“How to Rate a Cat: Rate Any Feline Friend from Their Boopable Nose to Their Sweet Toe Beans” by Matthew McGlasson (5 stars)

*I received an e-book copy of this book from Edelweiss Plus in exchange for review.*

I really only downloaded this book because I immediately went ‘CAT’ in my brain! I’m one of those crazy cat people and it’s best you know that now before reading any further. We’ll only go further down the rabbit-hole. I have two cats currently, named Boots and Pia who are my everything, even though to them I am often simply a way to get more food or a clean litter box. Which I realize is completely normal after reading this, so I don’t feel so bad about it now…

Seeing all the absolutely adorable cats depicted in this book was my favorite part of the day. I have two of my own snuggle companions and I couldn’t help comparing them to all the other cats in this book. From kittens to senior cats, this book represents all of them in their beauty. I especially loved the section on fighters as I recently lost my thirteen-year-old cat to kidney disease. She was certainly a fighter and I loved seeing something like this to represent her and her struggles as an older cat. They’re an often overlooked type of cat specifically because of age, disease, or other deficits, but fighter cats are often some of the best companions. Even as she grew older and sicker, Holly was my best friend and a cranky older sister to my two younger kittens. I’m glad a book like this exists to showcase that it’s not always the adorable, young kitten who gives the most love, but sometimes the crotchety, old cat who just needs some attention.

This book may seem like it’s simply a cute way for cat people to find more enjoyment, but author Matthew McGlasson has a real knack for animals. “Matthew McGlasson has been a veterinarian and leader in the animal health industry for over twenty years. He has witnessed first-hand the life-changing power of the human-animal bond. Dr. McGlasson has been featured in numerous professional journals and publications, and he is a frequent speaker at national veterinary conferences. In 2022, he was awarded the Veterinary Hero Award presented by DVM360. When his daughter created a TikTok account (@dr.mattmcglasson) for him in 2020, he had no idea that his humorous cat videos would reach millions and millions of people” (Google Books).

The adorableness that is rating a cat on their toe beans or loudness is certainly not new to me, but I love seeing it in a book representing such a diverse array of cats. I’m not so involved as to know all the breeds or anything like that, but I do certainly enjoy cat videos, memes, and all the silliness that comes with being a fan of cats. It’s hard not to be a fan when there’s so much saturation in the online community. Cats control the internet.

That said, let’s try out my cats’ ratings:

Boots: A snuggler who constantly wants to be left alone. Boots is the ultimate paragon. The quietly innocent (but really the instigator) of the pair, she’ll claim any warm space as her own (your blanket, lap, and even head are never safe).

Vocalness: 90/10

Floofiness: 300/10

Purrsonality: 30/10

Pia: Named for being a pain in the a$$ there really isn’t much I can say to defend her. She’s upheld that earned title for the last four years.

Vocalness: 300/10

Floofiness: 20/10

Purrsonality: 40/10

Ultimately, this book was a homerun to me. It has everything a cat girly like me needs. Cute pictures, silly cats, and just a pinch of sarcasm (which is paramount as all cat lovers know).