Ulysses S. Cat and Other Animals I Have Known

Review Quotes:
Scott Simon's work, filled with irresistible, heartfelt encounters and journeys with animals, from family hearth to hot spots around the world, will bring you insights and joy.--Amy Tan

Review Quotes:
Witty and engaging, Ulysses S. Cat traverses the land of animals but also gives the reader a beautifully intimate sense of Simon himself. It functions as a sort of memoir-by-creature, and a delightful one at that. It's a book to cherish.--Susan Orlean

Review Quotes:
A celebration of animal companions... A charming, thoughtful pleasure for any animal lover.-- "Kirkus Reviews"

Review Quotes:
Heartwarming... A lovely testament to the ability of pets to stretch hearts and minds.-- "Publishers Weekly"

Publisher Marketing:

Scott Simon's household does not make much distinction between humans and other animals. Whether two-legged or four-, flesh-covered, fur-covered, feathered, or gilled--everyone is family. Today, Simon lives with the haiku-writing and absolument charmant French poodle Daisy and the daringly audacious foster cat Gato Blanco. But that's just the start.

In Ulysses S. Cat and Other Animals I Have Known, Simon warmly philosophizes on the unforgettable and utterly ordinary moments between species, along with their joys, worries, love, and humor. Depicting a lifetime of remarkable, enduring relationships with pets, Simon explores the difficulty of expressing the strong ties we feel: a kinship between humans and animals that's more familial than "owner," and more mutual than "caregiver" or "guardian."

Paired with the charming, whimsical illustrations of renowned New Yorker cartoonist Liana Finck, Simon reflects on how pets unlock our hearts and burrow into our lives beginning with his family's dog guiding his first steps. From a cat who escaped the British Embassy (Simon had to promise to raise her as British) and street dogs during Sarajevo's siege to a series of beta fish all named Salman Fishdie and an energetic, cage-escaping hamster Bagel, he reveals how our animals change not just our lives but how we see the world. Enchanting and thoughtful, Ulysses S. Cat is a profusion of exuberant memories and musings on a life spent in animal company.

Review Citations:

• Kirkus Reviews 03/01/2026 (EAN 9781324117186, Hardcover)
• Publishers Weekly 03/30/2026 (EAN 9781324117186, Hardcover)
• Booklist 05/01/2026 (EAN 9781324117186, Hardcover)

Contributor Bio:Simon, Scott
Scott Simon hosts NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday and Up First, and is special contributor to CBS News Sunday Morning. A winner of Emmy and Peabody Awards, he is in the Radio Hall of Fame and the Illinois Lincoln Academy. He lives in Washington, DC, with his wife and two daughters.