The Cat that God Sent
By: Jim Kraus
Reviewed by: Georgia Rindler
Petey the cat was sent by God. Not sure to whom he was sent and if this is a rescue or protective mission, Petey knows that he is a good cat and a smart cat. This is the premise of Jim Kraus’s latest book. Jake Wilkerson arrives to shepherd his flock at a church in rural, western Pennsylvania. While he is still unloading his truck, a skinny, scrawny, silver-and -black cat with white accents limps over with a welcome gift of a mouse. Jimbo, a church elder helping the new pastor, said it must be stray, “a varmint”, and offers to get rid of it. He has a shotgun with him. But Jake is compelled to decline the well intended offer. He realizes he could use a cat for company. Alone in a totally unfamiliar area, it would be nice to have a supportive companion. Jake drives into Coudersport seeking a veterinarian for the injured paw and meets Dr. Emma Grainger. Attractive and single, this reader immediately assumed the cat may connect these two lost souls. That would be Petey’s mission. Jake starts to settle in. His first sermon is a hit due in part to Petey appearing in the sanctuary and taking a seat behind Jake. Word travels fast in small communities and soon Pastor Jake and his God fearing cat are the talk of Potter County. The church is filled most Sundays and it’s summer...the low attendance season for churchgoing. Maybe bringing people back to the fold is Petey’s mission.
When Tassy Lambert was left on the side of the road by her boyfriend, she had nowhere to go. Randolph wasn’t coming back for her. Returning to Philadelphia and her leering new stepfather was not an option. Over eighteen, she technically wasn’t a runaway. The sign read Coudersport: 5 miles. It was as good a place as any. Vern Waldorf bought a massive RV and had no place to park it in town. The parsonage and church sat on a two acre lot at the southwest corner of Route 44 and Dry Run Road. There was more than enough room for Vern’s purchase. And this would give him time to convince his wife they should keep it. Eleanor had no intention of traveling in a house on wheels and offers Tassy a place to stay until she can “figure things out”. Petey instantly takes to Tassy and the feeling is mutual. Could this be his mission, helping Tassy “figure things out”, whatever that means? Jake, Emma, Tassy, Vern, Eleanor….Petey has his work cut out for him.
The Cat that God Sent moves from the words and feelings of people in the story to the thoughts of Petey. It is interesting to observe how a novice mind could interpret what is said by humans. The story develops in the typical way, with a few surprises I did not see coming. Jim Kraus takes wounded characters and transforms them through one of God’s creatures. You do not need to be a cat person to appreciate The Cat that God Sent. The book is not catalogued as Christian fiction, but I believe those who enjoy that genre will also like this book. It can be found in the new large print section of the library; LP KRA.
July 2016