James Herriot's Cat Stories

James Herriot

James Herriot was a veternarian in the English Dales countryside for his practice which started in the 1930's. He grew to love the people and the countryside as well as the animals he treated. And he had a knack for repeating all the stories that happened as he went about his practice. Finally his wife convinced him to write the stories down. From that, we have marvelous retellings of the English Dales up through the 50's and 60's, starting with All Creatures Great and Small.

This small volume just relates stories of some of his feline patients. He discusses his love of cats. When he first started practice in the 30's, cats were not in the veternary texts, much to his dismay. Only as the years passed did he see their special needs also given notice.

These are the stories of some special, every day cats. The man who lived in a makeshift shelter on one farm had a cat that took over his life. There was the kitten who was found among the rushes on a frozen stream, so was named Moses. There was the woman who "worked for cats" whose house always teemed with all the cats she took in. Herriot also tells the ongoing story of two outside cats he and his wife adopted and vice versa.

We have four cats. Even now our youngest lays beside me playing with/chewing on a hair band. Another one is looking at me hopefully because it is about dinner time. I enjoyed this book. There were not enough stories to suit me. Herriot had a way of viewing his life that was charming and real. Although the names have been changed, these cats and their owners all existed. What lucky people they were.

I would recommend any of Herriot's books in a minute. He had a wonderful style that pulled you right in to his stories.