Title: How Ruby, The Feral Cat, Found Her Courage
Author: Debra Oliveras
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 979-8-3694-4287-6
Pages: 24
Genre: Children’s Book / Animals (cat)
Reviewer: Beth Adams
Pacific Book Review
Author and cat lover Debra Oliveras has created a true short story about a feral cat named Ruby in her book, How Ruby, The Feral Cat, Found Her Courage.
Outside of a restaurant’s parking lot, a family of feral cats would forage for food in the trash and run from any humans approaching them in their surroundings as a survival instinct. As the mother cat with her three kittens, this feral behavior was shown to her newborns which subsequently adapted their own mistrust of humans. Witnessed Kathy, a worker in the restaurant, she would bring food out each evening to feed the cat with her kittens, but as winter was approaching she needed to find homes for these felines. One kitten in particular was hard to catch, but eventually she captured the furry feline and placed it in a home. Upon seeing the kitten for the first time, Debbie, the new cat’s owner, said the kitty’s eyes look like rubies, hence the name Ruby.
Ruby would avoid human contact in Debbie’s home. Then one day, Debbie brought home two new kitties and over time Ruby bonded with her new friends and became sociable. Ruby loved to sit in the cat-window-box where she could feel the fresh air and be safe. This is the happily-ever ending to a true story.
The author writes in a clear and factual manner, bringing out the educational aspects such as needing to bring all new pets to a veterinary clinic for an exam prior to having them in one’s home. Also, the instinctual behavior of a feral cat is explained by the author’s writing about Ruby’s actions, showing readers how all cats are different and have their own personalities. This book is interlaced with actual photographs of Ruby and her other cats, although the humans of the story are simply drawn illustrations.
As a footnote, I have a feral cat and she stays under the bed most of the time, avoiding human contact and that of the other domestic cat, so I can relate to Ruby’s behavior. Readers of How Ruby, The Feral Cat, Found Her Courage will learn the difference between a feral cat and a house cat. This is a highly informative book with a kind tone and matter-of-fact narrative of information, making this an ideal gift for a youngster or a terrific addition to any family library. A gentle reminder that love can change lives.
