The Autobiography of Foudini M. Cat

by Susan Fromberg Schaeffer

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"I came into the world like everything else that is born, willy-nilly."   So the wise old housecat Foudini begins the delightful story of his life. It is the tale of his orphaned kittenhood; of how he was rescued, cowering and spitting and hissing, from a damp city basement and lured into the lives of the couple he came to call Warm and Pest ("All cats like to make up strange names for things" ). It is the story of how Warm and Pest became "his  people" ("Human beings must be excellent show more mousers; they have such patience" ); of how he learned to tolerate and then to love "his"  dog, Sam; and of his adventures at Cold House in the city and Mouse House in the country (he prefers Mouse House, for obvious reasons). With feline equanimity, he tells how he was saved from a racing, swollen river; of how he lost the most unlikely and dearest friend he had; and of how he gained a cat family of his own. And he regales us with news of the ghost cats who visit him in his dreams--the cats of Cleopatra and Freud among them--bringing him their ancient cat wisdom, which Foudini tries, none too successfully at first, to impart to Grace, the sleek and beautiful gray country cat new to the household. As Foudini sees it, Grace is desperately in need of his guidance, but being young and willful, she has other things on her mind . . . Yet even Grace comes to understand that Foudini M. Cat is well worth listening to. Warm and witty--and possessed of a surprisingly sophisticated narrative manner--Foudini is a cat with truly irrepressible, and irresistible, feline flair. show less

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Member Reviews

9 reviews
This is a very sweet book. Well written, with a gentle, intelligent style, it is ostensibly the autobiography of a house cat, who is sharing his wisdom for the benefit of a kitten who has come to live with him. The author gives Foudini a wonderful, authentic voice, and weaves mythology and Foudini's spiritual nature into the tale. It is a short, simple read that should be fun for any cat lover, with both humor and touching moments.
From his earliest memories of living in a basement wall with his mother, Foudini relates events from his long life, including adventures with his companion Dog, and his two humans, Warm and Pest. I enjoyed reading this book, and it made me smile.
An odd, not unappealing book, told in the voice of an elderly cat to his younger feline companion. I'm still not sure whether or not I like it, but it is indubitably interesting.
I utterly adore this book; it brought me to tears three times, and gafawing with laughter more times than I can count. It's fantastic; if you can lay your hands on a copy, read it.
This, I think, is the best cat book I've ever read. Written in autobiographical format, it totally engrossed me, and rang so true. Actually I'm about ready to reread it.
Very cute book about life as a cat. The story is told through the cat's eyes. I loved it!
from T02S03B11D20; lovely, sweet book about the cat, Foudini, his people, Warm and Pest and his Dog, Sam. All being told to his new companion, Grace, the cat. Will save this book for a book box.

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Author Information

Picture of author.
38+ Works 1,599 Members
Susan Fromberg Schaeffer is a professor at the University of Chicago.

Common Knowledge

Original publication date
1998
Dedication
For Neil
First words
In the beginning, I was not a housecat.
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)I have done as I promised and told you the story of my life, the story that is still going on, Foundini M. Cat (M is for "Mouser"), housecat of city house and Mouse House, my story written by myself, every word of it true.

Classifications

Genres
Fiction and Literature, General Fiction
DDC/MDS
813.54Literature & rhetoricAmerican literature in EnglishAmerican fiction in English1900-19991945-1999
LCC
PS3569 .C35 .A9Language and LiteratureAmerican literatureAmerican literatureIndividual authors1961-
BISAC

Statistics

Members
206
Popularity
158,121
Reviews
8
Rating
(3.81)
Languages
Dutch, English, German, Italian
Media
Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
ISBNs
11
ASINs
4