The Cat Who'll Live Forever: The Final Adventures of Norton, the Perfect Cat, and His Imperfect Human

Rating:
Summary: get the hanky ready
Review: I bought a Scottish Fold after reading Gether's first two books. And was pleased to find that Norton's qualities are are a part of the breed. Loving, calm, etc. And total people magnets. The last book is cheerful, more stories of Norton's exploits and travels. Not until the last third of the book do we see Norton start to "fade." When Gethers sees that Norton is nearing the close of his life he takes him on a final road trip.
I read, I cried, I read some more and cried a lot more.

The odd thing is that this is not a depressing story. It's a story that ends and it ends just as Norton lived--with love for his human.

Rating:
Summary: A book I won't forget
Review: I rarely write reviews. But I really want to encourage people to read this book, it's a must read if you love cats.

Why read it? First, it is very well written. I stumbled across this book and although I now know it is the third in the series I decided to go ahead with it. (I've already purchased the first two and I'm awaiting their arrival!) While it concludes the author's stories on Norton (warning the ending is *very* sad even when you know it is coming), it actually gives more insight to the owner of Norton and his feelings about his cat and especially how he felt about handling the final days of Norton's life.

Also, I learned a number of new things. First was that great cookbook mentioned (I'm trying to find a copy of that right now) and second was the concept of holistic healing for cats as an alternative treatment. I felt the author was not pushing this method but indicating that for him it was a very valuable tool in treating the health problems of Norton. I know I will be checking up on both the food and healing aspects of this for my three cats. And while I know it varies from cat to cat, the fact that kidney disease can be put on hold for years if caught early was a very useful fact.

Many thanks, Peter, for a wonderful book!

Rating:
Summary: The cat who went to heaven
Review: If you read only one of the three books on Norton the Scottish Fold, this should be it. Not only are the writing style and design of the book better than the other two, it's the most emotional and thoughtful as well. The two previous books tell of Norton's adventures as a series of events, and in this third, Gethers continues that tradition. But he also adds something of a meditation on death and on caring for others. There are moments where it seems to get sentimental, but the feelings are so genuine that you can't help but be moved.

Rating:
Summary: Five Paws
Review: Like Mr. Gethers, I was unaffected by cats until I crossed paths with one seven years ago. I am now one of those guys who talks about his feline companion more than my parented friends talk about their children. I came across Norton's, I mean, Mr. Gether's first novel in an airport bookstore last week and quickly read it before I arrived back home. It was all that I feared a novel about a man and his cat would be- irreverent, timely, and moving. I loved it and immediately moved on to the next two novels. Now I am not only a cat fanatic, but I am also a reader of cat literature.

Whereas The Cat Who Went to Paris made me laugh out loud and cherish (well, further cherish) my cat for the uniqueness that she has brought to my life, The Cat Who'll Live Forever made me cry out even louder for the way she has changed my life and for the lessons I hadn't even realized she was teaching me. If you love a cat, this book will give voice to all those crazy things you thought you were the only one who felt for something so small. And if you love someone who loves a cat, this book will explain to you why they are the way they are about the loves of their lives.

Mr. Gethers, you just changed my little best friend's life...I can't wait to start showing her the world on the other side of our front door. Thank you to you both!

Rating:
Summary: A must read for anyone who has ever really loved a cat
Review: This book is by far the sweetest, most honest books about an animal I have ever read. Peter Gethers has a very easy going, conversational writing style that really makes Norton's personality come alive. I have been a cat lover my enitre life and the author captures things about cats that only someone who is capable of feeling this deep conection would know. Also- this is not an overly sentimental, gushy book- it is simple and honest and very very funny. I laughed out loud and cried while reading this. It is not a book you will soon forget.

Rating:
Summary: I feel like I've lost a close friend.
Review: What a great book! I didn't start reading the Norton books until last summer & I loved the first two. When I read this one, I was crying by the end of it. I can't even imagine how sad Peter Gethers was when Norton died. You have to admit, Norton had a life unlike any other cat! Truly a one-of-a-kind cat. My sincere condolences to Peter Gethers.