberg ): Guilty pets are often the funniest ones to observe. In the feline version of his canine hit Sorry I Pooped in Your Shoe, celebrated comedian Greenberg assembles hysterical images and apology letters from recalcitrant cats.
by Jeremy Greenberg
101 Uses For a Dead Cat (Simon Bond): We know there is more than one way to skin a cat, as the old idiom goes, but are there uses for a cat cadaver? Simon Bond makes this subject his case, amusing and disgusting audiences as he goes. With sometimes graphic and always hilarious illustrations, Bond opens a whole new world of comedy with these stomach-turning suggestions of what to do with a dead cat.
Other Insightful/Instructional Stories
- Knit Your Own Cat: Easy-to-Follow Patterns for 16 Frisky Felines (Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne): This is a useful how-to for those who prefer a less demanding pet-parenthood option.
- Glamourpuss (Sarah Weeks): This book is directed to the .0001% of humans who are deeply intrigued by arranging different colored wigs on their cats and taking pictures of the spectacle.
- Fashion Cats (Takako Iwasa): Similar to Glamourpuss, this one-timer features peculiar cats in hats and time-period clothing. Because why not?
- Is Your Cat Gay? (Charles Kreloff & Patty Brown): Ladies and gentlemen, it is the question we all have wondered. Now you can finally find out the answer.
- Why Paint Cats: The Ethics of Feline Aesthetics (Burton Silver): This is a genuinely good consideration for pet-owners who just can’t stay away from the groomer’s! Spending thousands of dollars to paint a cat like a pig seems rather superfluous.
- Why Cats Paint: A Theory of Feline Aesthetics (Heather Busch): Not that this has anything to do with the book mentioned above (despite a nearly identical title!) Busch provides countless images of creative felines getting in touch with their artistic side throughout history.
