Taming Me: Memoir of a Clever Island Cat

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What People Are Saying
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Meet the Author

Overview

Born in the wild, on a tropical island where food is scarce and predators are plentiful, a tiny kitten struggles to stay alive. When she is captured by humans and taken from her mother, Lucy Miracle's rags-to-riches adventure begins. In this epic tale told by Lucy herself, you will feel her terror when she is trapped in a cage. See through her eyes as she is nursed back to health from the brink of death, and share her joy as she accepts the love of her new human family.

Will Lucy ever see her mother again? Can she and her human friends stop the man who wants to murder every cat on the island? If she decides to live in a house with humans, will she miss the freedom of the wild?

Experience life as a feral cat in Taming Me.

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What People Are Saying

Becky Robinson

Taming Me imaginatively describes the adventures and feelings of one tiny island cat—and in the process, helps build support for feral cats and their caregivers everywhere.
—Becky Robinson (co-founder and president, Alley Cat Allies)

Loretta Swit

I was totally engrossed in the life of this little kitten. I found myself hoping and praying she would see the wisdom in giving up the feral life so fraught with danger for a life of love and nurturing indoors.
—Loretta Swit (actor artist and activist)

Nancy Peterson

Taming Me masterfully depicts what cats would say about the power of love, patience and understanding to transform lives—both human and feline.
—Nancy Peterson (cat programs manager, The Humane Society of the United States)

Jonathan Balcombe

Unruh brilliantly captures the inner world of a cat.
—Jonathan Balcombe (author Second Nature and The Exultant Ark)

Ben Martin

[Lucy Miracle] tells her own story in this charming feline account.
—Ben Martin (The Advocate)

Bryan Kortis

As Lucy's story unfolds, distance and a fear of humans are replaced by trust and a sense of belonging. With sharp insight, author Cathy Unruh lets us experience this changing world through Lucy's eyes. We learn the power of compassion to transform and come to understand that, in Lucy's world and in our own, miracles are possible.
—Bryan Kortis (co-founder New York City's Neighborhood Cats)

Margo Hammond

Move over, Marley. Taming Me is poised to steal the hearts of animal fans everywhere. Not a cat lover? This feral feline, who narrates her own tale of survival, will turn you into one.
—Margo Hammond (co-author Between the Covers: The Book Babes' Guide to a Woman's Reading Pleasures)

Rory Freedman

A romp through the mind of a fabulous feline and all her fun and life-changing adventures.
—Rory Freedman (author Skinny Bitch)

Gene Baur

Delightful. As Lucy comes to know human kindness for the first time, her fear melts away, and she begins to love and trust her human parents—a captivating story about compassion and the connection that can exist between humans and other animals.
—Gene Baur (author, Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds about Animals and Food; president and co-founder, Farm Sanctuary)

Myriam Parham

Wow. Cathy Unruh has captured the essence of the lives of feral (stray) cats in a charming and informative story. Readers will experience the joys, sadness and challenges Lucy faces in surviving and adapting to "domesticated" life. A must read for every animal lover and an eye opener for those unfamiliar with feral cats. It is sure to melt any heart. I can't wait to read more of Lucy's adventures in the upcoming sequels!
—Myriam Parham (president, Florida Voices for Animals)

Dennis McCullough

A fascinating story about how this special little island kitten overcame her life as a feral and learned to trust and blend into a new family. The book shows how animals share the same fears, emotions, love and acceptance that we humans do and how much our lives are enriched when we add an animal to our family. I look forward to reading more of Lucy's travels around the world.
—Sherry Silk, executive director, Humane Society of Tampa Bay You must come and join Lucy Miracle on her journey from being a feral kitten to a loved family member. Through Lucy's eyes you will share the good times and bad, and come away with a newfound appreciation for the struggle of feral cats everywhere. This is a beautifully written, fascinating tale of transformation that will leave you thankful that the world has people like the author and her family and friends in it.
—Dennis McCullough (Hillsborough County Florida Animal Services, retired)

