PET THAT CAT!

A young Twitter and Instagram sensation imparts whiskery wisdom.

Kidd and his mother, Braunigan, who created the social media accounts “I’ve Pet That Cat” on the heels of Kidd’s older brother’s “I’ve Pet That Dog,” offer advice and information aimed at helping youngsters cozy up to kitties. With ample colorful and inviting line drawings by Hoffmann, the book begins with a chapter on how to go about petting a strange cat, then covers how to approach, where to pet (stay away from the belly), and even how to pick up the cat if things are going well. Kidd and Braunigan provide sound guidance on interpreting cat sounds and body language and explain some feline behaviors. There is a brief history of cat-human relations and several short biographies of famous or heroic cats. Instructions for choosing and caring for a cat and an interview with a cat expert follow. A quiz helps the reader discover their cat personality, and there’s a log to keep track of the cats encountered. The book is dotted with “Tips From Nigel” and “Feline Facts,” and myth busters disprove common misconceptions (no, cats don’t actually enjoy milk). The artwork depicts a diverse group of people interacting with cats.

A solid primer on fostering human-feline relations.