Shop Cats of New York – A Visually Stunning Read to Add to Your Cat Book Library
I love New York City – always have, always will.
Even though I currently live in Florida and have been here since 1994, I still have an enormous fondness for New York. I spent most of my younger years in New York and grew up there – I graduated from college there (twice), I got married there, I had my children there, and many a beloved cat of mine came from there. Most of the towns I lived in were extremely rural with small populations and old-fashioned Main Streets, but despite where I was, New York City was always a part of my life. I visited whenever I could (and even briefly lived in Hawthorne – a suburb of the White Plains area, just north of NYC) and each time I did, the city never failed to capture my heart, as it was just so alive with an exciting buzz of people, movement, and culture.
When I found out my quintessential New York friend, Tamar Arslanian, of the blog I Have Cat was going to write a book about not only the city I loved (Shop Cats of New York), but also about some of the cats that lived there too, naturally I was intrigued. I’ve actually had the pleasure of hanging out with Tamar in the city, so I knew before my copy of Shop Cats of New York came to my door for review, that she’d capture the spirit of the city and the cats that live within some of its shops, because like a cat, she is part of the pulse and fabric of the city.
Book cover image. Photo courtesy of Tamar Arslanian/Harper Collins
Shop Cats of New York doesn’t disappoint – coffee table style in format, it’s filled with hundreds of glorious photographs by Andrew Marttila that focuses on 40 distinctly unique cats who live in one retail shop or another within the streets of New York. The photos are so compelling and vivid, you almost feel as if you can reach inside the book to pet the fabulous felines that grace the pages. Tucked within the photos Tamar shares a brief synopsis of how each cat ended up a shop cat, as divulged by the shop owners who care for them.
Each shop cat in the book receives several glorious photos along with his or her story. This is Lionel from Red Caboose. Photo courtesy of Tamar Arslanian/Harper Collins
While Shop Cats of New York is a very quick read, I noticed one theme that seemed to center on nearly every story: the cat comes first, the cat rules the roost, and the cat is there to stay. I really enjoyed meeting all the cats – one of them being Jasper – a primarily white short-haired cat with spots of orange on his face and a full orange tabby striped tail.
Jasper from Flickinger Glass. Photo courtesy of Tamar Arslanian/Harper Collins
Jasper hails from Flickinger Glass and has been there approximately seven years now. Squashing any stereotypes that cats are aloof, here’s an excerpt of his endearing story:
“Jasper is considered a star attraction in the area and can be quite the charmer. During discussions about custom work that take place in the office, Jasper has been known to sit on a prospective customer’s lap – a bold negotiating technique we imagine only a cat could get away with.”
Published by Harper Collins, Shop Cats of New York is the purr-fect gift for any cat lover! Shop Cats of New York is available from Amazon and everywhere books are sold. You can find more stories about the shop cats of New York on Facebook and Instagram.
Full disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of Shop Cats of New York from the publisher. This in no way influenced my review – all opinions shared in this post are mine, and mine alone.
Great reviews !
I already love this book since I saw the cover =^x^=
I hope you check it out! It turned out nicer than I could have dreamed and makes a great gift! Love Deb’s review!
The cat on the cover already draws me in, looks like a book that belongs on my coffee table!
Ohh good means we did out job right!! Now will it draw you to grab a copy! 😬 Maybe one for a friend too?! 😻
We are so happy with how it turned out! And love Deb’s personal review!
I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED THIS BOOK!
Cannot thank you enough for all your support 😻
Great review ! That sounds like a beautiful book. Purrs
I do hope you check it out!!! Available in lost bookstores or they should order for you and you can get it on line worldwide! 😻❤️👍
Tamar is great — she recently told me I was one of her original followers! — and though we’ve never been to New York and prefer the desert to the city, this book has got to be amazing!
I do hope you get a copy and then you can see a bit of NYC through my eyes! 😬😻👍
This looks like a must-have for any cat book library!
We think this book is great!
Yay thank you!!! Do hope you get a copy – or three! 😬😻Sonhappy with the quality and it’s quite the bargain!
Yes, great review. I’m thinking I’d better buy he book now.
Yessss and tell all your cat and NYC loving friends!! It also makes the perfect holiday gift!!❤️😻
I love cats and NYC so I can’t wait to read this.
Yay!! Thank you for your support and do spread the word if you like it! Or share this review! We can use all the support we can get!!❤️👍
We can’t wait to read the book. The head peep has many fond memories of shop cats from the year she lived in Manhattan.
Hope you get it and love it and can’t wait to hear what you think!
Sounds like a great book, and Paws up to all those shop keepers who are providing great homes to the kitties.
Hope you check it out and agreed!!
What a lovely book, from a lovely person!! We can’t wait to see it!
Awwww I am blushing !! Hope you love it!
We can hardly wait to read Shop Cats of New York! Thank you for sharing your review of our pal Tamar’s book! 🙂
😻😻😻😬😬😬=^^= thank for your support all along the way!!