Meet My Cats by Leslie Anne Ivory (1989) has astonishingly beautiful paintings of cats. The settings are also gorgeous. Gemma, Twiglet, Spiro, and Blossom are framed by luscious foliage. Muppet, Gabrielle, Chesterton, Maltazer, Agneatha, Octopussy, Motley, and Amon Ra appear before elaborately patterned wallpaper, carpet, lace, and home interiors. The reader gazes in awe at the compositions. Ivory’s description of her pets will cause cat owners to chuckle. Of course, each cat is unique. One stole a collection of feathers and hid them behind a dish towel. Another tucks Ivory into bed each night. Two don't get along and three coordinate to lift the lid of a neighbor's garbage can.
Now 30 years post publication,
some readers will frown upon the multiple litters of kittens. Modern day
readers will worry about the wildlife casualties 12 cats can cause roaming free
outdoors. These issues can spark conversation.
