Fierce Attachments : A Life with Cats

Description With charming black-and-white illustrations and personal anecdotes, award-winning author Rosemary Sullivan shares a heartwarming meditation on the human-feline relationship and the author’s bond with a pair of cats she and her husband Juan feel fortunate to have shared a life with. In this warm, insightful exploration of the human–feline bond, acclaimed writer Rosemary Sullivan teams up with sister and artist Colleen Sullivan, inviting readers into the lives of two unforgettable cats: Negrito, an intrepid neighbourhood explorer, and Ensueño, a charming trickster with a talent for theft. Rescued as kittens by their heroic mother—who braved a burning house six times to save her litter—these cats grow into unique personalities who shape the daily rhythms of Sullivan’s life. Blending personal anecdotes, natural history and thoughtful reflections, Fierce Attachments captures the mystery of how cats perceive the world: seeing ultraviolet hues, navigating by scent, remembering with uncanny clarity and demonstrating powerful homing instincts. At once enchanting and contemplative, Fierce Attachments suggests that cats may be more than companions—they may be intermediaries, reconnecting us to the natural world and reminding us of our place in a larger cosmic story. This is a delightful, companionable book for cat lovers, nature readers and anyone intrigued by the quiet intelligence of the animals who share our lives. “With her poet’s heart and biographer’s curiosity Sullivan gives us a portrait of beloved cats that is as magical as it is illuminating.” –Barbara Gowdy, author of The White Bone “Charming, full of fascinating facts, and written so well you want to keep reading and reading. Through Sullivan’s eyes, we see cats as both affable companions and yet mysteriously alien.” –Katherine Govier, award-winning Canadian author “Tender and moving—an eloquent memoir, as soulful and intelligent as the cats she writes about, and beautifully illustrated by Sullivan’s sister, Colleen, whose paintings literally scratch those cats back to life.” –Plum Johnson, author of They Left Us Everything “If you’re a cat lover, and even if you’re not, this lovely book will make you want to adopt one so you, too, can experience the secret lives of our loveable and mysterious domestic tabbies.” –Susan Swan, author of The Wives of Bath Details Douglas & McIntyre ISBN: 9781771624923 Hardback 5.5 in x 7.5 in - 144 pp Publication Date: 08/09/2026 BISAC Subject(s): BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Memoirs,LITERARY COLLECTIONS / Subjects & Themes / Animals & Nature,PETS / Cats / Breeds