Kitty Cornered is raucous and witty and as heartwarming as a basket of kittens. I’m a bone-i-fied dog lover, but this book settles it: I’m getting a cat, or six.” —Dan Dye, author of Amazing Gracie Bob Tarte had his first encounter with a cat when he was two and a half years old. He should have learned his lesson then, from Fluffy. But as he says, “I listened to my heart instead, and that always leads to trouble.” In this tell-all of how the Tarte household grew from one recalcitrant cat to six—including a hard-to-manage stray named Frannie—Tarte confesses to allowing these interlopers to shape his and his wife’s life, from their dining habits to their sleeping arrangements to the placement and furriness of their furniture. But more than that, Bob begins seeing Frannie and the other cats as unlikely instructors in the art of achieving contentment, even in the face of illness and injury. Bewitched by the unknowable nature of domesticated cats, he realizes that sometimes wildness and mystery are exactly what he needs. With the winning humor and uncanny ability to capture the soul of the animal world that made Enslaved by Ducks a success, Tarte shows us that life with animals gives us a way out of our narrow human perspective to glimpse something larger, more enduring, and more grounded in the simplicities of love—and catnip.

From the bestselling author of THE PUPPY PLACE.Mia and Michael Battelli want a pet more than anything. And a cuddly cat or kitten would be perfect for their small brownstone apartment. But their parents aren't sure Mia and Michael are ready for the responsibility. Then Mia spots a tiny calico foraging for food. Callie doesn't seem to belong to anyone--and she's hurt. Mia can't just leave her to fend for herself! But what if she can't convince her parents to keep the sweet little kitten? Will Callie ever find a home?

When Salem wakes to find himself tied down and staring at a couple of mice in superhero costumes, he hopes he's just dreaming, but Mort and Mikey are absolutely real. They're angry about the way mice are treated everywhere and someone's got to pay!

"If you have to fight...fight like a cornered cat." --Cover.

From the bestselling author of THE PUPPY PLACE.Someone has left Otis, an adorable tabby, all alone at the local community center. When Michael and Mia hear about the abandoned kitty, they volunteer to help. Otis is wary of strangers and scared of loud noises. His sad yowls keep the family up all night! Michael knows not just any owner will love this tentative tabby. Can he find Otis a forever home?

In Bob Tarte's home, pandemonium is the order of the day, and animals literally rule the roost—thirty-nine of them at last count. Whether it's the knot-tying African grey parrot, or the overweight cat who's trained Bob to hold her water bowl just above the floor, or the nightmarish duck who challenges him to a shoving match, this menagerie, along with his endlessly optimistic wife, Linda, provides daily lessons on the chaos inherent in our lives. But not until this modern-day Noah's Ark hits stormy weather—and Bob's world spins out of control—does he realize that this exuberant gaggle of animals provides his spiritual anchor. It is their alien presence, their sense of humor, and their impulsive behavior that both drive Bob crazy and paradoxically return him to sanity. With the same sly humor and dead-on character portraits that made Enslaved by Ducks such a rousing success, Tarte proves that life with animals offers a wholly different perspective on the world.