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Delight your favorite cat person with this adorable, illustrated book of 50 feline sayings and how they came to be!
Who’s in the catbird seat? What’s new, pussycat? Cat got your tongue?
When cats entered our lives, they also entered our lexicon—inspiring famous writers and wordsmiths as well as immortal sayings that have lasted for centuries. In The Colloquial Cat, amateur historian Philippa Sandall dives deep to deliver the backstory behind 50 famous feline phrases. Plus, adorable vintage art and photographs add charm and insight throughout.
By the end, you’ll be grinning like the cat who ate the canary.
“Do yourself a favor and get this fascinating book about all the expressions we so often use that concern cats. I learned so much—from why we call someone a ‘cat burglar’ to the origins of caterwauling, fat cats, and being a cat’s-paw. Delightful illustrations, amusing anecdotes, and excellent research into linguistic oddities all make this a wonderful read.”—Susannah Fullerton, OAM, FRSN, author of Great Writers and the Cats Who Owned Them
“What a gorgeous, glorious book. You’ll consider giving it as a gift to a fellow cat lover, but once you delve into the charm of its illustrations and wordplay, you won’t be willing to give it up!”—Tracie Hotchner, author of The Cat Bible and host/producer of the online podcast Cat Chat and NPR’s Dog Talk (and Kitties, Too!)
“Philippa Sandall’s charming book is better than the internet, or at least that substantial portion of it devoted to cat memes. The Colloquial Cat is filled with painstakingly researched facts and eye-catching illustrations—who knew that the saying ‘A cat may look at a king’ dates back to the 1500s? . . . An enchanting volume to keep handy whenever the urge strikes to learn a new cat fact.”—Marlene Zuk, author of Outsider Animals and Paleofantasy
“Praise for Seafurrers
"It’s a purrfect read for lovers of cats, ships and history in general.”—Catster Magazine
“Reveals the little-known history of cats as beloved—and surprisingly essential—shipmates of the old high seas. A purrfectly heartwarming tail indeed!”—David F. Winkler, PhD, Naval Historical Foundation
“Funny, furry, and fascinating! With a lovely balance between parody and earnest maritime history, Sandall has chosen priceless historic photographs, infused deep and wide-ranging research, and spun a ball of spellbinding and hilarious sea yarns.”—Richard J. King, author of Lobster and The Devil’s Cormorant and columnist for Sea History magazine
