"In that minute, I realized that healing had begun . . .
That cat didn't need something from me. I needed something from him."

Our cats are more than pets. They are our best friends when times are tough, our partners when we are lonely, our pillows to cry on when we are sad. Cats bring companionship, humor, and a sense of mystery to our lives that no other pet can match. A rumbling purr or a tender meow can change our moods and warm our hearts.

In this charming collection of true stories, you will find cats of all shapes, sizes, and demeanors. Each of them has played an important part in the lives of their humans. You'll meet a scrawny kitten who helps an anorexic girl get well, a selfless mother cat who gives up her kitten to a little boy who needs a friend, a cat who acts as a partner down the lonely road of cancer recovery, and many more ordinary and extraordinary felines.

So grab a cup of coffee, find a comfortable chair, curl up with the special cat in your life, and enjoy these uplifting tales.


Callie Smith Grant is the editor of The Cat in the Window, The Dog at My Feet, and The Dog Next Door. She is also the author of several nonfiction books for young readers and adults, as well as many animal-themed stories and poems that can be seen in Guideposts anthologies and in magazines such as Small Farmer's Journal.