Pixie Book Review: The Magic of Cats by Andrew Anderson

Pixie Book Review: The Magic of Cats by Andrew Anderson

Published by Moon Books May 1, 2023 | $14.95 | ISBN 9781803410661 

Hello! It's time for another Pixie Book Review that was just BEGGING to be posted on "Caturday"! I feel like I'll always be playing catch up with my pile of books that I'd like to read and review, but I do feel accomplished when I actually get around to finishing one!

So, gather 'round kids...

Why Did I Choose The Magic of Cats by Andrew Anderson?

The wonderful folks at Moon Books Publishing (I'm lookin' at you, Trevor) contacted me with several titles available for review, and this one instantly piqued my interest. I've always had at least one cat in my life (Most of you are familiar with the handsome Mr. Chai, who is featured in the photo at the top of this post), so the subject matter is one that is near and dear to my heart.

What’s Inside The Magic of Cats by Andrew Anderson? 

Inside the books 120 pages, Mr. Anderson introduces us to the Cat of the Night and the Cat of the Day. In doing so, he challenges and expands our thoughts on the ever-evolving nature of the cat as well as how these wonderful creatures relate to the mysteries of a magical practice.

These delightful pages also hold many an anecdote regarding the author's own cats (both of whom were the inspiration for the poem that borne the building blocks for this book), as well as much history and myth surrounding felines throughout the ages.

Each chapter is accompanied by exquisitely charming artwork by Hannah Willow that does a wonderful job capturing the essence of the words that follow each image.

Anderson gives us his take on the Cats of Night & Day by breaking down the different aspects of each. The Cat of the Night's aspects are The Universal Cat, The Witch's Cat, and The Knowing Cat. These tend to be the "darker", "mysterious", & "feminine" aspects most of us have associated with cats for quite some time...this is a deeper dive into them.

The Cat of the Day's aspects are The Idiomatic Cat, The Physical Cat, and The Evolving Cat. This is where some really interesting tidbits (at least in my humble opinion) come into play. For instance: Did you know that the first recorded name of a cat comes from about 1400 BCE? Yup! And That lucky Egyptian cat's name (Nedjem) essentially translated to "Sweetie". 

This little nugget had me giggling because my little geek-girl brain started imagining a possible episode of Doctor Who in which River Song, while impersonating Cleopatra, "accidentally" gives a cat its first ever name as she adresses it with her signature line of "Hello, Sweetie." 😆 (Hey, if you know, you know. 😘)

Things I’ll put into practice and/or adapt from the book: 

I will be returning to this book often. I feel like just reading Anderson's beautifully crafted poem on a regular basis will be a tonic for my soul, but I'm sure I will also revisit the rest of the text to look for references he's made on various subjects as relevant events/thoughts occur in my daily life.

Final Thoughts on The Magic of Cats by Andrew Anderson: 

All in all, this was a very enjoyable read full of insight, facts, and lore. It is clear that Mr. Anderson has not only done his research, but that he's actually been paying attention to his resident feline overlords. 

While not a "heavy" book to ingest, it does contain some food for thought, and even the occasional chuckle.

I personally believe that the full poem by the author, "The Cat of the Night and the Cat of the Day", that is included at the end of the book (along with all of Hannah Willow's artwork) is more than worth the price. The rest of the tidbits and thought provoking insights held between the front and back covers are a fantastically valuable bonus.

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If you’re in the United States, and you'd like to buy the book, You Can Support Your Local Book Sellers by purchasing online via The Pixilated Bookshop (An affiliate of bookshop.org). 

The Magic of Cats by Andrew Anderson is also available via: 

Moon Books 

(Be sure to check your local book shops as well!) 

Until Next Time, Pixilators! 

Wishing You Peace, Love, & Pixie Dust