Cat People edited by Devapriya Roy

CAT PEOPLE, edited by Devapriya Roy. Simon & Schuster Books.

Such a delightful book, allowing cat people a close look at felines and the humans they live with, allowing non-cat people a glimpse into just what living with a feline brings out in the human character.

Like any anthology, it`s a mixed bag, with some stories that startle, engage, amuse and touch the heart, and some that fall in the run-of-the-mill track. Thirty-three people write about their cats, cats they have observed at close quarters, cats who have made that tangible difference to their lives, cats that bring magic into their lives,. Or not.

Cat Eecha`s story is a major charm overload, as are the Campus Cat`s and Nilanjana Roy`s strays. Oher felines of note (!) are the cat in Sandip Roy`s evocative story, the one in Vibha Balaji`s absorbing tale, Ipsa Samaddar`s grieving cat, the cat that`s part of the set-up in Anukriti Prasad`s quirky take on a relationship, as well as the comparison cats in Teesta Rawal`s wry reflections on her innate feline tendencies.

Oh, and I learned a new word. Ailurophobia, an intense fear of cats that’s strong enough to cause panic and anxiety when around or thinking about cats.