This book felt like a guide almost and it was so cute. As a lover of cats myself, i found myself swooning and dying of cuteness at the illustrations and graphics. Amazing.

Cat Got Your Tongue? is an appealingly illustrated collection of phrases from around the world with a feline theme curated and illustrated by Hannah Shaw. Released 1st July 2025 by Penguin Random House on their Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press imprint, it's 128 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.

The book is full of idioms and phrases from different languages. Each phrase covers a 2 page spread and includes the original language, a transliteration/pronunciation, and an explanation with similar idioms in English. The language and concepts are very clean, there are a couple which are very (very) slightly suggestive, but nothing offensive or outré at all. The illustrations are simple and colorful.

Four stars. It would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition. It's possibly too niche to be a great choice for the home library, but it would make a nice gift.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

In a Nutshell: A compilation of feline idioms and proverbs from various languages. Informative and entertaining. Cute illustrations as well. A good gift option for cat lovers and word lovers.

English has plenty of feline phrases, ranging from ‘Who will bell the cat?’ to ‘Curiosity killed the cat’ to the titular ‘Cat got your tongue?’ This book helps us realise how ubiquitous the presence of cats is even in other languages.
Popularly known as “Kitten Lady”, the author is an animal advocate, kitten rescuer, and professional cat photographer. (She has also penned the lovely-sounding “Cats of the World”, which my library fortunately has. I am adding it to my immediate reading list.) This hardcover edition contains sixty cat-related phrases, gathered by her during her travels across thirty countries.
This book begins with a brilliant introductory note by the author that sets the right tone for the main content. The sixty entries each mention the origin language of the proverb/idiom, the actual proverb written in both the root language and in phonetic spelling, and the meaning/usage of the same. I appreciate that wherever possible, it also includes similar proverbs from English for contextual comparison.
The phrases are quite eclectic in meaning and usage. They are also partly paradoxical because they show cats in both good and bad light. But if we group them by how they portray cats, we would see that the largest set would be of phrases that highlight the dangers of upsetting cats, followed by the ones that glorify feline intelligence and sharpness. So no matter where we come from in the world, we agree that cats are dangerous and smart. 😅
Though not worldwide in scope, the book still encompasses a good range of locations. I like that the phrases aren’t taken only from common languages or bigger countries. The included proverbs come from languages as diverse as Ewe (spoken in West Africa, primarily in Ghana and Togo) and Nepali (from the tiny landlocked country next to India) to Flemish and Yiddish. All sixty entries are from countries within the continents of North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, with Europe and Asia getting the largest representation. This might be because the author has collected these phrases during her travels, and she might not have yet visited the remaining continents.
The Indian in me was mighty pleased to see two “billi”-inspired sayings from India (to be specific, sayings from the Hindi language.) To my embarrassment, I hadn’t even heard one of them (supposedly a folktale-based proverb) prior to reading it in this book. Oh well, now I know it! Never too old to learn! 🐱
Every entry is accompanied by a kitty illustration. I liked the art style on the cover page better than the inside content. Some of the feline sketches, especially the anthropomorphic ones, weren’t to my taste, but perhaps cat enthusiasts might get greater enjoyment from the graphics.
After a point, the proverbs do get a little repetitive, but that’s probably because I read the whole book in one sitting. On the whole, the variety is quite interesting and informative.
Recommended to cat lovers. This meowellous collection would make the purrfect gift to ailurophiles as well as linguaphiles.
3.75 stars.

My thanks to Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press for providing the DRC of “Cat Got Your Tongue?” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

This is a lovely little book full of cat-related phrases from around the world. I LOVE that the book truly does feature global idioms (not just those from the Anglosphere) and for those in languages other than English, that the book includes the phrase in the local language, a phoenetic translation, and the actual translation as well as the meanings.

The illustrations are comical and cute

It's a fun book, and I'm going to start using some of these idioms in my everyday life.

