MAYBE I’M NOT GOD

Gander presents the story of an irrepressible little domestic house cat named Kitty, told from his perspective.

Readers meet Kitty when, as a frightened, tiny kitten, he is adopted and removed from his mother. (“You scoundrels, leave me alone! I said let me go… stop grabbing my scruff, or I’ll bite you, I’ll destroy you, I’ll annihila… Moooommm….”) His first impression is that he is being “catnapped”; Kitty fears that he has been stolen for ransom or, even worse, that he will be eaten. The male and female “two-legged one[s] feed him quite well, but what if they are just trying to fatten him up before consuming him? They keep calling out “Kitty-kitty,” and the furry feline is sure there is someone out there designated to keep him in line. After a day or two, he is let out of his room and learns there are two other cats in the house. The older one, a female named Mimi, hisses at him, and the younger male, Felix, remains aloof and a bit jittery. As he explores his environment and gets into trouble, he deduces that his own name must be “Stop.” For the next few days, Mimi continues to hiss at him, but Kitty is determined to befriend her. She has a sweetness that conveys security, and she reminds him of someone—the word “mama” comes to mind. Gander’s imaginative tribute to all of the cats who have been part of her family over the years is a charming and entertaining excursion into the feline mind, and cat lovers will recognize Kitty's antics and playfulness. The book is a quick read—sweet, witty, and poignant (keep a few tissues handy). There’s a bit of adventure, as when Kitty learns why his humans have been trying to keep him off the balcony railing, and tender moments as he tries to figure out what kind of creature the humans’ new baby is, concluding it is his responsibility to protect this strange addition to the family. Most of all, this is a story about love and the special relationships that develop between felines and their humans.

A delightful feline interpretation of the human world, suitable for animal lovers of all ages.