People are obsessed with cat pictures on the Internet. Over fifteen percent of the web is cat-related content. That's a lot.
Cats are now taking over the literary world as well. No matter what genre you look at – horror, mystery, Christmas, romance, memoir – it's easy to spot books in which cats are an important part of the story.
While researching my book Avalon: a Heartwarming True Cat Story, I read a lot of cat books to have an idea of what works and what doesn't. Just like so many other people, I quickly found myself addicted to those stories. I came up with three theories on why cat books are so popular.
Cats make us feel good
Did you have a bad day? If you delve into a good cat book, you can't help but smile and feel positive again. Cat books remind us of the good things in life: loyalty, true love, and friendship. And, of course, any cat's behavior will have you crack up with laughter in no time. By picking up a cat book, you are guaranteed to be confronted with lots of positive vibes and emotions. This can be addictive. Because once you know how easy it is to smile when you feel down, the more you'll seek out those feelings.
It's in our genes
Humans are hardwired to love on anything that is cute and cuddly.Whether it be babies or pets, most people want to make them happy. Therefore, we tend to recognize ourselves in and identify with the characters portrayed in cat books. We all want to belong and feel understood, and reading cat books is a good way to remind us that we do.
Cat people are introverts
Research shows that cat people are more introverted than dog people. Instead of going for long walks, they prefer to stay inside and read a book, preferably with a warm cat curled up on their laps. And if that book helps them to feel better about themselves and the world, then so much the better.
So, there you have three possible reasons why cat books are popular. Do you agree or disagree? Can you think of other reasons why readers love cat books? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter using @eeriestories.
Can't wait to experience all the good feelings a good cat book has to offer? Start with Avalon: a Heartwarming True Cat Story ;-)
Blurb:
Some cats need nine lives to make a difference. Avalon only needed one.
From Amazon bestselling author Vanessa Morgan, Avalon is the heartwarming and once-in-a-lifetime love story of a girl and her neurotic Turkish Van cat.
With humor, the author details how Avalon made other creatures cringe in distress whenever he was around, how he threw her dates out by means of special techniques, and how he rendered it almost impossible for her to leave the house. Avalon was so incorrigible that even her landlord ordered her to get rid of him. But beneath Avalon's demonic boisterousness, Vanessa recognized her own flaws and insecurities, and she understood that abandoning Avalon would be the worst she could do to him. Thanks to her unswerving loyalty, Avalon transformed into a tender feline, and even landed a major role in a horror movie. In turn, Avalon made it his mission to be there for his human companion.
By turns jubilant and deeply moving, Avalon is a memoir for anyone who has ever been obsessively in love with a pet.Purchase links:
Amazon US // Amazon UK // Amazon FR:
Author bio:
Vanessa Morgan is an author, screenwriter, and blogger. Two of her works, The Strangers Outside and A Good Man, have been turned into films. Her short film script Next to Her is currently in pre-production. When she's not working on her latest book, you can find her reading, watching horror movies, digging through flea markets, or photographing felines for her blog Traveling Cats. Avalon has appeared in several of her books and films.
Social media links:
Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest // Google+ // Bloglovin // Amazon // GoodReads // Blog
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