The Diary of a Killer Cat

by Anne Fine (Author), Steve Cox (Illustrator)

Killer Cat (1)

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Tuffy the pet cat tries to defend himself against accusations of terrifying other animals and murdering the neighbor's rabbit.

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18 reviews
Bei einem Buch mit diesem Titel musste ich einfach stehenbleiben, völlig egal um welche Art von Buch es sich nun handelt. Kurzes Reinlesen und es war klar: Das wird gekauft. Ich zitiere mal die ersten Sätze, die meine Entscheidung vielleicht nachvollziehbar machen:
'Okay, okay, hängt mich ruhig auf! Ja, ich hab den Vogel getötet. Du lieber Himmel, ich bin nun mal eine Katze! Es ist sozusagen mein Job, durch den Garten zu schleichen und süßen, schnuckeligen kleinen Piepmätzen aufzulauern, die kaum von einer Hecke zur anderen fliegen können. Was soll ich machen, wenn sich mir so ein armes gefiedertes Flatterbällchen praktisch ins Maul wirft? Es ist schließlich fast direkt auf meinen Pfoten gelandet. Es hätte mir ja wehtun show more können! Okay, okay, da habe ich es halt ein bisschen geknufft...." uswusw.
Dazu die herrlichen Zeichnungen von Axel Scheffler, der die Katze Kuschel überhaupt nicht kuschelig darstellt, sondern wie einen Gefängnisinsassen grau mit Streifen und einem leicht verschlagenen Blick (zumindest am Anfang). Da konnte ich nicht widerstehen - und ein weiteres Kinderbuch ziert nun mein Bücherregal ;-)
Der oben zitierte Ton zieht sich durch das ganze Büchlein (knapp 55 Seiten) und mit jedem toten Getier, das Kuschel anbringt, wird sein Erklärungsbedarf größer. Ich habe mich köstlich dabei amüsiert ebenso wie über Axel Schefflers Bilder, die so überhaupt nicht lieblich-zart-kuschelig sind. Herrlich, wie Kuschel mühsam das Karnickel durch die Katzenklappe zerrt. Oder wie der Vater der Familie in einem burkaähnlichen Gewand durch die Nacht robbt... Ich bin mir sicher, dass sich auch Kinder darüber amüsieren können, wenn auch vielleicht auf eine andere Art als Erwachsene.
Die eigentliche Geschichte basiert zwar auf einem uralten Witz, aber zum einen kennen Kinder ihn vermutlich noch nicht und falls doch (wie die meisten Erwachsenen), hat man trotzdem seinen Spaß daran. Denn Anne Fine hat das Ganze so toll ausgeschmückt und der Katze einen solch klasse Tonfall gegeben, dass das Alles fast wie neu klingt. Herrlich!
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All from Tuffy’s point of view, Fine writes the hilarious contemplations, meanderings and downright consternation over his family’s weak and ridiculous behavior to what he, Tuffy, perceives as natural and certainly inoffensive acts. His “okay, okay, so I killed the bird . . . it practically landed on my paws. It could have hurt me”, has you chuckling out loud. And when it comes to Thumper, Tuffy just may be right that his family is overreacting. Read on and see.
If You Liked This, Try: Notso Hotso by Anne Fine, Sheep by Valerie Hobbs, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate Dicamillo, Stink and the Incredible Super-Galactic Jawbreaker by Megan McDonald, Pancakes For Supper by Anne Isaacs.
Duffy is a cat who enjoy doing cat things. Duffy especially enjoys bringing his dead animal finds into the house. However, Tuffy's owners do not appreciate Tuffy's dead animal finds being brought into the house, especially when it is the next door neighbors rabbit. After much aggravation and doing all they can to cover up Tuffy's murderous act, his owners learn Tuffy did not kill the neighbors rabbit he simply dug up his dead body and brought him into the house. In the end the young girl defends Tuffy, knowing he could never do such a horrible thing. This fiction novel reveals the inner thoughts of a cat who seems to always find himself in trouble, even for things he has not done. In the end his owner comes to love him for who he is. show more The story is witty and fun, with a surprise ending. show less
This novel is written from the perspective of Tuffy the cat. Tuffy follows his natural animal instincts and brings home a bird, which he killed, and an already dead mouse. So, automatically, he is blamed for the death of the neighbor's rabbit when he decides to drag it into the house. This novel was very funny with its use of comedic sarcasm. As an animal lover and pet owner, I found that I could very much relate to the novel, and I think children will, too.
I loved this snarly little cat and the trouble he got into. I liked how this novel was told in the cat's perspective; it gives a new look on everything. For that matter, it is different than the traditional novel told by the owner's perspective. And I have to say, I thought for sure that Tuffy had killed the poor Rabbit! Thankfully, that was not the case. I would recommend this book for a fun read for children 1st- 3rd grade.
The Diary of a Killer is Cat is a funny book. It is a relatively quick read which keeps the reader laughing throughout the story. The cat tells the story of his family dealing with his natural instinct to bring dead animal home. This cat has a very defensive and sarcastic way of explaining his actions. There are a few black and white drawings that all seem to be placed at appropriate times in the story. This story has surprise ending.
The adventures of this bad cat who loves to play with dead things uses sarcasm and comedy to entertain its audience. He is pompous and rude and calls his owner, a little girl, a "softie". It's not my favorite. The cat got on my nerves, but I think kids would love it!

