THE CAT WHO WENT TO LIVE AT SHUGBOROUGH

A book signing will be held at Waterstone’s Guildhall Centre branch on Saturday 29 January at 11.30am. The story, ‘I Am a Cat’ by local author Louise Hudson, is about a girl who becomes a cat and who goes to live at Shugborough. It has been selling so well, after signings throughout the West Midlands and Birmingham, that Louise has been invited back to Waterstone’s to mark the second birthday of the book’s publication.

But this event will be rather different.

Louise has been searching to find two cats, who fit the description of her leading characters, in order to use their pictures for publicity purposes. She recently visited the popular Cat’s Whiskers Boarding Cattery, at Stowe by Chartley and was introduced, by owner Sarah, to the feline guests. Afterwards, Louise said, “They were all beautiful but just not quite right. I’m hoping someone will be able to help me on 29^th January.”

Every book will include an invitation for readers to get in touch with her if they think their cats might be able to help.

‘I Am a Cat’ (£7.99) is an unusual book, set around local villages, about a girl who becomes a cat but who still keeps her human mind. She meets other animals who are in a similar frustrating situation. After she falls in love and goes to live at Shugborough she writes her story to explain why some people feel their pets are almost human. How a cat can actually write her story is explained in the book.

Asked why she chose Shugborough, Louise said, “I love walking there and the House is wonderful. When I was working in Stafford we held annual functions there – it was magical. It just begged for a story to be set around it.”