Preface Curiously, for this patriotic and nation-proud Canadian, it was a derogatory comment from an American politician that set the wheels in motion for The Cat Did It: Tails of Marvellous Canadian Cats .During the run-up to the 2024 American election, a 2021 interview with JD Vance, now the U.S. vice-president, resurfaced. In it, Vance charged that the U.S. was, at that time, being run by "Democrats, corporate oligarchs and a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable in their own lives." Vance raised the ire of women (and cat lovers of both sexes) around the world, who targeted the politician''s comments as decidedly anti-feminist, as well as anti-feline.

In Ontario, this dedicated ailurophile (cat lover) joined the legions of cat defenders, and I looked back on the parade of beloved felines that has passed through my own long life.Furry friends each, they had, in their own memorable ways, been significant to me -- as companions, comforters, comedians, and soulmates.Curiously, as the "childless cat lady" brouhaha continued south of the 49th parallel, cats were also making headlines in Canada. In Canmore, Alberta, a feline adventurer named Gary, bedecked with cat-sized ski goggles and a cozy ski jacket, was featured on the cover of Explore magazine, with the headline "Meet Canada''s Adventure Cats." I bookmarked the reference for later.Meanwhile in Ottawa, a cat tale (or tail!) of a far different flavour was taking place. A displaced adult cat with the curious name of Axel Biggie Smalls had been turned over to the organization Ferdinand and Friends Animal Rescue Network by a concerned citizen. No commonplace feline needing a safe home, Biggie, true to his name, weighed in at nineteen kilograms (forty-three pounds), as big as a cocker spaniel.

Healthy despite his weight and friendly, the big guy was taken on as a special cause by Ferdinand and Friends director Kristine Seguin. Over the coming months, through loving care, exercise, and veterinary supervision, Biggie lost weight -- gaining another chance at life. Before and after photos dominated social media for days.Both stories were patently Canadian in tone and approach, and they inspired and moved me to discover more of Canada''s remarkable and beloved cats. And so, The Cat Did It: Tails of Marvellous Canadian Cats was born, a book that would criss-cross the country, revealing the "bestest of the best" cat stories, as told by humans thrilled to celebrate their own remarkable Felis catus .Now I had to find the cats!Social media and the internet would, I was confident, point me to the big stories, such as Gary and the ever-shrinking orangey (or ginger) cat Biggie. But this storyteller craved the voices of ordinary Canadians telling tales of their own (not so) ordinary cats. To find these voices, I turned to the radio.

Craig Norris, CBC''s morning talk radio host in Kitchener, Ontario, is a cat lover himself, and he was delighted to assist in my quest. Our "Okay Canadians, tell me about your cat" conversation and invitation aired in January 2025 and was rebroadcast across the CBC network. And what treasures the call-out delivered.From a tortie "frequent flier" in the Yukon, to a paddle-boarding Savannah on Vancouver Island, to a rare-disease-scenting tabby in Alberta, to a tuxedo charmer who helped heal a broken heart in Saskatchewan, to a free-spirited trickster who joined the Canadian Navy in Halifax, to a telephone-pole-jumping ginger in Dildo, Newfoundland . dozens of cats loved by Canadians across the country answered my call. And thanks to the wonders of video technology, this storyteller was delighted to meet each and every four-footed (and one three-footed) feline whose story was told.Each feline and "pawrent" was inspiring, but several rose to the top of the list of best Canadian cat stories. One was Bitsy, born with six legs, whose heart warming tale inspired the financial support of a generous Calgary community, and with advanced veterinary acumen, was given a chance to live a normal feline life.

Another, Eevee, un chat de Montréal , illustrated how advanced technology allows improved communication between species. Canadian celebrities and renowned ailurophiles also celebrated their cats, including singers Jann Arden and Danny Michel, who told tales of cats in the recording studio.A final flourish was the inclusion of Prime Minister Mark Carney''s beloved cat, Nico. The antics of Canada''s First Cat in and around the prime ministerial home in Ottawa were shared, with considerable love and amusement, by Tess Carney, daughter of our PM.Following the precedent set by my previous pet-celebrating publications, Live-Love! Famous Canadians and the Pets They Love (2020) and Working Like a Dog: Doin'' Nuthin'' Like a Cat , volumes 1 and 2 (2019 and 2020), proceeds of The Cat Did It: Tails of Marvellous Canadian Cats will be donated to worthy cat rescue organizations across Canada.Your purchase has enhanced these donations.