ALA Booklist

This gentle tale introduces the elderly, eccentric Miss Ponsonby, known to the local villagers as the Catlady. Living in England at the turn of the last century, she shares her large home with a great number of cats and feels exceptionally fortunate that among them are a few reincarnated people, including her own parents and the recently deceased Queen Victoria. When a young orphan named Mary arrives at her door, Miss Ponsonby makes room for her as well. Creating setting and characters in a few sure strokes, King-Smith sets the story in motion and carries his readers along in a quietly engaging way. Even before Mary makes her entrance, Miss Ponsonby is firmly established as a sympathetic character, comforted by steadfast beliefs and a sense of purpose. Illustrated with many appealing ink drawings, this tale might also be a good choice for younger children who read above grade level.

Horn Book

Old maid Muriel Ponsonby lives alone with her many cats, some of which are reincarnated loved ones (and one is the recently deceased Queen Victoria). When Muriel takes in an orphan girl, young Mary has a hard time accepting Muriel's beliefs. The concept of reincarnation will intrigue chapter book readers; lighthearted line drawings help break up the text.

Kirkus Reviews

To the few cat stories in King-Smith's stable, this latest poses a new dimension and meaning to the term "nine lives." Almost every community has one—the elderly spinster with a household overrun with cats. Whenever a new litter is born, Miss Ponsonby stares into their eyes to figure out if the cat is a cat or a reincarnation of a person. She believes that her parents, friends and cousins have all reappeared in feline form. To her surprise and delight, when she peers into the eyes of a ginger female born on January 22, 1901, she gasps: The cat is the queen—Queen Victoria. The rest is pure melodrama: Mary Nutt, orphan, becomes the Catlady's aide; Miss P. becomes bedridden and dies, leaving her house to the Royal Society for the Protection of Cats, with living privileges for Mary. Naturally, she returns as a cat. Black-and-white line sketches litter the pages but disappoint due to the appealing color cover. King-Smith fans won't find this a cuddly animal tale: The cats don't speak human language and the dependence of the story on the belief of reincarnation may provoke questions that adults are uncomfortable answering. (Fiction 7-10)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

In King-Smith's (<EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">Babe: The Gallant Pig) warm-hearted tale set in 1901, an eccentric elderly woman shares her late parents' home with 20 cats. The felines dine with her at the table and curl up on her bed, where, "with her rather sharp features, green eyes, and gray hair tied back to show her somewhat pointed ears," the sleeping woman herself "looked much like a giant cat." Muriel Ponsonby's rapport with her brood takes on a diverting dimension: she believes in reincarnation, and some of these furry companions are deceased friends, family members (including her parents) and even Queen Victoria—come back as felines. Born on the same day this monarch died, Vicky adds humor to the narrative, waddling "regally" and speaking haughtily in the royal we ("We do not have enough attention paid to us. We are, after all, the most important cat in the house—in the land, indeed"). Mary, an orphan, moves in and helps look after the menagerie, and later inherits Muriel's home and pets when the woman passes away. Shrewd readers will anticipate that the event is less sad than it might be, in a house where spirits are reborn; indeed, six months later, "a gray cat... with a sharp face and green eyes and rather pointed ears" marches into the house and leaps onto Muriel's bed. Eastwood contributes appealing pen-and-inks to this pleasantly quirky story, bound to make kids gaze more intently into the eyes of their feline friends. Ages 7-10. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(Jan.)

School Library Journal

Gr 2-4-In this beginning chapter book set in 1901, Muriel Ponsonby, aka the Catlady, keeps a large number of felines on her large country estate. The eccentric woman is a firm believer in reincarnation; she examines each new kitten thoughtfully and can determine if it's someone she once knew or just an ordinary cat. As the story opens, her deceased parents are living with her. She is both surprised and pleased to find Queen Victoria among her latest arrivals. The royal guest is allowed to eat first, has a bed of honor, and receives all other special treatments befitting a monarch. Miss Ponsonby secures a village girl to help around the house and develops a strong friendship with Mary. When the elderly woman finally dies, the property is left to the Royal Society for the Protection of Cats, with young Mary in charge. Naturally, she has been thoroughly swayed to the idea when the reincarnated Miss Ponsonby shows up as a strange and confident cat six months later. Sprinkled with black-and-white sketches deftly portraying the tale's subtle British humor, The Catlady will appeal to King-Smith fans. A lighthearted glimpse into the feline world.-Debbie Whitbeck, West Ottawa Public Schools, Holland, MI Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.