19/03/2025
I've just finished reading 'Sea of Tails', a book subtitled 'My Life With Cats', by Bess Burton. I guess the stereotypical image of a crazy cat lady is the one popularised in The Simpsons, and whilst it doesn't seem like Bess's situation exactly matches that I'd suggest that there needs to be an element of that craziness, that fanaticism, in order to be able to devote so much of one's time to looking after cats. Bess (and Lawrence Burton, her husband) appear to have devoted their entire lives to their home cat colony, as well as to the feral cat population of San Antonio, Texas - colonies of which they visit to feed and assist in the managing of - and this book details their activities, as well as giving a potted history of Bess's life story in relation to cats. It also gives an exhaustive list of every cat to have ever been part of Bess's life. The dedication which the cats receive oozes from the pages of the book, which takes the reader on a journey through the highs and lows, the troubles and satisfaction, and the sometimes eye-watering expense of having been chosen as a feline servant. It's a fascinating glimpse into something akin to obsession, but told in such a manner that it seems quite logical to just pop out and find oneself a stray kitten or two . . . or possibly, as the book itself warns, fourteen or fifteen. It's a heart-warming read, and one which will restore your faith in human kindness, a trait that seems to have all-but disappeared in recent times. Click the link to buy your own copy.
Bess Burton never really considered that she might one day have a home full of cats; but as anyone will tell you, one cat leads to another, and those two may in turn lead to fourteen or fifteen. Nevertheless, when the call came - because it is indeed a calling - she grasped that metaphorical nettle....
