Catakism: A Humorous Purr-spective on Humankind’s Obsession with Cats

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. From the publisher - Do you bow to the meow? Are you one of the 70 million people who devote time and income to grooming, feeding, coddling, photographing, praising, and “entertaining” Cats? Does your Facebook page have more photos of your Cat than of your siblings? Do you buy furniture for your Cat in hopes that one day, he’ll actually sit on it? If an anthropologist from outer space were to study our civilization objectively, would she not conclude that our devotion to Cat amounted to nothing less than a full-blown religion? Would she be wrong? Catakism is mankind’s unending and near-fanatical devotion to Cat. In fact, a Catakist does not consider Cat a pet but rather a minor deity, no a MAJOR deity. In this furr-ociously funny gift book, author Jeff Lazarus tells how Catakism is a belief that recognizes felines as elevated beings worthy of mankind’s near-religious reverence and devotion. Catakists aren’t just fond of Cats – they extol them and plan their days/nights around the needs and wants of Cat. Filled with 40 photos of kitties perched and poised, Catakism is a whimsical, satirical celebration of the relationship between cats and humans patterned after a religious doctrine. Catakism will resonate with cat lovers from all walks of life and every litter. Each of the nine chapters reveals additional proof that humans have a deep need to revere and bow to their house cat. Devotees of Catakism will see themselves exemplified in the same system of rituals, practices, and behaviors personified by other devoted orders the world over

I imagine that it is not often that a person reviewing a book from #Netgalley stops less than 1/4th of the way through a book and goes online and buys six copies of a book for herself and other crazy cat people!! This reviewer just did that!! .My cats own me to the point where I sleep curled around them so I do not disturb their naps on my bed. I also get a "fish facial" (aka my entire face licked) at least 3x daily which would gross out any non-cat people but my mother would probably vomit hearing that. (Mind you, I never ever, ever get a cold or the flu so maybe cat spit is immune-boosting?? Better cat kisses than kale!!!) I was laughing so hard reading this book that tears and snot were dripping down my face and the photos are funny and beautiful (the one in the preface I have done a jigsaw puzzle of and the rest I want to frame. If you LOVE cats GO OUT AND BUY THIS BOOK!!! If you know a cat lover, GO OUT AND BUY THIS BOOK.

Five BRILLLIANT stars.