Beyond the purr. This delightful little book explains why your cat is a kitten indoors and a lion in the garden.
I heard of this book not long after I had read "The Hidden Life of Dogs", and was initially skeptical of how much better this book could be. I needn't have worried--"Tribe of Tiger" is nothing like its predecessor. Starting with the incident involving the cat and the loaf of bread in the book's introduction, it is packed with interesting (and sometimes hilarious) stories about real felines, whether they be housecats or cougars or circus tigers. As usual, the anthropomorphism can be a bit much sometimes, and some of the conclusions drawn from these stories seem far-fetched, but all in all it is definitely worth it. I first read a copy I had borrowed from the library, and finished it in a day and a half; after I had to give it back, I went out and bought my own copy. If you have even a casual interest in animals, you're bound to enjoy it.
A bit choppy, but full of treasures
I had this book on my shelf for years before finally getting around to reading it, and now wish I'd done so sooner. The author is one of the tribe of true animal-lovers: people whose love and understanding of animals does not get in the way of their analytic abilites and scientific curiosity. As noted, the book does not particularly flow; some chapters are on the author's observations of house cats and others are on her own and others' studies of wild feline species of many kinds, with emphasis on cougars, tigers and lions. But even though I found some chapters a bit subjective, anecdotal, and tedious, I kept reading because there are some hugely rewarding insights in these pages. The author is an original thinker, a keen observer, and a passionate advocate for the well-being of cats large and small. I would rate this a must-read for anyone who loves and wants to better understand "the tribe of the tiger".