Jim MacDougald

A heartwarming and inspiring story of a feral cat, of those who loved her, and of the miracle they launched together on a tiny island in the Bahamas. The story, told by Lucy Miracle herself, will show you our world through the eyes of a helpless kitten who must learn to survive on her own, and to grow to trust and love the humans who share the island with her. Unruh's ability to write and think like a cat is astonishing. After reading Taming Me, your perception of cats and kittens will be forever changed. A "must read" for anyone who has a kitten or a cat, any adult or child who will be entrusted with a pet of their own, or for anyone who simply wants to learn more about animals.
—Jim MacDougald (president, International Council of the Tampa Bay Region)

Mary Anne Miller

Although a work of fiction, this book is in every way a true representation of the life of a stray kitten. A book that should not only be read, but also passed on to others for the messages it contains and the lessons offered. It emits an introspective look into a feline life that often goes unnoticed (much like the panhandlers on the streets you might pass on a daily basis). It encourages you to look inside of yourself and ask this question: What if the kitten I see near the dumpsters really needs my help? Taming Me gives you instructions without lectures and hope for the future along with tools to use should you wish to reach out and help that stray cat or kitten you notice in your life.
—Mary Anne Miller (founder and editor, Felinexpress.com)

Darlene Arden

Lucy Miracle's story will give you a new perspective on feral cats and kittens. With patience and love, some can become wonderful housecats. Unruh's Lucy is a wonderful protagonist. Because she tells the story through the kitten's thoughts, there is none of the treacly talking cat in this book. You will be captivated by Lucy and her story...You'll cry, you'll laugh and you will love Lucy.
—Darlene Arden (author, speaker, and journalist)

Pamela June Kimmell

Cathy Unruh's writing style was perfect for this story - she truly does have an incredible talent for "becoming" a cat in the way she related everything Lucy saw, felt, did...the awkwardness of a kitten - the shyness of a feral - the fear of the unknown. It was all so well done through the eyes of Lucy. The endearing story captured me from the first page and held me throughout the entire book.
—Pamela June Kimmell (author, artist, and blogger OneSpoiledCat.com)

Caren Gittleman

From the moment I started reading, I could NOT put the book down. It is eloquent, insightful, sensitive, suspenseful, full of love and will lure you into its pages...It's simply superb.
—Caren Gittleman (pet blogger (CatChat.com) and freelance writer)

Becky Robinson

Taming Me imaginatively describes the adventures and feelings of one tiny island cat—and in the process, helps build support for feral cats and their caregivers everywhere. (Becky Robinson, co-founder and president, Alley Cat Allies)

Loretta Swit

Nancy Peterson

Taming Me masterfully depicts what cats would say about the power of love, patience and understanding to transform lives—both human and feline. (Nancy Peterson, cat programs manager, The Humane Society of the United States)

Jonathan Balcombe

Unruh brilliantly captures the inner world of a cat. (Jonathan Balcombe, author, Second Nature and The Exultant Ark)

Ben Martin

[Lucy Miracle] tells her own story in this charming feline account. (Ben Martin, The Advocate)

Bryan Kortis

As Lucy's story unfolds, distance and a fear of humans are replaced by trust and a sense of belonging. With sharp insight, author Cathy Unruh lets us experience this changing world through Lucy's eyes. We learn the power of compassion to transform and come to understand that, in Lucy's world and in our own, miracles are possible. (Bryan Kortis, co-founder, New York City's Neighborhood Cats)

Margo Hammond

Move over, Marley. Taming Me is poised to steal the hearts of animal fans everywhere. Not a cat lover? This feral feline, who narrates her own tale of survival, will turn you into one. (Margo Hammond, co-author, Between the Covers: The Book Babes' Guide to a Woman's Reading Pleasures)

Rory Freedman

A romp through the mind of a fabulous feline and all her fun and life-changing adventures. (Rory Freedman, author, Skinny Bitch)

