Lisa Kerber - Hardworking Cats: A Humorous Look at the Feline Contribution to Our Workaday World

Copyright 2014 by Lisa Kerber Illustrations Copyright 2014 by John Ungar All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018. Skyhorse Publishing books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for sales promotion, corporate gifts, fund-raising, or educational purposes. Special editions can also be created to specifications. For details, contact the Special Sales Department, Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or .

Skyhorse and Skyhorse Publishing are registered trademarks of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc., a Delaware corporation. Visit our website at www.skyhorsepublishing.com. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file. Cover design by John Ungar Cover illustration credit John Ungar Print ISBN: 978-1-62914-704-8 Ebook ISBN: 978-1-62914-979-0 Printed in China Dedicated to the many endearing personalities whove worked so hard for us over the years: Shu-Shu-La-Rue, Hot Helen, Boocat, Pickle, Hodge, Maui Moo, Tudor, Chucky, Johnny, Posh, Peebzo, Lulu, Izzy, Ummie, and the greatest of all: Rooney Toon and Wooodie the Woo. Also, many thanks to Kelsie Besaw at Skyhorse for her diligence, dedication, and enthusiasm in bringing this book to life. Thanks for all the jobs well done! ARE CATS REALLY AS LAZY AS SOME PEOPLE SAY? Hmmm...

Lets admit it... when cat lovers look fondly at our favorite felines, our first thought isnt how industrious they are. Its more along the lines of, How great you look with nicely combed fur, or How cute you are meditating all day, or How funny you are with that ping-pong ball. So... we appreciate our furry little friends for lots of reasons. Companionshipyes! Lowering our blood pressure? Right! Warming our laps? Sure.

Making us laugh? Of course! But... gosh... we may get a little defensive when ordinary people ask, What are cats good for anyway? All they do is sleep all day, eat expensive food, and rip up the furniture. Most dont even have the get-up-and-go to catch mice anymore! And sheepishly, we admit to ourselves some of that is true. Maybe, deep down, were a little jealous of how cats get to sleep in on days when everyone else is dealing with the dog-eat-dog world. Perhaps we secretly envy their privileged lifestyle that comes with dedicated waiters and waitresses.

So, to answer the critics and justify our unfailing devotion to these little characters, we decided to look at cats in a whole new way. We wanted to see if our societys focus on the puritan work ethic had any effect on them at all. And lo and behold, it turns out cats are doing way more than anyone imagined! With a little thinking outside the litter box, we came up with all sorts of ways cats contribute to the work-a-day world. In fact, we discovered 100 jobs cats have been doing all along. So, cat parents, be proud! Read on! Celebrate your favorite felines rightful place in this modern twenty-four-hour-a-day rat race. Ignore those irksome skeptics and their dogmatic opinions.

And then add up your cats total score at the end of this book to see just how much he or she mattersto us all! Wake-Up Caller Periodically checks to determine if sleeping humans know what time it is. Urgency of visits often depends on how long a certain food dish has been empty. Official Greeter Eagerly hightails it over to welcome anyone who drops by to visit the staff. Hangs around hoping for chin rubs, pats on the back, and compliments on charisma. Hygienist Dedicated to spiffing up every few hours, including the top of ones head, even though theres no way to see up there. Courier Heads off youthful misadventures by returning errant offspring to their rightful positions.

Favors old-fashioned method of parenting involving the scruff of the neck. Exterminator Skillfully dispatches any creature that scurries, flies, or offends humans. Job performance of this classic feline tradition may be hampered by a big dinner. Interior Decorator Easily becomes bored with neatness and order. Shows artistic flair by pushing paper, pens, or jewelry onto the floor to liven up the place. Wilderness Explorer Enjoys exciting expeditions into woods, gardens, and fields.

When lost in the moment, may need some verbal assistance to find the way home. Sunspot Researcher Looks for sunny rectangles on floors, and monitors the BTUs until the spot moves away. Work may continue elsewhere if research gets too hot to handle. Investigator Likes to check out every intriguing space. New discoveries are kept in mind in case of the need to disappear for awhile. Black-Hole Researcher Stares for hours at dark openings in the ground waiting for something exciting to pop up. Black-Hole Researcher Stares for hours at dark openings in the ground waiting for something exciting to pop up.

Success depends on figuring out which hole to watch. Furniture Stripper Skilled at deupholstering couches and chairs so humans can have fun picking out new fabrics and patterns. If scolded too often, may switch to the night shift to avoid interruptions. Comedian Likes to perform funny antics to make humans laugh. Knows everyone enjoys a little bathroom humor now and then. as long as enough are pushed together to make room for a nap. as long as enough are pushed together to make room for a nap.