The Nine Lives of Tito D'Amelia

Everyone knows that cats have nine lives, and Tito is no exception. The Nine Lives of Tito d’Amelia by Ettore Farrattini Pojani is the tale of the nine times Tito is called into service to aid the Farrattini family and the town of Amelia through the years.

The cat who becomes known as Tito meets the founder of what will become the Farrattini family in a town known as Amer, in pre-historic Umbria. Tito soon becomes a vital part of his master’s life, and indeed, much beloved by the town. He is buried near the walls that his master designed, and over the centuries, Tito reincarnates when a Farrattini descendant has need of his assistance.

Part animal tale, part historical fiction, and based on actual family history, this story is a gem! I’m a cat person, so I was predisposed to love Tito. But just as Tito wins the hearts of everyone he encounters (well, almost everyone), I think you’ll love this story even if you wouldn’t squee at the chance to pet a cat’s fuzzy belly and bring him home with you.

History unfolds through Tito’s eyes, and with his help, the Farrattini line not only survives through the centuries, but thrives. I had to laugh at Tito’s gentle exasperation with the different names each of his humans gave him. (I wonder what my cats think of the fact that they each have five or six different names in this life?) There are some moments of tension in the story, and the Farrattinis face some challenging times, but the story overall is gentle, sometimes almost whimsical in its description of Tito’s thoughts and feelings. It weaves together family fact with creatively imagined fiction to give us a delightful tale with a surprise ending.

If you love history or historical fiction, adorable cats or well-written human characters, pick up The Nine Lives of Tito d’Amelia. Five paws up from my cats Finn and Jake!