📖 Overview
Cat Problems follows a day in the life of an indoor cat who faces the trials and tribulations of domestic feline existence. The cat's stream-of-consciousness monologue details encounters with sunbeams, windows, food bowls, and other household elements.
Lane Smith's illustrations capture the cat's expressions and movements through distinctive artwork and creative typography. The book's design incorporates varied text placement and panel layouts to enhance the storytelling rhythm.
This picture book uses humor and relatable scenarios to explore themes of perspective and contentment in everyday life. The narrative showcases how one creature's problems can seem both significant and amusing when viewed from the outside.
👀 Reviews
Readers consistently note the book's accuracy in capturing typical cat behaviors and attitudes through humor. Parents and teachers report children request multiple readings and laugh out loud at the cat's complaints.
Liked:
- Relatable situations for cat owners
- Bold, expressive illustrations
- Appeals to both adults and children
- Works well as a read-aloud book
- Companion to Dog Problems creates fun comparisons
Disliked:
- Some found the cat's tone too negative/whiny
- A few noted it's shorter than expected
- Limited plot beyond cat complaints
Ratings:
Goodreads: 4.2/5 (1,200+ ratings)
Amazon: 4.8/5 (1,800+ ratings)
Barnes & Noble: 4.8/5 (100+ ratings)
Common review quote: "Perfect for anyone who has ever lived with a cat" appears frequently across platforms.
Several teachers mentioned using it successfully in K-3 classrooms, with one noting: "Students with cats at home especially connect with the story."
📚 Similar books
Dog Problems by Jory John
Chronicles a day of canine complaints through stream-of-consciousness narration, mirroring the feline perspective with a dog's daily challenges.
I Am Not a Chair by Ross Burach Features a giraffe's internal monologue as it deals with the recurring problem of being mistaken for furniture by other animals.
They All Saw A Cat by Brendan Wenzel Explores how different creatures perceive the same house cat, presenting multiple perspectives of a feline protagonist.
I Don't Want to Be a Frog by Dev Petty Presents a frog's inner dialogue about identity through complaints and observations about daily amphibian life.
The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt Reveals the inner thoughts and grievances of everyday objects through letters written by disgruntled crayons to their owner.
I Am Not a Chair by Ross Burach Features a giraffe's internal monologue as it deals with the recurring problem of being mistaken for furniture by other animals.
They All Saw A Cat by Brendan Wenzel Explores how different creatures perceive the same house cat, presenting multiple perspectives of a feline protagonist.
I Don't Want to Be a Frog by Dev Petty Presents a frog's inner dialogue about identity through complaints and observations about daily amphibian life.
The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt Reveals the inner thoughts and grievances of everyday objects through letters written by disgruntled crayons to their owner.
🤔 Interesting facts
🐱 Jory John has written numerous #1 New York Times bestselling books, including "The Bad Seed" and "The Good Egg" series.
🎨 Illustrator Lane Smith has won multiple Caldecott Honors and is known for his work on "The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales."
📚 The book was published in 2021 and became an instant hit among both children and adult cat lovers, earning praise for its authentic portrayal of feline behavior.
🏠 Indoor cats spend an average of 16-20 hours per day sleeping, which inspired many of the book's humorous observations about cat naps and sunbeam-chasing.
🔴 The red dot that puzzles the book's protagonist is a reference to laser pointers, which cats chase due to their natural predatory instinct to pursue small, quick-moving objects.