Paws for a Moment
Cat Haiku from a Cat’s Point of View
by
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We think we know all about cats. But how much do we really know? They delight in being mysterious. One thing that is not in question is that cats are comfort-seeking creatures who would rather be couch potatoes most of the day than exert the energy necessary to walk across the room. Their energy-conserving mentality extends to communication with humans. If cats decided to start talking, they wouldn’t want to waste any effort in the process. Enter haiku, one of the most efficient forms of conveying thoughts and feelings. Each has only 17 syllables, broken down into three complete sentences of 5, 7, and 5 syllables, respectively. Perfect for cats. This is a compendium of a year’s worth of cat haikus, replete with humorous illustrations, direct from cats to you. Collectively, they reveal how cats feel about dogs, their humans, and life in general. They don’t pull punches. If you find that a particular cat haiku is hurtful, offensive, or unfair, rest assured that cats couldn’t care less. That’s what we love (or hate) about them. The book is designed to make you smile, even laugh, whether you are a “cat person” or not. Cats don’t worry about detractors because they know how to convert them into admirers, and that in any case, cat-loving sycophants vastly outnumber nonbelievers. If you do fancy felines, one or more are probably curling up in your lap right now, preventing you from moving and living your own life. Since you’re not going anywhere anyway, give in, kick back, and enjoy paging through this book. The more haikus you read, the closer you’ll get to matching wits with your cat. But let’s face it. You’ll never really get there. Here are a few samples to get you in the mood: I look up to you. Not in the sense of respect. You’re just really tall. You reap what you sow. It is different for cats. We rip what you sew. Let’s agree on this. I’ll place my tail where I want. You walk around it.
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About the Book
As a feline-only veterinarian for 35 years and a cat lover for over 60 years, I highly recommend this book. It’s funny and endearing, and it nails the feline psyche! The illustrations add to the enjoyment. All my friends and family are getting this book. It’s a winner!
– Katherine A. Reiner, DVM
Ken has been one of my favorite volunteers in cat rescue adoption. His insights into cat-human interactions have been integral in matching the right cats with the right people. In Paws for a Moment: Cat Haiku from a Cat’s Point of View, Ken blends his knowledge of cats with humor and charm. The illustrations enhance the clever haikus. This unique and captivating book will be cherished by cat lovers everywhere!
– Karen Evans, Vice-President, Board of Directors, The Cat Connection of Greater Boston
I love this collection of cat haikus! When Ken, my longtime friend and fellow meteorologist invited me to give the book a read, I immediately said yes, and I’m glad I did! I was instantly captivated by the humorous haikus and accompanying illustrations. This book is more than a series of clever vignettes—it captures the essence of feline philosophy in simple terms that even human beings can understand!
– William H. Hooke, Senior Policy Fellow Emeritus, American Meteorological Society
We’ve always liked Ken. Every time he visits our humans we curl up on his lap while he reads us cat haiku. Our best naps begin by listening to these purrls of wisdom. As cats, we get what we want, and we both want a signed copy of his book!
– Loki & Prada, br other & sister, Feline owners of Louann Virgil and Dr. David Blumenkrantz, Ken’s for mer summer camp counselor What Readers Are Saying... www.cathaiku.com
About the Author
Ken Heideman is a meteorologist. Smitten with the weather as a kid, he has always been in awe of the atmosphere as a sometimes unpredictable force of nature. It's no surprise, then, that he is crazy about cats, who can also be described that way. Don’t let this book fool you into thinking that Ken doesn’t like dogs. He adores them. He is merely channeling cats through haiku. And cats can sometimes be, shall we say, critical of their canine counterparts. A New Hampshire resident, Ken draws inspiration from and is pathetically subservient to Stormy and Spirit, two bonded brothers who rescued him when they met him at a cat shelter. A couple of purrs was all it took.