If a tribe of talking cats–and dogs!–banding together to survive and co-exist peacefully when their elderly owner disappears sounds like your sort of thing, then you’re going to love all three of the books in The Cats Collection trilogy: Cats Alone, Cats Wild and Cats Home.
This series is officially targeted at a middle-grade audience (in other words, these are children’s books for ages 9-12, approximately) but don’t let that stop you giving them a try if you’re curious. I currently consider them as being in the realm of ‘children’s books (for adults too)’, in that I’ve heard from adults and teenagers who have loved reading through them.
The series follows Shadow the cat, a once-stray turned loyal pet, and the interesting collection of other cats who he lives with, as well as some dogs! After their elderly owner, Joseph, doesn’t come back home one day, they have to learn to stay together and support each other through the turmoil, and it’s very focused on the idea of family being those that we choose to have around us and the strong bonds of friendship.
The latest editions of all three books have cover art (the adorable illustrations of our protagonist, Shadow) by Leon Whittle, and the cover for the physical edition of The Cats Collection book (all three stories in one!) was created by Joseph Caulfield.
As with most of my books, there are free ebooks available at various online ebook retailers (Smashwords, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, etc.) as well as physical editions available on Amazon. To make sure you’re buying the latest edition, check that the covers are the exact same as the ones I’ve included below.
Cats Alone
Shadow and his unusual tribe try to survive after their old owner disappears, with conflicts and hunger threatening to drive them apart. Relying on friendship and hope to keep them together, they grow closer to each other through memories and struggles. But will their owner ever come back?
Cats Wild
Shadow and the tribe have made a decision: they’re leaving old Joseph’s house and searching for a new home. But there are many dangers on the streets for a tribe of stray cats (and a dog) who are no longer protected by four walls and a roof. Can Shadow still keep everyone together and bring up Sophia the kitten well, even though they’re now wild?
Cats Home
It has been a long journey for Shadow and his tribe, from being loyal house pets to living in an abandoned house and finally becoming wild. But after so much hardship, can they finally find a home that is suitable for all of them to settle down in together, or will their search for comfort force them apart?
Oskar Leonard 