Books to Read to Your Cat

A Feline-Friendly Reading List

from the bookshelves of Yarn Miracle

Sugared Violet Tabby Cat

Organic Cotton Toy by YarnMiracle

Is this scene vaguely familiar?



It is to me.

Mamie lies across my open book. Betty shreds the pages into confetti. William Henry sheds in the gutter. And Lucy bites my fingers as I turn the pages. Abigail regularly attends bedtime story reading - she is the most intellectual of the group. (Lady Bird prefers my lap to my book, but then she's blind and my books are typically in print not braille.)

Hand Woven Inkle Band Bookmark by wovendreams

If you have similar trouble in your literary pursuits, consider this: Your cat is only there to help. You are sitting quietly, staring intently at an object that doesn't move, doesn't twitch, doesn't try to escape or even make any sound. You MUST be bored. Here is your kitty to entertain you! Stare back at you. Show you his fuzzy belly. Murder your book mark. Why would you spend all that time looking at a boring stack of paper when you can admire a cat instead? Much more interesting and edifying.

Kitty Cat Spiral Notebook fromthisisit

Illiterate themselves, cats typically don't have an appreciation for the written word. But they can appreciate the spoken one! Have you tried reading to your cat? Selections with lots of onomatopoeia (words that imitate the sounds they represent), rhythm, rhyme, voices, pop-ups, lift-the-flaps and other animals (especially prey) are excellent choices for feline story time. Cats are also quite egocentric so any selection with a cat as the hero is sure to be a winner. Mine also seem to be fans of Sandra Boynton. But really, who isn't?

Show your cat that books are not just for repose with these cat-friendly and cat-centric selections.

Blue Velvet Plush Kitty from catcalls

Books Starring Cats

• Three Stories You Can Read to Your Cat by Sara Swan Miller - Ellie likes them too.


• Mr. Putter and Tabby written by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Arthur Howard - Our all-time favorite series. Mr. Putter and his fine cat, Tabby (adopted from a shelter) live next door to Mrs. Teaberry and her good dog, Zeke. The two senior citizens have wonderful adventures that range from Painting the Porch to Taking the Train.

Cat in the Hat Letter Holder from TwoStrayCats




• Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss - My cats only dream of creating such a mess.


• So Many Cats by Beatrice Schenk De Regniers - Excellent reading for a multi-cat household.


• Six Dinner Sid by Inga Moore - Have you ever met a cat who didn't want six dinners? Life is basically perfect for Sid and his six owners until he catches a cold, sees the vet six times and is Found Out.



Paw Prints Bag Set from thedoghouse




• Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel - She wasn't always a bad kitty but when her household runs out of food...


• The Cat Who Walked By Himself by Rudyard Kipling - One of the Just So Stories.(William Henry likes this one even better than the Elephant's Child.)


• The Cat Who... Jim Qwilleran, Lilian Jackson Braun's detective, reads to his Siamese cats Koko and Yumyum on a regular basis. Koko picks the books by knocking them off of the shelves, selecting books with plenty of sound and fury. Koko also solves the crimes with his catly intuition, making this series an excellent read-aloud choice for a feline with a superiority complex.

Books with Lots of Sounds, Moving Parts or Small Animals

• Anything by William Shakespeare. Particularly The Tempest or Macbeth.



Raven V from BirdsinHand




• The Raven or The Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe - I believe that cats are big horror fans. But skip the one about the cat.


• Old Possums Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot - The rhythm of the words alone makes this a wonderful collection to read aloud.


• Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You? by Dr. Seuss - Your cat probably can't, but your toddler will!



Ugly Sweater Cat Toys from squishe




• The Pop-Up Mice of Mr. Brice Dr. Seuss again. It's like his target demographic was cats.


• The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary - Small animals AND motorcycle noises!


• There are Cats in This Book by Vivian Schwartz - Shhhh. They are all hiding behind the flaps.

Regency Gentleman Cat from TaraFlyPhotos

Happy reading! With any luck, your cat will develop an appreciation of literature that goes beyond napping on the fiction.

More Simon's Cat - Ellie and I watched every single one after breakfast this morning.