feline philosophy: life lessons from your cat

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FELINE PHILOSOPHY

Copyright © Summersdale Publishers Ltd, 2005

Condition of SaleThis book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent publisher.

Summersdale Publishers Ltd46 West StreetChichesterWest SussexPO19 1RPUK

www.summersdale.com

Printed and bound in Great Britain

ISBN 1 84024 454 2

Feline Philosophy - insides.indd2 2Feline Philosophy - insides.indd2 2 15/07/2005 11:37:2215/07/2005 11:37:22

www.summersdale.com

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‘I’ve met many thinkers and‘I’ve met many thinkers and many cats, but the wisdom ofmany cats, but the wisdom of

cats is infinitely superior’cats is infinitely superior’

Hippolyte TaineHippolyte Taine


4

Stretch yourself inStretch yourself inmany directions.many directions.


5

Listen to others, but alsoListen to others, but also listen to yourself.listen to yourself.


6

Be grateful for yourBe grateful for your daily food. If you’re notdaily food. If you’re not hungry, you can alwayshungry, you can always

play with it.play with it.


8

It’s OK to have aIt’s OK to have adull coat – it’s the tigerdull coat – it’s the tiger

within that counts.within that counts.


9

But there’s no reasonBut there’s no reasonto be seen with a hairto be seen with a hair

out of place.out of place.


10

Always be ready toAlways be ready to share a plate of food.share a plate of food.


12

If you don’t likeIf you don’t likethe look of it, shred it.the look of it, shred it.


14

Be hard toBe hard tosay goodbye to…say goodbye to…


15

… but easy to… but easy tocome back to.come back to.


16

Take charge of yourTake charge of your surroundings – kicksurroundings – kick

away the dead leaves,away the dead leaves, stalk the magpies...stalk the magpies...but don’t forget tobut don’t forget to

enjoy the butterflies.enjoy the butterflies.


18

Make friends withMake friends with people in high placespeople in high places

however you can.however you can.


20

Be curious –Be curious –you can afford toyou can afford tolose a life or two.lose a life or two.


21

When in need, don’t beWhen in need, don’t be afraid to ask a friend.afraid to ask a friend.


22

Stare unabashedly –Stare unabashedly –no one ever got anythingno one ever got anything

by being coy.by being coy.


24

Seek out theSeek out thesunny places.sunny places.


26

Don’t always comeDon’t always come when you are called.when you are called. Good things come toGood things come to

those who wait.those who wait.


27

Slow down; makeSlow down; maketime to eat the flowers.time to eat the flowers.


28

Sometimes you just haveSometimes you just have to leap without looking.to leap without looking.


30

Don’t be shyDon’t be shyabout sharingabout sharing

your achievements.your achievements.


32

If someone stepsIf someone stepson your paws, leton your paws, let

them know…them know…


33

… but after a cuddle… but after a cuddle and an apology,and an apology,

forgive and forget.forgive and forget.


34

Take the best seat in theTake the best seat in the house; your contentmenthouse; your contentment

is as important asis as important asthe next fellow’s.the next fellow’s.


36

Embrace signsEmbrace signsof maturity – flauntof maturity – flaunt

your hair loss.your hair loss.


38

Not everything in lifeNot everything in life can be explained.can be explained.


39

Go barefoot amongGo barefoot amongthe buttercups.the buttercups.


40

See the possibilitiesSee the possibilitiesin everything.in everything.


42

Public displays ofPublic displays of affection make theaffection make the

world a happier place.world a happier place.


44

Follow your instincts.Follow your instincts.


45

If the sun is no longerIf the sun is no longer shining on you, moveshining on you, move

to another spot.to another spot.


46

Choose yourChoose yourfriends wisely.friends wisely.


48

Don’t waste time tryingDon’t waste time trying to please everybody.to please everybody.


50

Always makeAlways maketime for play.time for play.


51

Contentment can’tContentment can’tbe bought.be bought.


52

Take the initiative –Take the initiative –if you don’t askif you don’t askyou don’t get.you don’t get.


54

You can liveYou can livewithout television.without television.


56

There is no place soThere is no place so dark that comfortdark that comfortcannot be found.cannot be found.


57

Sometimes you areSometimes you arejust in a bad mood –just in a bad mood –

there’s no needthere’s no needto explain yourself.to explain yourself.


58

Don’t hold back – yawnDon’t hold back – yawn like you really mean it.like you really mean it.


60

Be there forBe there foryour friends.your friends.


62

Take it slow; the fasterTake it slow; the faster you run, the more likelyyou run, the more likely

you are to forgetyou are to forgetwhere you’re going.where you’re going.


63

Be independent, butBe independent, butit’s OK to depend onit’s OK to depend on

others sometimes.others sometimes.


64

You can’t blameYou can’t blame everything on the dog.everything on the dog.


66

When in doubt, act likeWhen in doubt, act like you’re in the right.you’re in the right.


68

Be a good listener.Be a good listener.


69

Right now, there is atRight now, there is at least one person wholeast one person who can’t wait to see you.can’t wait to see you.


70

Spilled milk isn’t alwaysSpilled milk isn’t always something to cry over.something to cry over.


72

Feel free to speak outFeel free to speak out when something makeswhen something makes

you unhappy.you unhappy.


74

If you feel likeIf you feel likeclimbing to the topclimbing to the top

of the shed, climb toof the shed, climb tothe top of the shed.the top of the shed.


75

There’s nothing betterThere’s nothing better than finding a goodthan finding a good

lap to curl up in.lap to curl up in.


76

If in doubt, sleep on it.If in doubt, sleep on it.


78

Tread lightlyTread lightlyon this earth.on this earth.


80

Don’t give away all yourDon’t give away all your secrets. Be coolsecrets. Be cooland mysterious.and mysterious.


81

Everyone is entitled toEveryone is entitled to change their mind.change their mind.


82

Don’t be a slaveDon’t be a slaveto the telephone.to the telephone.


84

Do what you want,Do what you want,when you want.when you want.


86

Learn to see whatLearn to see whatyou need even whenyou need even when

it’s all gone dark.it’s all gone dark.


87

Keep climbing untilKeep climbing untilyou reach the veryyou reach the verytop of the curtains.top of the curtains.


88

Don’t be afraid toDon’t be afraid to take chances andtake chances and

try new things.try new things.


90

Be tolerant, butBe tolerant, butdon’t be a pushover.don’t be a pushover.


91

Don’t let a closed doorDon’t let a closed door stand in your way.stand in your way.


92

To err is human.To err is human.To forgive, feline.To forgive, feline.


Other cat books from SummersdaleOther cat books from Summersdale


The More I See of Men,

the More I Love My Cat

Daisy Hay

£4.99 Hb

1 84024 421 6

Cats are better than men: fact. When was the last time you

had to tell a cat not to embarrass you in public? Would a cat

go out for a night on the tiles and come back smelling of

anything worse than a fish supper? All the evidence is inside

this book: there’s nothing mad about being a catwoman.

Daisy Hay lives with many cats – and no residential men.


Cats

Quotes and Stuff

£4.99 Hb

1 84024 371 6

‘Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. Cats have

never forgotten this.’

Bursting at the seams with quotes, poems, jokes and stories,

this book is a delightful celebration of the world’s favourite

furry friend.

The purrfect gift for every cat-lover.


www.summersdale.com


www.summersdale.com

feline philosophy: life lessons from your cat

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