Gene Baur

Delightful. As Lucy comes to know human kindness for the first time, her fear melts away, and she begins to love and trust her human parents—a captivating story about compassion and the connection that can exist between humans and other animals. (Gene Baur, author, Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds about Animals and Food; president and co-founder, Farm Sanctuary)

Myriam Parham

Wow. Cathy Unruh has captured the essence of the lives of feral (stray) cats in a charming and informative story. Readers will experience the joys, sadness and challenges Lucy faces in surviving and adapting to "domesticated" life. A must read for every animal lover and an eye opener for those unfamiliar with feral cats. It is sure to melt any heart. I can't wait to read more of Lucy's adventures in the upcoming sequels! (Myriam Parham, president, Florida Voices for Animals)

Sherry Silk

Dennis McCullough

You must come and join Lucy Miracle on her journey from being a feral kitten to a loved family member. Through Lucy's eyes you will share the good times and bad, and come away with a newfound appreciation for the struggle of feral cats everywhere. This is a beautifully written, fascinating tale of transformation that will leave you thankful that the world has people like the author and her family and friends in it. (Dennis McCullough, Hillsborough County Florida Animal Services, retired)

Jim MacDougald

A heartwarming and inspiring story of a feral cat, of those who loved her, and of the miracle they launched together on a tiny island in the Bahamas. The story, told by Lucy Miracle herself, will show you our world through the eyes of a helpless kitten who must learn to survive on her own, and to grow to trust and love the humans who share the island with her. Unruh's ability to write and think like a cat is astonishing. After reading Taming Me, your perception of cats and kittens will be forever changed. A "must read" for anyone who has a kitten or a cat, any adult or child who will be entrusted with a pet of their own, or for anyone who simply wants to learn more about animals. (Jim MacDougald, president, International Council of the Tampa Bay Region)

Mary Anne Miller

Although a work of fiction, this book is in every way a true representation of the life of a stray kitten. A book that should not only be read, but also passed on to others for the messages it contains and the lessons offered. It emits an introspective look into a feline life that often goes unnoticed (much like the panhandlers on the streets you might pass on a daily basis). It encourages you to look inside of yourself and ask this question: What if the kitten I see near the dumpsters really needs my help? Taming Me gives you instructions without lectures and hope for the future along with tools to use should you wish to reach out and help that stray cat or kitten you notice in your life. (Mary Anne Miller, founder and editor, Felinexpress.com)

Darlene Arden

Lucy Miracle's story will give you a new perspective on feral cats and kittens. With patience and love, some can become wonderful housecats. Unruh's Lucy is a wonderful protagonist. Because she tells the story through the kitten's thoughts, there is none of the treacly talking cat in this book. You will be captivated by Lucy and her story....You'll cry, you'll laugh and you will love Lucy. (Darlene Arden, author, speaker, and journalist)

Pamela June Kimmell

Cathy Unruh's writing style was perfect for this story - she truly does have an incredible talent for "becoming" a cat in the way she related everything Lucy saw, felt, did.....the awkwardness of a kitten - the shyness of a feral - the fear of the unknown. It was all so well done through the eyes of Lucy. The endearing story captured me from the first page and held me throughout the entire book. (Pamela June Kimmell, author, artist, and blogger (OneSpoiledCat.com))

Caren Gittleman

From the moment I started reading, I could NOT put the book down. It is eloquent, insightful, sensitive, suspenseful, full of love and will lure you into its pages...It's simply superb. (Caren Gittleman, pet blogger (CatChat.com) and freelance writer)

