This one is volume 7. I’ve read them all out of order! Same feel as the other: amusing, quirky little stories, some about just ordinary life with a cat in the family, others with an air of surreal fantasy- the cats acting like humans (in clothes, with jobs, etc) or people doing very odd things around cats. Like the fugitive veterinarian- he’s in this one, too. Hiding from the law, until he gives himself away by treating a cat in public, that got hit by a car. The other oddball stories include a cat and a dog on a blind date (finding out how very much they don’t have in common), a cat in a business suit having to stop at the grocery store on the way home from work, and getting confused/lost in the aisles that sell products meant for other kinds of anthropomorphic animals.
I think I liked the somewhat realistic stories a bit more: three people on a game show that’s all about being obsessed with cats, suddenly confess (to the shock of the others, who fall over in their chairs at each announcement) that they’ve done cruel or unkind things to cats in the past. Michael shown in his household as a newly-adopted cat, who used to be a stray- sneaking around furtively, hiding in sudden terror when his tail gets stepped on, acting possessive over food. The family keeps trying to appease him and help him feel relaxed. In another story, a new baby gets introduced. Michael and his “wife” Popo see the baby as a rival and try to “win” against the baby- first by being cuter, then by being more loud/annoying. Both times, the baby gets more attention. The cats give up and offer the baby gifts of small dead animals (that made me laugh). More stories: Michael balances on the railing of the apartment balcony, horrifying his owner who is concerned he will fall (several stories up). Then a bird perches on a wire nearby, tempting him to jump . . . (he doesn’t). Michael gets taken to the park by his owner, who enjoys watching him stalk birds on the grass, until he accidentally falls into a pond! and surprises both of them with his swimming skills. The owner’s parent visits and is not impressed with Michael, thinks that any worthy cat ought to be hunting vermin. She keeps insisting that he has to be catching rats (not a problem here) or birds (off the balcony!) to earn his keep. There’s another funny segment about Michael and Popo interacting with the baby- continually annoyed by it, frantic when it starts crying, and then blamed by the family for making it cry (they didn’t). The final two stories are about a neighbor’s cat (female and obese) going into heat and attracting all the local toms- but she only has interest in another neighbor’s pedigreed American shorthair- a very attractive silver tabby. He’s locked up in the house though. But when she gives birth, everyone is impressed and surprised at the kittens’ markings!
Borrowed from the public library.