~Many thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book. ~

I want to buy literally everyone I know a copy of this book.

Even the non-cat lovers in my life. I am not exaggerating, all of you may end up with this book at some point in the near future.

60 phrases, from all over the world, all involving cats. All hilariously and beautifully illustrated. So much to see and yet I wanted so. much more. I never wanted these to end. I would like this author to create an entire series of books, each featuring a different theme.

My favorites were always the most off kilter, and the Yiddish expressions somehow always made me laugh the most. I've often said I would love a book of Yiddish expressions to memorize, and use in every day life.

I could fill this review with my favorite phrases, but I don't want to discourage anyone from getting their hands on this AWESOME little book. So, here's a few of my favorites, with literally zero context or explanation.

"To place someone before the nose of a cat."

"Three legged cat kung fu."

"May the cat eat you, and may the devil eat the cat."

The last one may speak for itself, to be fair.

This delightful book by the Kitten Lady, Hannah Shaw is a fascinating collection of proverbs and idioms from around the world, as ubiquitous and unique as the cats themselves.

These proverbs are an entertaining, engaging read and feature the quirks and the foibles of these loveable furry folk. Some of them are downright mean, like the Yiddish, "May you turn into a blintz and be snatched by a cat!!". Or the Croatian "Cat's cough", meaning a very simple or easy task.

A must-read for those who cherish felines, each proverb and idiom is accompanied by meticulously drawn, fitting artwork of cats, created by Sophie Lucido Johnson, illustrator, adding to our pleasure.

Even if you don't care much about cats, read the book to add to your repertoire of proverbs and idioms from around the world.

A fitting tribute by the Kitten Lady to the felines that brighten our days and give us so much pleasure with their antics.

I was given an ARC to peruse and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you, @NetGalley and @Ten Speed Press.

#CatGotYourTongue? #HannahShaw, #SophieLucidoJohnson #TenSpeedPress #HumourAndSatire

What a treat of a book! Like a cat strutting down a fence with full confidence, this book explores idioms and sayings from around the world about cats. Yes, those fuzzy, adorable felines who make us laugh, comfort us when we are blue, kill those vicious mice and bring them to us as tributes (threats, they are showing us their capabilities), this books takes their eccentricities and translates them into words.

Among the pages are sayings written in Native languages, translated into English, and then related to common meaning. All are accompanied by drawings of beautiful drawings of cats, cats, and more cats.

Some of my favorites are:

1) Like a cat with seven souls
Arabic - ruah bisabe alaqti Mutalu
USE: To describe someone who has been through a lot of challenges but has managed to cope well.

2) A Cat Can't Stop Stealing Fish
Simplified Chinese - Māo găi bù liăo tōu xīng
USE: To describe a person whose habits are deeply engrained and unlikely to change. Often used to justify the behavior of men, similar to "boys will be boys."

3) There Are Four Cats
Spanish - Hay control Gatos
Meaning: There is very low attendance at this event.
I liked this one very much because it reminded of a 2 part episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

If you are a cat lover and a logophile (lover of words), this book is a must-have for you.

This book is so fun. I love all the sayings from different cultures and honestly might have to start using some of these myself. There are definitely some of these sayings that you get the feeling lose something in translation, but overall an awesome little book.

Cat Got Your Tongue? is an absolute delight! Hannah Shaw takes a playful dive into feline-inspired phrases from all over the globe, and the result is both charming and unexpectedly informative. Each saying comes with fun context, cultural background, and—of course—cat-centric wit. It’s the perfect mix of quirky and clever, and I found myself smiling (and learning!) the whole way through. Whether you're a cat lover, a language nerd, or just looking for a lighthearted, unique read, this one’s a gem. Highly recommend!

Author Hannah Shaw and her husband journeyed to other countries to research and photograph cats and asked the locals about cat-related sayings and idioms. Cats are chock full of character and cultures have their perspectives on the complex nature of these creatures. Sayings are rich and varied, true and humorous, and the charming illustrations made me smile and appreciate the cats in my life.

