Book cover
Grief,  Life,  Pets,  Uncategorized

Honest Book Review: My One-Eyed Three-Legged Therapist: How My Cat Clio Saved Me

Hi friends! I’m back! Today’s post is a bit different as it’s a little food for the soul. It’s been a while since my last post and you know something special had to happen for me to return to the blog. 

As animal lovers and bereaved pet parents, finding comforting ways to help validate our feelings and find comfort in our lives is an ongoing challenge in our healing journey. 

A few weeks ago, I received an email from a fellow cat lover and writer Kathy Finley, award-winning author and creative mind behind the book My One-Eyed Three-Legged Therapist: How my cat Clio Saved Me. After expressing her shared love of felines and experience grieving her heart cat, she asked if I would consider reviewing a copy of her book.

Disclaimer: Thanks to the author Kathy Finley, in exchange for sharing a copy of her book, I will share my honest thoughts and opinions.

As a fellow pet parent with two angel cats that have left an imprint on my heart, after reading the book title alone, I was intrigued. 

In today’s post, I’ll break down my honest thoughts and feelings about this book and share why it may be a great choice to add to your book collection.

Let’s dive in.

Click the image below to view the YouTube video or keep scrolling to read more.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathy M. Finley, a dedicated animal enthusiast, particularly adores cats and has been involved in cat rescue throughout her life. Although she initially considered becoming a veterinarian, she pursued a career in storytelling and writing due to her inability to cope with the potential loss of animal lives. 

author woman kathy finley
Kathy M. Finley

Leveraging her experience in the nonprofit sector, Finley advocates for animals by sharing how they’ve influenced her life and helped her tackle everyday challenges. With a background in running nonprofit organizations and numerous publications in association management, Finley received the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 and holds a PhD in organizational development along with two master’s degrees. 

Through her blog “Cat Scratches and Scribbles” and guest contributions to various platforms, including Cat Care Solutions and Lola the Rescued Cat, Finley sheds light on the human-animal bond and the health benefits of pets, while actively volunteering in her community and pursuing hobbies like gardening and antiquing alongside her husband and their three cats in Indianapolis.

gray and white cat
Clio

BOOK SUMMARY

My One-Eyed, Three-Legged Therapist: How My Cat Clio Saved Me is a touching tale of resilience and companionship, depicting how author Kathy found solace and strength through her extraordinary cat named Clio. 

Despite facing adversity from a young age, Kathy discovered unwavering support and love from her pets. Ultimately this love of pets would lead to a transformative bond with Clio on her fortieth birthday. 

Through Clio’s remarkable journey as a survivor and symbol of fearlessness, Kathy learned valuable lessons in acceptance, gratitude, and optimism. Life with her pets inspired her to face her past, appreciate the present, and embrace the future with newfound courage.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • This e-book was a lovely easy read. The opening captivated my attention from the first paragraph.
  • The author’s shared love for cats resonated with me. 
  • The continuous theme of how a pet saves you is repeated throughout the book and resonated with me. 
  • Clio’s attitude and personality inspire the author to live her best life with confidence and self-esteem, showing the power of the human and animal bond.
  • Animals are not just our pets, they are our teachers.
  • The love bond formed with our pets never dies.
  • Animals teach us valuable life lessons. There are supernatural signs life continues from the other side.
  • I found the book to be raw and real yet inspirational.
  • Lastly, my favorite memorable quote from the book is, “Because of Clio, I, too, was able to overcome obstacles — and to realize that animals can provide us valuable lessons, save us during our low points, and change our lives forever”

WHERE CAN I PURCHASE THE BOOK?

My One-Eyed, Three-Legged Therapist: How My Cat Clio Saved Me is available on her website or at Amazon using the links below.

*Available on Amazon https://amzn.to/43vg42f

*Available at Purdue University Press https://www.press.purdue.edu/9781612498737/my-one-eyed-three-legged-therapist/ (Save 30% off when you use code PURDUE30)

Affiliate Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to purchase after clicking through the links. I intend to provide suggestions that I believe in, have experienced, or find useful.

Book cover
My One-Eyed Three-Legged Therapist: How My Cat Clio Saved Me by Kathy M. Finley

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Be sure to learn more about this award-winning author by visiting her website at https://kathyfinley.com/.

website screenshot with kitten
KathyFinley.com (Website Screenshot)

FINAL VERDICT

In conclusion, I’d give this book 5 out of 5 stars. I would recommend it to anyone who is an animal lover. This is a great read for anyone interested in the human-animal bond and looking to be inspired.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

If you enjoyed this review and want to see more of this type of content, please share your thoughts. Does this book sound interesting to you? What other books are you reading right now?

Does reading help give you comfort in times of grief? Leave a comment below. 

Take care of yourself, and I’ll catch you in the next one.