Book review: Urban Tigers by Kathy Chisholm

Published by: Ingrid King. Last Updated on: February 7, 2023 by Crystal Uys

I first heard about Urban Tigers: Tales of a Cat Vet when a friend forwarded me an e-mail about the book. She had received her e-mail from a cat vet friend, and it included endorsements by two of the premiere feline veterinarians in North America, Dr. Susan Little and Dr. Margie Scherk. Dr. Little called it a “must-read for all vets, vets-to-be & cat lovers”. Dr. Scherk called it “a delightful read.” I had to know more. When my copy arrived, I could hardly wait to get started.

I wasn’t disappointed. Urban Tigers is the story of Dr. Emily McBride’s first year at the Ocean View Cat Hospital in Nova Scotia, Canada. Under the guidance of the flamboyant Dr. Hughie Doucette, Emily encounters a wide variety of cat loving clients, ranging from the retired history professor whose cherished felines only drink bottled water to the self-proclaimed cat psychic whose cat has a lot to say about just how he’d like things to be. At first, Emily is treated as the “new kid on the block” by Dr. Doucette’s clients, but she quickly earns the trust and respect of the colorful and entertaining residents of the small town the clinic is located in.

Drawn from her own experiences in a feline practice, Chisholm’s Urban Tigers brought back some fond memories of my years spent working in veterinary clinics. I worked at a small town clinic for eight years, and while our clients may not have been quite as eccentric as some of Emily’s, it was close.

I laughed, I shed a few tears, and I couldn’t stop reading. My absolute favorite story in the book is the final one, about a barn cat rescued by one of Emily’s handsome male clients. I don’t want to spoil the story, but let’s just say it turned into a case of “who rescued who” in the end.

Urban Tigers is a novel, but it reads like a memoir. The stories are heartwarming and endearing, as well as humorous, and the book is hard to put down. This book will delight cat lovers and those who want to know more about what goes on behind the scenes of a feline veterinary clinic. I was delighted to hear that Kathy Chisholm is working on a sequel, because I didn’t want this book to end.

Kathy Chisholm is an award-winning author for her novel Urban Tigers, Tales of a Cat Vet and short story Seen But Not Heard. In 1987, she and her husband, veterinarian Hugh Chisholm, established the Atlantic Cat Hospital, one of the first feline-only practices in Canada. They live in Nova Scotia with five cats, two dogs, two guinea pigs, and a fluctuating number of fish. For more information about Kathy and her book, please visit her website.

This book was sent to me by the publisher.

About the author

Ingrid King

Ingrid King is an award-winning author, former veterinary hospital manager, and veterinary journalist who is passionate about cats.