In this collection, the author includes sayings in the original language, translates them into English, and explains the meaning. Some examples are, "The first cats over the fence" (Polish), "To buy a cat in a sack" (German), "Cat's cough" (Croatian), "The hasty cat gave birth to blind kittens" (Italian), "Every cat is black at night" (Czech), and "Even an old cat drinks milk" (Swahili). Once you think them through, they make sense, a fun way to learn bits about cultures.

This alluring and captivating little book would add a bright spot to any cat lover's day, ideal as a special gift tucked in with cat treats or toys. A gem of pure joy and nostalgia.

“Cat Got Your Tongue?” is a delightful exploration of cat-related idioms from around the world. In the introduction author Hannah Shaw (aka The Kitten Lady) explains that she gathered many of these phrases during her travels for “Cats of the World.”

Each phrase is in English, the native language is stated, then the phrase is in the native language. The phrase is then explained in English. One of my favorites is the Yiddish “I care like a cat cares that it’s Wednesday.” This means that one doesn’t care at all.

The hand drawn illustrations are playful and depict the cats in various situations. Don’t miss the cat decked out in a hunting costume.

If you’re a cat lover, this should be added to your shelf of cat books.

This book is great for feline lovers of all ages and would make an excellent gift book.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and Ten Speed Press, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Most of these phrases were new to me and the illustrations are adorable. This would be a great gift for a cat lover.

This was a fun and educational read! I love cats and finding out all these new sayings all round the world was very fascinating. I also loved the illustrations :)

CATS!!! This is a collection of cat related proverbs. I absolutely loved it. There were so many phrases and the art is adorable. I need more of these right now!

5 stars

Hannah Shaw AKA The Kitten Lady has written a cute and whimsical little book describing different cat sayings from around the world. We have a lot of sayings involving cats in the States but we aren’t alone! Read this little book to learn some. The illustrations were bright and colorful. I’d buy this for a cat lover in my life.

**Thanks to the author and Ten Speed Press for the e-arc I received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.**

A fun book for cat lovers filled with cat sayings from around the world. Each page has a saying, where that saying is from, the saying in it's native language, and then a little summary explaining the saying. My only complaint is I wish there were more sayings!

From the beautiful illustrations to the different languages spoken around the world, this book was a very whimsical read. It is a short novella that shares 60 feline phrases from across the globe. The illustrations were beyond great, in my opinion. This book made me feel lighthearted and relaxed. It is a very easy to read book that I found to be informative! It also made me laugh quite a few times while reading it! This is a book that will put a big smile on your face and will leave you feeling like you just had a big heartwarming hug. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is a lover of cats! Overall, I rate this a 5 out of 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Hannah Shaw and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press for this delightful digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on July 1, 2025!

Thank you Netgalley, Hannah Shaw and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press | Ten Speed Press for the eArc of Cat Got Your Tongue.

Being a cat lover myself this book is both beautifully illustrated and simply put together. I love different languages is used throughout the book that corrosponds with each illustration. This also ties in with a saying that involves a cat and what the saying actually means. This makes for a real fun read which is also beautifully expressed within the illustrations.

" There are many ways, said Grandma while wiping the table with a cat " ( Finnish translation ) Means there is more than one way of doing a job. I however know this saying as " There is more than one way to skin a cat "

Seeing as the members of my family have cats, this will make a wonderful birthday /Christmas pressie!

5 stars

IT's all fluff and pamcakes! The books are super simple yet the format they used are amusing. Love the illustrations and details. I wish we could have second book in the series😆

A book perfect for cat connoisseurs and linguists alike! It's so interesting to see how cats have entwined themselves into languages across the world in such casual but notable ways. From cute to thoughtful to playful, all sorts of languages manage to capture the essence of cats and it's really such a treat to see a large selection of them in one place. Truly stunning, textured art. Would make a great gift book.