A Cat Named Misty Writes a Post That’s Twisty

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Misty aboveground with The Underground Railroad. (Photo by Dave.)

I, Misty the cat, guest-blog for Dave every two months or so. I last did that on February 9 — after which March winds brought April winds that knocked me from a standing position onto my side. Hence the above photo.

Anyway, as I embody “suburban sprawl” I’m contemplating the just-finished The Underground Railroad. Ouch…a searing novel set during 19th-century slavery times in the U.S. — which now consists of 50 states, only seven of which have cats as governors. One thing Colson Whitehead’s book made me realize is that felines are not as hung up on color as many white humans were and are. Heck, whether a cat is gray or black or orange or another hue, I glare at each one equally if they bother me during my daily leashed walks. After all, I’m the mayor of my apartment complex, though I don’t remember being elected. Maybe it was a coup.

The novel Dave and I read before The Underground Railroad was another installment of Val McDermid’s excellent series starring cold-case detective Karen Pirie, who Dave emulates by bringing home cold cases of cat food every winter. The Pirie novel was Broken Ground — a title that intrigued me because I also broke ground when I vigorously scratched in the dirt, searching for the paperwork certifying my mayoral election win.

Next in my near-future reading queue are the first novels I’ll be trying by Alexander McCall Smith, who makes me also want a multi-part name — perhaps Misty McKitty Bloggerslogger, which would sure beat being known as the title character in Wilkie Colllins’ novel No Name. Anyway, both soon-to-be-read-by-me McCall Smith books — 44 Scotland Street and The Sunday Philosophy Club — kick off respective series, and the latter title has already inspired me not to be philosophical Monday through Saturday. I also want to read another McCall Smith series opener — The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency — but it’s not currently in my local library. As a cat lacking opposable thumbs, I couldn’t have grabbed hold of it anyway.

I do like strolling library aisles on my four paws, and have noticed that novels are shelved alphabetically by author. How Jane Austen shelved her own books — alphabetically or otherwise — in my town’s 1955-built library I have no idea; she passed away in 1817. Maybe she had Charles Dickens do it for her. Or the shelver might have been Dickens’ friend, the aforementioned Wilkie Collins, who also wrote the early detective novel The Moonstone. Dogs howl at its cover.

Dickens was born in 1812, so his and Austen’s lives overlapped for five years — giving them enough time to collaborate on the novel Sense and Nicholas Nickleby. Epic, albeit lacking in Sensibility.

Another writing pair is Vicki Myron and Bret Witter, who co-authored the heartwarming nonfiction book Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World. The library my fellow feline Dewey inhabited was in Iowa, one of the 43 states without a feline governor. Iowa has 75% vowels, though.

Returning to discussion of The Underground Railroad, that 2016 novel published a year after my 2015 birth still strongly resonates in 2025 given that the U.S. has a president (Donald Trump), a “co-president” (Elon Musk), and a vice president (JD Vance) so racist they renamed the late Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black” album “Back to White.” Trump then exempted it from high tariffs.

Dave will respond to comments because I, Misty the cat, will be busy swatting high tariffs off the kitchen counter. They then become lower tariffs.

Misty the cat says: “I’m doing the annual Flower Walk to raise money for the annual Flower Walk.”

I and Dave’s comedic 2024 book — the part-factual/part-fictional/not-a-children’s-work Misty the Cat…Unleashed — is described and can be purchased on Amazon in paperback or on Kindle. It’s narrated by me, Misty! (And I say Amazon reviews are welcome. 🙂 )

This 90-second promo video for my and Dave’s book features a talking cat (sort of me, Misty): 🙂

Dave is also the author of a 2017 literary-trivia book…

…and a 2012 memoir that focuses on cartooning and more.

In addition to this weekly blog, Dave writes the 2003-started/award-winning “Montclairvoyant” topical-humor column every Thursday for Montclair Local. The latest piece — about another lawsuit, a large local anti-Trump/Musk rally, and more — is here.

104 thoughts on “A Cat Named Misty Writes a Post That’s Twisty”

  3. Loved this, Misty! Your musings are always the purr-fect blend of wit and insight. Speaking of fresh perspectives, I just had my cabinets refaced, and let me tell you, the kitchen feels like a whole new world now — almost like strolling through library aisles for the first time. Keep swatting those tariffs off the counter, mayor!

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    • Thank you, Jacqui! I’m very impressed with Val McDermid, whose novels I started to read only a few months ago. And Karen Pirie is a great character; she feels like a real person — not glamorous, not one of these “superhero”-type detectives, but really smart.

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  6. Well done, Misty. I always enjoy your posts. This is a timely topic because an attempt was made to re characterize the Underground Railroad as this country’s first civil right’s movement. Kinda like saying that those cones the vet makes you wear is a fashion accessory.

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  7. Nicely done, Misty (and Dave). I enjoyed what you said, Misty, and I have to say that you look very grand on that table. Oh, just a moment, I see Luna is able to look as well – right next to our laptop. See you later on Facebook, eh?

