Tortitude: The BIG Book of Cats with a BIG Attitude - Book Review | Lola The Rescued Cat
Monday, March 7, 2016

Tortitude: The BIG Book of Cats with a BIG Attitude - Book Review

I’ve been a fan of Ingrid King and The Conscious Cat long before I started blogging, so I’m very happy to share with you my review of her new book, Tortitude: the BIG Book of Cats with a BIG Attitude.



Not long after I started my Facebook page for Lola I came across Ingrid’s page for The Conscious Cat and I immediately knew I had to read Buckley’s Story (which was one of the first “cat books” I had read after entering the world of social media.) Buckley’s Story resonated with me on so many different levels and shortly after I finished it I just had to read Purrs of Wisdom. That book also resonated with me because Ingrid and I share many of the same “schools of thought”, views of life, and we are both Reiki practitioners.  I was lucky to meet Ingrid a few years ago (on a freezing December night) when she was in town for a signing, and twice after that (at BlogPaws and again when she was in town for a summit.)


I was very excited to get the opportunity to review Tortitude and was looking forward to seeing how she put it together in contrast to her other books. One thing I absolutely love about the book is that Ingrid included photos of her readers’ Torties.  For me that brought a depth of warmth and sincerity to the book and makes it even more endearing and heartwarming.  Each photo is on it's own page surrounded by a beautiful border, and there is a cat quote to go along with it.  One of my favorites is by Ernest Hemmingway: "One cat just leads to another".  How true is that?

Tortitude features a forward by Kate Benjamin of Hauspanther (who I adore),as well as praise from everyone’s cat daddy, Jackson Galaxy.




What exactly is a Torite? A  tortoiseshell cat is not a breed. “Tortoiseshell cats are named for their distinctive coloring – a combination of patches of black, brown, amber, red, cinnamon and chocolate.  The size of the patches varies from a fine speckled pattern to large areas of color.  The term “tortoiseshell” is used for cats with brindled coats that have few or no white markings.  Cats of this coloring with larger areas of white fur are called calicos. Sometimes, these colors present in lighter versions such as lilac or cream.  Torties with this lighter coloring are called dilute torties.  Occasionally, the typical tortoiseshell colors are also seen in a tabby (striped) pattern, and these cats are sometimes referred to as torbies. “

So what is Tortitude? Ingrid tells the reader that in addition to their distinctive coloring, torties also have a reputation for unique personalities, sometimes referred to as “tortitude.”  They tend to be strong-willed, a bit hot-tempered, and they can be very possessive of their human.  Other words used to describe torties are fiercely independent, feisty and unpredictable.  They’re usually very talkative and make their presence and needs known with anything from a hiss to a meow to a strong purr. These traits are stronger in tortoiseshell cats than in calicos – it seems as though these traits are somewhat diluted with the addition of more white to the color scheme.  

I’ve never had the pleasure of being owned by one of these beautiful cats, but I have enjoyed getting to know about them through Allegra and Ruby 




and through Lola and Lexy’s blogging friends.  I was very happy to see one of our favorite torties in the book, Mudpie, of Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries and Meows. 

Tortitude: The BIG Book of Cats with a BIG Attitude is a well thought out and well put together book. The beautiful photos alone make this a must read for all cat lovers.  You can purchase a copy on Amazon and all online book retailers. 

From the publisher: 
With about 2 million tortoiseshell cats in the United States, these special felines tend to be strong-willed, a bit hot-tempered, and often very possessive of their humans. Other words used to describe torties are fiercely independent, feisty and unpredictable. In Tortitude: The BIG Book About Cats With a BIG Attitude, cat expert Ingrid King (The Conscious Cat) brings her professional and personal experience to explore why these cats are so special. With expert insights combined with stunning photography and passages dedicated to the cats and their passionate guardians, King offers a new perspective on these exceptional cats.

About the author: 
Ingrid King is the award-winning author of Buckley’s Story: Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher, Purrs of Wisdom: Conscious Living, Feline Style, and Adventures in Veterinary Medicine: What Working in Veterinary Hospitals Taught Me About Life, Love and Myself. She is a former veterinary hospital manager. Her popular blog, The Conscious Cat, is a comprehensive resource for conscious living, health, and happiness for cats and their humans. The Conscious Cat has won multiple awards, including DogTime Media’s Pettie for Best Pet Blog in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, and About.com’s 2012 Readers Choice Award for Best Website About Cats. Ingrid lives in Northern Virginia with her tortoiseshell cats Allegra and Ruby. For more information about Ingrid, please visit www.ConsciousCat.com.

Dawn

Disclosure: I received a copy of Tortitude: The BIG Book of Cats with a BIG attitude in exchange for my honest review.  

Would you like to comment?

  1. Binga won't stop talking about this book!

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  2. Absolutely FABULOUS review of a book that we LOVED (and also reviewed) superb review! catchatwithcarenandcody

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  3. This looks like such a GREAT book!

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  4. That looks like a great book. I have a tortie named Penny.

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  5. Great review, Dawn! I've been hearing about this book and now I'm more intrigued than ever!

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  6. Great review ! This looks like a pawsome book ! Purrs

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  7. This book is on Rosie's (and my) must read list. Can't wait to get a copy.

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  8. This sounds like such a terrific book!

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  9. Wonderful review! We also adore Ingrid and enjoyed this book! Purrs from Deb and the Zee/Zoey gang

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