In Paw Prints at Owl Cottage, the sequel by
Denis O’Connor to Paw Prints in the
Moonlight, the author tenderly and humorously charts the ups and downs of
days shared with feline companions. In his first book, then bachelor Denis
detailed his life with his much-loved hybrid Maine Coon cat, Toby Jug.
In the newest
release, we come upon Denis more than 20 years after Toby Jug’s passing as the
now-married author returns, after some years in the city, to Owl Cottage, his former country
home. Here—in West Thirston on the Northumbrian coast—Denis and
his wife, Catherine, meet the daily challenges posed by four mischievous little
felines whom the couple name Pablo, Carlos, Luis and Max.
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| Denis O'Connor with Luis |
Denis, now a
retired psychologist, who takes immense pleasure in applying his skills to the
study of animals, and Catherine, an experienced researcher and educator in the
field of disruptive and deviant behavior, learn and learn again—over the course
of the ensuing years—that a cat can be, not only quite the handful but also the
most cherished of friends.
In Episode 29,
I chat with beloved best-selling author Denis O’Connor about Toby Jug;
Carlos, the out-of-control commando; Luis, the regal and aloof little prince;
and Max, the melancholic that eventually lived up to his full name, Maxamillion
(the one in a million cat).
