This was a cute story! It did take me a while to get into and finish but overall I did enjoy it. The main characters were cute together and I know the feeling of having a cat and having that connection. A cute read

Oh, this is so heartwarming and charming.

Originally published in 1957, and now republished under Virago’s Modern Classics Collection, ‘Minka and Curdy’ tells the tale of Mrs. Bell, who has recently lost her beloved cat Victoria, and how she ends up adopting two very different little kittens - Minka and Curdy.

This is filled with the mostly lovely little cat illustrations, which are just brimming with character, just like all the different cats that appear in the story.

It’s short, and I happily consumed it in two delightful sittings, swept into the sweet tale of a women who just wants to do right by her cats, and help them both settle in.

Adored it, just as any other cat lover would!

Thank you to the publisher, and to Netgalley, for the copy to review.

What an utterly delightful book about a woman who has recently lost her cat finding and rehoming two new ones. Minka and Curdy have big paws to fill and such charming characters that I couldn't help but fall for them.
The book is a little dated in some ways but was so charming that I raced through it - again timing is everything with a book as I read it just as we inherited a new cat!
I know that I will be buying copies of this for other cat loving friends.

I loved this story since the beginning: loved the drawings, the realistic and likeable cats, the well written story.
It's a story of cats being cats, each of them with different characteristics and loving them as I could find some traits of my cats in them.
Loved it, highly recommended
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

My thanks to Little, Brown Group U.K. Virago for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Minka and Curdy’ by Antonia White. It was originally published in 1957 and is part of Virago’s Modern Classics Collection. It is illustrated by Janet and Anne Johnstone. On publication I purchased a hardback edition.

Mrs Bell was very sad when her cat Victoria died. The black and white feline had spent many years training Mrs. Bell to meet her exacting standards. At first, Mrs Bell felt that it would be disrespectful to bring another cat into her life though she finds that she is lonely and that her flat now feels empty.

Her resolve soon melts and hearing that a friend’s cat is about to have a litter, she agrees to adopt one when they are old enough. She is then immediately offered Minka, a four month old Siamese kitten, that urgently needs rehoming. She had always wanted a Siamese, so she simply cannot resist. Frankly who could?

Minka quickly settles in, enjoying all the attention lavished on her. Then the day arrives when Curdy, a lively and mischievous marmalade kitten, joins the household. Minka is not pleased: “there was Minka crouching on the carpet with her ears back and the most strange and sinister sounds coming out of her throat. Curdy, for all his bravery, was obviously frightened.”

The rest of the book follows Mrs Bell and her lodger, Alice, as they work together to establish harmony between the kittens.

The illustrations are adorable and together with White’s text conveys behaviours that are familiar to cat guardians, especially the dynamics of multi cat households. Given that ‘Minka and Curdy’ is 66 years old, it’s clear that cats will be cats no matter the year. It’s why this is considered a modern classic of cat-themed literature.

Currently I have two boy cats who admittedly took a while to get used to sharing the house and me though now are friends and ensure that I am being trained to meet their standards.

Overall, ‘Minka and Curdy’ proved a charming gem of a book that is bound to appeal to all cat lovers.

Very sweet story with adorable illustrations … lovely novella for a cat lover about three very different charismatic felines

For all the feline enthusiasts out there, "Minka and Curdy" is a must read! This short book captured my heart with its charming story line and lovable cat characters. The delightful illustrations, rendered with intricate line drawings, add an extra layer of enchantment to this tale. In a nutshell, if you're a cat lover, this book is an absolute delight!

Charming. Utterly and completely charming.

Charming is the most apt way to describe this book. Minka and Curdy tells the tale of Mrs Bell, her two new kittens, and their attempts to get along. A short, character driven, story with some of the best literary depictions of cats and their funny little characters I’ve ever read. This book is perfect if you’re looking for a cosy little read for an autumn day, wanting to try and read more ‘classics’ from female authors, or just a lover of cats.

