Cat Champions: Caring for Our Feline Friends by Rob Laidlaw (review)

Recent cat population estimates suggest that there are nearly one hundred million pet cats in the U.S., and that there are about half that many feral or “community” cats. Cat-loving kids who want to help those felines will find plenty of helpful suggestions and youthful role models in Laidlaw’s book. After some cursory information about traits and breeds, Laidlaw offers information about helping both feral/alley cats and those cats who are better suited to be adopted as pets. Topics covered include Trap/Neuter/Release programs, building outdoor shelters for feral cats, cat shelters and sanctuaries, fostering, cat adoption, and fundraising and education. Each section is peppered with engaging profiles of youth who are committed to volunteering on behalf of cats and anecdotal sidebars about famous cats; while the focus is mainly on North American efforts, there are some brief mentions of the cat islands in Japan and volunteer work being done in China. The layout is on the stodgy side, with clutter from superfluous borders around photographs and numerous sidebars, but the cat pictures are crisp and clear. Browsers will delight in the details and adorable photos of cats, and kids who are serious about helping will find both practical ideas and inspiration here. End matter includes a cat lover’s pledge, a list of resources and links, a glossary, and an index.