Synopses & Reviews
You've seen them. Hanging on telephone poles and posted on supermarket bulletin boards.
But have you ever wondered about the stories behind them?
When her orange tabby, Zak, disappeared, Nancy Davidson did what countless people before her had done. She made a lost cat poster. And after days of frantic searching, she found him. Nancy was ecstatic. Zak seemed happy, too—although being a cat, it was hard to tell.
Zak may have remained his old self, but Nancy had changed. From that moment on, she became acutely aware of lost cat posters. She studied their language, composition, and design. She was drawn to their folk art. Mostly, however, she was intrigued by the messages themselves—the stories behind the posters. It wasnt long before Nancy reached out to other owners of lost and found cats to offer empathy and support. They told hilarious and often poignant stories. They sought advice.
Thats when Dr. Nancy, the cat lover and the seasoned therapist, stepped in and offered insights brought to light by her shrewd, but never self-serious analysis. What they told her—and what she learns - creates a captivating look into the heart of our relationships with our pets and each other. For seven years, Dr. Nancy followed the lost cat trail discovering answers to a question that eventually touches all of us: What will you do for love?
The Secrets of Lost Cats traces the evolution of Nancy Davidsons seven-year passion for lost cat posters. From the astonishing, almost implausible posters she encounters across the country—and indeed, the world—to the daring, dedication, and emotional complexity of the cat owners themselves, The Secrets of Lost Cats offers readers an absorbing journey that illuminates love, loss, and learning to love again, even more deeply.
Review
"This wonderful book puts an end to the notion that there are cat people and dog people. There are only people—and the animals they love." —Julie Klam, New York Times bestselling author of You Had Me At Woof
Synopsis
Debut author Nancy Davidson uncovers the inspiring, funny, and sometimes bizarre stories behind lost cat posters to learn the truths of our relationships with our cats—and each other
Nancy Davidson understands the feelings that go into a lost cat poster. When her orange tabby, Zak, disappeared she made one herself. Several days after he went missing, Zak was found. Nancy was ecstatic. Zak seemed happy, too; although being a cat, it was hard to tell.
From that moment on, Nancy became acutely aware of lost cat posters. She studied their language, composition, and design. One day, she took a poster home. And then another. Soon, Nancy was collecting lost cat posters. She was drawn to their folk art quality, but mostly she was intrigued by the messages themselves—the stories behind the posters. So she reached out to the owners, calling them to offer sympathy and support. Being a therapist she shouldnt have been surprised how quickly people confided in her. But she was. What they told her forms the basis of this engaging and insightful book.
The Secrets of Lost Cats traces the evolution of Davidsons obsession with lost cat posters. From the astonishing, almost implausible posters she encounters in New York, Connecticut, Alaska, Spain, and Amsterdam to the daring, deception, dedication, and emotional complexity of the lost cat owners themselves and, ultimately, the insights brought to light by Nancys shrewd but never self-serious analysis, The Secrets of Lost Cats provides readers with an absorbing read that illuminates love, loss, and recovery, and the spaces in between.
Synopsis
You've seen them. Hanging on telephone poles and posted on supermarket bulletin boards.
But have you ever wondered about the stories behind them?
When her orange tabby, Zak, disappeared, Nancy Davidson did what countless people before her had done. She made a lost cat poster. And after days of frantic searching, she found him. Nancy was ecstatic. Zak seemed happy, too—although being a cat, it was hard to tell.
Zak may have remained his old self, but Nancy had changed. From that moment on, she became acutely aware of lost cat posters. She studied their language, composition, and design. She was drawn to their folk art. Mostly, however, she was intrigued by the messages themselves—the stories behind the posters. It wasnt long before Nancy reached out to other owners of lost and found cats to offer empathy and support. They told hilarious and often poignant stories. They sought advice.
Thats when Dr. Nancy, the cat lover and the seasoned therapist, stepped in and offered insights brought to light by her shrewd, but never self-serious analysis. What they told her—and what she learns - creates a captivating look into the heart of our relationships with our pets and each other. For seven years, Dr. Nancy followed the lost cat trail discovering answers to a question that eventually touches all of us: What will you do for love?
The Secrets of Lost Cats traces the evolution of Nancy Davidsons seven-year passion for lost cat posters. From the astonishing, almost implausible posters she encounters across the country—and indeed, the world—to the daring, dedication, and emotional complexity of the cat owners themselves, The Secrets of Lost Cats offers readers an absorbing journey that illuminates love, loss, and learning to love again, even more deeply.
About the Author
DR. NANCY DAVIDSON is a psychotherapist, weekend feline sleuth, and the creator of The Secrets of Lost Cats. She lives in Manhattan and Los Angeles.