It is not often that we have a book about cats written by a selfstyled

cat-hater – especially a favorable book.

Willie Morris was the author of many books and was editor of Harper’s magazine. The books of particular interest here are North Toward Home and My Dog Skip.

Morris was a Mississippian who moved north and wrote a wonderful book about the experience. With My Dog Skip, he won the heart of animal lovers everywhere. My Dog Skip, about Morris’ childhood friend and companion, was made into a Hollywood film.

Skip died years ago, and in this book, Morris tells about another canine favorite, Pete, a black Lab. When Pete died, he decided not to get another dog, the eventual parting being too painful. He certainly had no idea of becoming attached to a cat, a species he did not appreciate. (He comments on the number of sports teams with feline nicknames, listing them in the only footnote in the book.)

However, he married a cat lover. On their first Christmas, she was presented with a little white cat, who later became the mother of the titular “Spit McGee.” Morris never became attached to Rivers, Spit’s mother. Destiny had another plan in mind for him.

Rivers had four kittens. Three of them would not survive, but Morris saved a little white one’s life at birth, and you know what they say about those whose life you save. He was called Savannah at first, but on learning that he was a male, Morris named him for a character in one of his books.

With one blue eye and one golden one, Spit grew into a fine specimen of cathood. Morris recounts his habits and adventures, some typical of cats, some unique to this individual. Morris had to save his life several more times, and Spit, along with others who joined the family, converted Morris into the cat lover who could write this book of praise.

Spit outlived Morris, who died in 1999, the year this book was copyrighted. My Cat Spit McGee, available at the Mary Willis Library, is a treat for animal lovers, especially of course, us cat people.