Enough to Make a Cat Laugh

Book excerpt: Throughout the 1990s, Deric Longden has shared his life with Aileen Armitage and four cats: Thermal, Tigger, Frink and shabby old Arthur. And the cats have found that sharing a life with Aileen can be a very painful business. She hardly ever trips over them these days, but they are always in danger of being mistaken for a cardigan, or inadvertently locked away in the cellar. Ever since Thermal came in from the cold to enter his life, Deric has seen his world increasingly taken over by cats. What with planning their menus, entertaining their friends, listening to their worries and observing their adventures, he has little time left over for his professional life as a writer. But there are rich rewards. One way or another, the cats that Deric and Aileen share their lives with are an endless source of interest and laughter. Few writers have found so much enjoyment in the company of cats, and none has written better about their charm, and the fascinating range of their personalities. Enough to make a Cat Laugh will enchant cat-lovers everywhere, and give Longden-lovers an unforgettable treat.