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    • Thank you! Misty does enjoy his table — which is also my apartment’s dining room table and my “office desk.” As does Luna with you, Chris, Misty likes to hang out on the table next to my laptop as I work. Of course, when Misty was writing this week’s blog post, me lying on the table next to him wasn’t quite an option…

      Yes, back to Facebook and YouTube for another leashed-walk adventure tomorrow morning! 🙂

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  9. Hello Misty,

    Misha here!

    Yes, Resa is typing for me, but I’m the one doing the bossing around.

    I’m humiliated to say that she has read none, of the afore mentioned books.

    The Underground Railroad sounds interesting, but what’s with “Only 7 cats”? I’m shedding fur over that. Lots of fur, more than I ever have in 1 given 15 minute session. Bonus, it’s all over Resa’s expensive wool blanket that she fights with the moths over.

    Congratulations in securing position of Mayor. Just remember humans can be coerced easily by cats, and so I’m counting on you to make it all the way to the White House.

    Invite me over for fish, and I’ll help you scratch the place into shape!

    You may not have opposable thumbs, but you have retractable claws. Claw The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency off the shelf, and insist Dave rename it to The No. 1 Cats’ Detective Agency!

    It’s the least he can do, considering he’s not a cat.

    Joy Fielding has a new book coming out in August, Jenny Cooper Has a Secret. I’m sure Resa will be reading it at some point. However, as it is not titled Jenny Cooper Has a Cat, I shall be boycatting it.

    Finally, perhaps we should team up and write a Mis-tery novel. The last 5 pages, which reveal whodunnit, should be shredded.

    That will be claws for alarm to the humans, and insure sales of the next book!

    See you around!

     

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  11. Thank you very much,Misty, for your special cat post! I have always loved cats for your indipendence, but I am a little bit afraid that we humans have not yet understood how important that attitude is! I‘m sorry but I don‘t know the writer Alexander Mc Call Smith, but I will try to find out more ! All the best 🐈‍⬛

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  12. Hi Dave. I’m glad you are enjoying the Karen Pirie books, since I believe I am the person who recommended Val McDermid to you, and I hope you like the Sunday Philosophy Club enough to try one or two more of the series, since I think the books get better.

    I found The Underground Railway so disturbing that I could never say I enjoyed it (nor, I notice, do you say that), but I’m glad I read it. There was never a better time to remind ourselves of our true history, now that the current administration is working on rewriting it.

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    • Thank you, Kim! Yes, you recommended Val McDermid’s work to me, and I’m grateful. 🙂 The Karen Pirie series is terrific, and I’m looking forward to reading the next installment when I get it: “Still Life,” from 2020.

      “The Underground Railroad” is indeed extremely painful to read — and you’re right that it depicts the kind of true history the “whitewashing” Trump regime wants to memory-hole. 😦

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  14. This is the second time around for me today, Misty. I look forward to Sundays when I know that Dave and you will be welcoming guests for a great book discussion. I often think that these Sunday morning times together are like the many coffee shop discussions in cities across the world. Anyway, I read this post first thing in the morning, then I went for my coffee – today we were at Granville Market. Next I read the discussions/comments that have already been made, which always gives me something to think about. This week, your mention of Alexander McCall Smith was very exciting because he is a great cat enthusiast – a HUGE fan!!! ! (I think you already knew that, didn’t you?). He’s often mentioned alongside other cat-loving authors like P.G. Wodehouse and Barbara Pym. I read that many believe that writers are drawn to cats for their independent and mysterious nature, perhaps hoping to channel that same indifference to criticism. I read that McCall Smith often makes his cat the star of his photos (see link below) —what a delightful way to celebrate our feline friends! Keep being fabulous, Misty!

    McCall Smith references cats in his books, too. (But you knew that as well didn’t you!!!)

    “All cats are grey in the dark, he had written in one chapter. So remember that how much you can see of a situation depends on how much light you can shine upon it.” Alexander McCall Smith, The Handsome Man’s Deluxe Café (No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, #15)

    https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2008/nov/12/writers-and-cats?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

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  15. Your kitty Misty is so funny Dave! I would love to find out what he thought of Val McDermid’s ‘Broken Ground’ , I have a copy here. Just to let you know it was me who left the anonymous comment on last week’s post! I quoted The Horse Whisperer, by Nicholas Evans as one of my favourite bestsellers. Thanks Dave and Misty!!!!

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  16. Misty, The Underground Railroad sounds like a must-read. Regarding a change in your name, I think Misty McKitty Bloggerslogger very appropriate for your position as Mayor. Keep up swatting those high tariffs. Imagine how much more your specialty food will cost!

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  17. Good to see you and your regular blog, Misty, including your impressive literary reading list. Well done for single-pawedly lowering those tariffs, although I have to ask if you think it fair that the McDonald Islands get supersized tariffs? Please pass my sincere regards to Dave too. 🙂

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    • Thank you, Lee! Misty is very, very flattered! If only cats were PAC animals. 🙂

      And, yes, the current regime is indeed a band of thugs. (With apologies to other thugs, who usually have more integrity.)

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