Dancing with Cats

Dancing with Cats
Silver and Busch
1999

Submitter: If you thought “Why Cats Paint” qualified for Awful Library Book status, I give you its sequel “Dancing with Cats!” And yes, we had both of them on the shelves of our medium-sized Midwestern public library. Unlike it’s hilarious predecessor, Dancing with Cats is kind of creepy and the images will be burned into your retinas forever, mainly because of the humans in the photos. Take Fred in his body paint, leotard and tail (Oh Lord, please let it be a leotard!). Or Ivan in his Speedo. Doesn’t it look like the cats are begging him to put some clothes on? Ralph simply looks possessed, while Helen in her tie-dye looks like she’s been into the catnip a few too many times. I will say however, that the models in this book could teach Tyra Banks’ protégés on America’s Next Top Model about committing to their poses. Not that I watch ANTM. Much.

This book is good for a novelty, but like many humor books, the novelty wears off pretty quickly. It hasn’t circulated in a few years, so we’re pulling it from our shelves.

Holly: Is it a parody? Is it serious? We’re not sure. Worldcat’s summary seems pretty serious: “Photographs and text celebrate the joyous communication that can exist between humans and their feline companions as they engage in movement and dance together.” The Library of Congress in their wisdom gave it serious subject headings, too: Dance, Cats–Behavior, and Human-animal relationships. Either way, it’s funny! The cats are…dancing! Mary, can Roberta dance? It’s the people who are really funny here, though. I’m a little worried for Ralph, actually. He might be having a stroke.