Cats pride themselves on having the final say, so Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne were destined to follow up their Knit Your Own Dog with a feline version. If you're not a "cat person" (or even adept at needlework), you'll still want to adopt the charming little Knit your Own Cat, if only for the authors' delightful word play ("...make them all and be a knitting Pussy Galore.")
Sixteen breeds are divided into four categories: long- and short-haired, exotic and "street." An index of thumbnail photos provides quick references, but the British needleworkers offer clear instructions and tips for adding unusual characteristics to your creation, so although the basic four-paws, tail and whiskers format is repetitive, each kitty in your litter can be special. (Stuff her with rice to add weight, and when you pick her up she'll feel like she's asleep! A pipecleaner in the tail can provide endless variations on the cat's attitude, be it prowling or napping.)
Cat trivia--from the breeds favored by royalty to cat-held records (weight, rodent-kills) to the pesky pet who forced Newton to build the first cat door--introduce every pattern, sometimes stretching credibility but always adding interest. Crisp photos will assist a knitter curious about the exact techniques and are entertaining for the casual reader. Guaranteed allergy-free, this passel of kitties is as much fun as the bunch from Broadway--be prepared to find yourself humming "Memory" as you knit!--Cheryl Krocker McKeon, bookseller