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Editorial Reviews

VOYA - Marla K. Unruh

On an island in the Bahamas, a cat and her kitten are living in the wild and scrounging for food when a tantalizing smell lures them into a cage. The kitten is separated from her mother and fights to get free. The humans are kind rescuers, however, and the kitten is named Lucy by the human who is nursing her to health and trying to domesticate her. The human, Darcy, is organizing a Trap-Neuter-Return program to control the feral cats on the island but dotes on this kitten and wants to keep her. As Lucy tells the story, however, it is she who tames the humans, not the other way around. This reviewer found it distracting that, although the narrator is a very young kitten, she describes her surroundings in sophisticated detail, naming the trees, bushes, animals, and birds. She knows which humans are the native Bahamians (the servants) and which are not (the seasonal residents). If the reader accepts this unlikely premise, the next problem is the lack of any real excitement. A series of low-voltage conflicts is easily resolved, and the pacing is slow. Finally, the cloying way Darcy communicates with Lucy and Lucy calls Darcy and her husband Mommy and Daddy make this a book for the true animal lover. Middle readers who are feline aficionados will want to see Lucy safely established in her human family. Ages 11 to 14.

VOYA - Amber Brown

Taming Me is quite a unique story. The book is told from the island cat's point of view. A cat lover will not much enjoy this book. Maybe it will better appeal to a younger age group. Even though it is a short book, this reviewer found it hard to get through because there is no big attention grabber in the story. 3Q, 2P. Ages 11 to 14.

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Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780938728153
Publisher: Collage Books Inc.
Publication date: 10/16/2012
Pages: 224
Sales rank: 153,869
Product dimensions: 5.50 (w) x 8.40 (h) x 0.80 (d)

Meet the Author

Cathy Unruh is an Emmy Award-winning television journalist with a gift for words and an affinity for animals. She currently hosts a talk show titled Up Close with Cathy Unruh for WEDU-TV in Tampa-St. Petersburg.

Unruh is a frequent speaker and emcee in west central Florida, her primary home. She appears monthly in WEDU's Premiere magazine, and regularly in other publications such as Tampa Bay Magazine, Tampa Bay Illustrated, and Cultural Affairs. She is an award-winning member of the Cat Writers Association.

Unruh is affiliated at the highest levels with the following national animal welfare organizations: The Humane Society of the United States, the ASPCA, PETA, and Farm Sanctuary. In Florida, she co-founded an organization devoted to feral cats called Mission MEOW (Managing and Ending Overpopulation Wisely), which works alongside groups across the United States, including Neighborhood Cats of New York City and Alley Cat Allies, a national non-profit.

Unruh is a part-time resident of Cat Cay in the Bahamas, where she met and adopted Lucy Miracle, the narrator and protagonist of Taming Me.

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VOYA - Amber Brown

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Taming Me: Memoir of a Clever Island Cat

Overview

Pick Up In Store

Available on NOOK devices and apps Nook Devices NOOK HD/HD+ Tablet NOOK NOOK Color NOOK Tablet Tablet/Phone NOOK for Windows 8 Tablet NOOK for iOS NOOK for Android NOOK Kids for iPad PC/Mac NOOK for Windows 8 NOOK for PC NOOK for Mac NOOK Study NOOK for Web

All Available Formats & Editions

Customers Who Bought This Also Bought

More About This Book

Overview

Editorial Reviews

VOYA - Marla K. Unruh

VOYA - Amber Brown

Product Details

Related Subjects

Meet the Author

Customer Reviews

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I loved this book about Lucy Miracle, a feral cat on a Bahama Is

This is a wonderful story, written from the cat's point of view,

I just finished reading this book and absolutely loved it! I fo

This is one of those books you want more of. It's for "cat

Cat lovers will love this story

This story is a page turner! Told in the voice of a feral kitte

Great Read!

Taming Me is an easy read and provides the reader with a rollerc

I really Loved the Book.About Lucy Miracle. As I Love Cats. I g

I think of cats as curious, not clever. Too much page filler, f

"Taming Me" is a delightful story that showcases the d

I absolutely loved Taming Me! I felt a variety of emotions when

This is a beautifully written story that touched me on many leve

I loved this book! Lucy's story is both heartwarming and thrill

Lucy's journey from feral cat to pampered house pet leaves you w

Available on NOOK devices and apps

Nook Devices

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NOOK

NOOK Color

NOOK Tablet

Tablet/Phone

NOOK for Windows 8 Tablet

NOOK for iOS

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NOOK for PC

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NOOK Study

NOOK for Web