Strays: The True Story of a Lost Cat, a Homeless Man, and Their Journey Across America
Alcoholic and depressed, Michael King lives on the streets of Portland, Oregon, and sleeps in a UPS loading bay. One raining night, he stumbles upon a hurt, starving, scruffy cat cowering beneath a café table and takes her in. He names her Tabor, nurses her back to health, and she becomes something of a celebrity in Southeast Portland. When winter comes, they travel from Oregon to the beaches of California to the high plains of Montana, surviving blizzards, bears, angry steers, and rainstorms.
Along the way, people are drawn to the spirited, beautiful cat and are moved to help Michael, who cuts a striking figure with Tabor riding high on his backpack or walking on a leash. Tabor comforts Michael when he’s down, giving him someone to love and care for, and inspiring him to get sober and to come to terms with his past family traumas and grief over the death of his life partner.
As they make their way along the West Coast, the pair become inseparable, healing the scars of each other’s troubled pasts. When Michael takes Tabor to a veterinarian in Montana, he discovers that Tabor has an identification chip and an owner in Portland who has never given up hope of finding his beloved cat. Michael is faced with the difficult choice of keeping Tabor or returning her to her rightful owner—and, once again, facing the streets alone.
Reviews (76)
Not from a cat's point of view
This book reports a highly unusual story of a cat rescued by a homeless man and carried with him as he travels through Western states for nearly a year. The author has gone to great lengths to tell the tale from the perspective of the humans involved, and there is character development in the tracing of their stories. A great attachment develops between the cat and her human, and he is severely challenged emotionally to return the cat to her original owner when he discovers that she is microchipped. The qualities of the owner are shown with less sympathy, and it is hard to feel glad for the cat at first when she returns home. But she finally turns back into a typical housecat and couch potato, so she seems to belong there at last. What I hoped to get from the book was the story from the cat's point of view. We catch glimpses of her playing at the edge of the surf, sleeping in a tree for the night to escape predators in a national park, snuggling inside her man's sleeping bag to stay safe and warm on many nights. But this does not suffice to get into the mind of this cat, and I continued to wonder if the cat were actually enjoying living on the lam like this. Much of the book was actually boring, as I waited for some insight into the feelings of the cat, aside from her clinging to the immediate safety she felt being with her trusted person. Overall I found the book saddening. Was this whole episode in her life worthwhile in her experience? I would not read the book again, and I write this as a warning to readers who expect more about a cat and less about the life struggles of the people living a hard life like this.
A down-to-earth, soulful and compelling read
This book got me through a couple of dark days. The story sucks you in. I've lived in Portland for decades, and I'm impressed that this writer from London is so good at describing Portland, Oregon, its streets, trees, houses, its general vibe, its characters both human and animal. Forget "Portlandia." This is the real deal. A homeless guy, depressed, drinking, takes in a lost, needy cat, and they panhandle, hitchhike, and camp out together, covering thousands of miles. It's a love story really. Meanwhile, the cat's original owner is missing her terribly and wondering if she's still alive somewhere, consulting psychics, having nightmares, worried sick. This all really happened, these are real characters. This is a heartfelt, heart-wrenching, soulful book, and the humor and wry observations are part of the soulfulness. (No wonder Pogues songwriter Shane McGowan wrote a blurb for the back jacket.) It's also a great story, down-to-earth, well-paced, drawn with bold strokes, and with clear-eyed respect for the people and animals involved.
a great read.
This was a sometimes funny, sometimes sad and definitely educational book. I love cats so that caught my attention to purchase this book. Given the other main character , Michael , was homeless it gave me a view into what life is like for the homeless and their daily struggles. How a small kitten found by Michael changed his life so that he took on the responsibility of feeding and protecting her despite his many challenges. Good read.
Great Read!
I'm a guy and would never describe a book as "heartwarming". Well, guess what? I really had a hard time putting it down! It's a really good book and has lots of lessons.
Super Cat
I got this book on a friend's recommendation, although she had not yet read it. I was intrigued because I live fairly close to where the cat was found and where the action in the book begins (and ends), and because I love cats. I would have loved to have known this cat; he seemed really intelligent, loving and fun. He was also incredibly patient with his keepers, neither of whom I found to be particularly likable.
Very touching and moving - your heart is stolen by the subject and cat, in this book.Tears might follow, but good.
This is a very touching and moving story about a homeless man, and the stray kittin thhe has reluctantly fallen in love with. Subject, and cat grow inseperable through their journy in the Pacific Northwest, and Califoria. Very moving, and touching, you will cheer for both of them.
Enjoyable read
Enjoyed the book very much. Beautiful story and having two cats, know the comfort and joy they can bring as well as the responsibility that goes with it.
Loved this book, don't read the forward until after you have finished the book.
This a fantastic story about homeless people and a cat they loved. I enjoyed travelling with them. This is a very compelling story and is told/written very well. Read this and you will feel like you're with them. Well done. Save the forward for last.
Great book!
This book was great, but dealing with Amazon.com is a pain! Ordering online has been easy for a long time, Amazon, so get with it!
A touching story of companionship
I'm halfway through and this story is heartwarming and pulled me in from the first sentence. We have 4 cats so its very relatable to me.
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