A cat called Norton by Pete Gethers

Peter Gethers was not a cat person in any way shape or form until a small kitten entered his life in a very unexpected way - that little bundle of fluff, whom he named Norton, became an inseparable companion and a star in his own right.  Starting from the time he was a small kitten Norton became a seasoned travelling, taking trips by car, boat, and plane to take full part in his humans life.  At times the story seems almost beyond belief, it seems impossible that one small little cat could have done everything that Norton did, but as the story develops you realise that Norton did all that and then some.

I read this story when it was first published in the 1990's and read the sequels that were released around the same time.  Gethers has a true gift for writing about his cat Norton, breathing all the warmth and affection he has for Norton and the humour of all their adventures into a very readable auto/biography that has you laughing out loud for a good portion of the time (please note, don't read this book on public transport as the other commuters will look at you a little oddly).  I loved being reacquainted with Norton and his adventures and was heartened to see that the other books in the series have either been released, though not necessarily with the same title, and that the original titles are available on Amazon. 

This is a heart warming and touching read, and while it was a pleasurable read, it was also a reminder that there are some amazing people out there who really click with their companions.  It also serves as a charming reminder that dogs don't have the monopoly on loyalty and unswerving devotion to the humans in their lives.

If you like this book then try:

• Norton, the loveable cat who travelled the world by Peter Gethers
• Making rounds with Oscar: The extraordinary gift of and extraordinary cat by David Dosa
• Dewey: The small-town library cat who touched the world by Vicki Myron & Bret Witter
• Homer's odyssey: A fearless feline tale, or how I learned about love and life with a blind wonder cat by Gwen Cooper
• Cleo: The cat who mended a family by Helen Brown
• The dog who rescues cats by Philip Gonzalez

Reviewed by Brilla