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Author Information

Picture of author.
Author
158+ Works 7,716 Members
Anne Fine was the second Children's Laureate in Britain between 2001 and 2003. She is a two time winner of the Carnegie Medal, Britain's most coveted children's literature award, and has also won the Guardian Children's Literature Award, the Whitbread Children's Novel Award twice, and a Smarties Prize. She also won the Publishing News Children's show more Author of the Year Award in 1990 and again in 1993. In 2010 she won the inaugural Good Writing Award. Her books for older children include the award winning The Tulip Touch, Goggle-Eyes, which was adapted for television by the BBC and The Devil Walks. Twentieth Century Fox filmed her novel Madame Doubtfire as Mrs Doubtfire, starring Robin Williams. She also writes critically acclaimed adult novels as well. Her work has been translated into twenty-five languages, and has over forty books to her credit. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Illustrator
31+ Works 1,056 Members

Some Editions

Deiss, Véronique (Illustrations)
Haïtse, Véronique (Translator)

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Common Knowledge

Canonical title*
Journal d'un chat assassin
Original title
The diary of a killer cat
Alternate titles*
Brutto gattaccio
Original publication date
1994 (1e édition originale anglaise) (1e édition originale anglaise); 1998 (1e traduction et édition française, L'école des loisirs) (1e traduction et édition française, L'école des loisirs); 2020-01-15 (Réédition française illustrée par Véronique Deiss, Mouche, L'école des loisirs) (Réédition française illustrée par Véronique Deiss, Mouche, L'école des loisirs)
First words*
1
Lundi

C'est ça, c'est ça. Allez-y, pendez-moi. J'ai tué un oiseau. C'est que je suis un chat, moi. [...]
Quotations*
Okay, okay, hängt mich ruhig auf! Ja, ich hab den Vogel getötet! Du lieber Himmel, ich bin nun mal eine Katze! Es ist sozusagen mein Job, durch den Garten zu schlecihen und süßen, schnuckeligen kleinen Piepmätzen aufzula... (show all)uern, die kaum von einer Hecke zur anderen fliegen können.
S. 9
Last words*
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Ich saß nur da und schaute zu, wie sie den Nagel wieder aus der Katzenklappe zogen.
Original language*
Anglais (Royaume-Uni) (Royaume-Uni)
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.

Classifications

Genres
Children's Books, Fiction and Literature
DDC/MDS
823.914Literature & rhetoricEnglish & Old English literaturesEnglish fiction1900-1901-19991945-1999
LCC
PZ7 .F495673 .DLanguage and LiteratureFiction and juvenile belles lettresFiction and juvenile belles lettresJuvenile belles lettres
BISAC

Statistics

Members
614
Popularity
47,216
Reviews
17
Rating
(4.11)
Languages
9 — Dutch, English, French, German, Icelandic, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish
Media
Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
ISBNs
40
ASINs
4