What makes this book even more endearing are the illustrations dotted throughout the pages by Janet and Anne Johnstone (who you may know as the illustrators of the original 101 Dalmatians). They add a lot to the text, and if Antonia White skillfully captures the quirks and attitudes of her feline characters with her words Janet and Anne Johnstone capture them equally well with their drawings.

My only negative would be that this book was first published in the 1950s and some of the language and expressions are a little outdated and a little insensitive in places.

What a delightful book! I loved this and whizzed through its 120 pages. Purrfect for cat lovers and story lovers too. First written in 1957 it’s a book that is truly timeless. The Author obviously is a cat fan by the brilliant descriptions of cat mannerisms and distinct feline behaviours. Absolutely nailed the realism. Antonia has written a timeless book that a range of ages will enjoy.

Our cat owner is a writer and sadly loses her haughty cat Victoria to old age early in the book. She has always desired to own a Siamese but cannot afford one and feels guilty that pedigree cats are popular but other kittens need good homes too. She unsuccessfully tried to wait a long time before deciding to get another kitten.

By sheer luck a character filled Siamese kitten is offered to her, for free as it’s not got the quality to be show cat due to very cute slightly cross eyes and a kink in the tail, both features that do come with the breed. She names her Minka. Then comes along a marmalade kitten into her heart and life called Curdy, a male funny and bold kitten.

The book is a fun tale of Minka and Curdy and their interactions as two kittens along with all the neighbouring cats that have their own personalities. Minka is suitably miffed that her Mistress (cat slave human) dared to bring another kitten into HER house! The fur begins to fly. It’s a very easy read with fantastic true to fact descriptors of how cats behave right down to each distinct meow, hiss and purr.

You can really be part of the story, seeing the cats antics and mishaps easily. It’s a really enjoyable book. I can’t give too much more away. I fell in love with all the cats in the book and the mix of characters too. Very heartwarming and a great read if you want something short and light. Definitely ideal for cat lovers everywhere. Suitable for many aged from young readers to adults and also fine to be read out loud to younger children. It features some lovely line drawings also. We get to see Minka and Curdy. Two totally different yet adorable cats.

Antonia obviously knows her cat stuff as the descriptions of even specific breed traits (like how chatty Siamese are) are spot in. As a huge cat lover I adored this lovely book and highly recommend it. Five stars. Really will appeal to many ages. It would be a lovely gift book for any cat or animal lover. Very easy to read and as one of my cats lay with me as a read it I was left feeling all warm and fuzzy and happy to be a cat lover.

I love cats & I have three of my own so this book was right up my street!
I thoroughly enjoyed it!
A must read for all cat lovers!

Minka and Curdy is about Mrs Bell who by chance ends up with two kittens after her old cat Victoria passes away. The story follows her attempts to get Minka, a Siamese kitten who is cold towards other cats, and Curdy, a marmalade kitten who loves to play with other cats, to get along with each other.

I absolutely loved this little book and found the story and the feline characters extremely endearing. The cats had such distinct characters and I adored them both. The illustrations were adorable and added a lot of fun to the book.

My only complaint is that this book is very short so some of the key points in the friendship between Minka and Curdy felt quite rushed.

Overall this was a very sweet, whimsical read and I would highly recommend it to any animal lovers!

Trained to the highest standards of cat-hosting by the imperious (and very jealous!) Victoria, Mrs Bell feels that she cannot ever have another cat.

After all, when Victoria ruled the roost, she even checked Mrs Bell's shopping bags to ensure that Another Cat had not been sneaked into the house...

But her friends soon talk her into thinking otherwise, and eventually Mrs Bell agrees to take on a marmalade kitten - provided that one appears in the next litter belonging to the friend of a friend.

In the meantime though, completely out of the blue, Mrs Bell is offered her dream kitten, a kinky-tailed Siamese with a squint. Unable to resist, she takes Minka home. Only to find out that her kitten hates all other cats!

Now, what is Mrs Bell to do about the imminent arrival of the mischievous marmalade kitten, Curdy?

This is a delightful story for all cat-lovers. Especially since it was even enjoyed by this dog person! The illustrations are super cute, too - this is one not to be missed.