Book Giveaway: "Felines of New York" Reveal What Urban Cats Are Really Thinking

Comedian and photographer Jim Tews combined two separate Internet favorites–Humans of New York and cats–to make one lighthearted series filled with laughs called Felines of New York. “I just felt HONY was ready to be parodied. It's an amazing project, obviously, but it's very serious sometimes. To the point of being depressing. So I thought doing it with cats in some manner would give it some levity,” Tews told us. “I chose cats because they are way more vain than most animals. But they're so goofy. They don't even know how not seriously we're taking them. But I'm sure if they could speak, they would demand their words be printed.” This quick realization led to the launch of the personal project, and a published book soon followed.

To accompany his photographs and stay true to his parody style, Tews gives each cat a voice in the form of a comical caption. More often than not, he'll take his subject's personality into consideration and will even try to incorporate a story the feline's human may have told him. In doing so, Tews gets to meet other New Yorkers–like fellow comedian Myka Fox (whose feline friend is Toe)–and connect with them over a common interest in cats. Although, the comedian mentions that working on this series isn't always easy. “The only difficult part is getting the cats to go where you need them to be,” Tews admits. “Some cats get it, but plenty of them don't. They're just like ‘Oh, you want me to stand by the window so you can get some light? Well then that's exactly what I'll refuse to do. Good luck getting a clear picture, dork.'”

In the end, Tews admits, “I just want readers to laugh at their cats more. And not take things too seriously. Or they can just enjoy some nice cat pictures. There's a little something for everyone, unless they're a dog person. Then they probably won't enjoy Felines of New York at all.”

BOOK GIVEAWAY:

Jim was kind enough to provide us with a copy of Felines of New York for a book giveaway! All you have to do to enter is leave a comment/reply on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter with your favorite cat quote from this post.

This book giveaway is now CLOSED. Thank you to all who participated!

Above: “People say I'm mature for my age. I'm just already over a lot of stuff. Like birds. I'm so over birds.” – Surf, Williamsburg

“A lot of people think we hate Mondays, but that's a common stereotype reinforced by the media. We actually have no idea what day it is.”

– Charlie

“I'll probably start playing the lottery again soon. The last time I played, I don't think I won anything, but the scratching-off part was incredibly satisfying.”

– Matthew, Upper East Side

“I was a mess in my early twenties. I spent a lot of time in places I didn't belong, with other cats who were no good for me. Picking the scraps off of fishbones on a garbage can lid. That was my rock bottom.”

– Michelle, Harlem

“I have a line of artisan cat toys that I'd like to sell. This storefront would be ideal, but I'd need a lot of help. Unfortunately, cats aren't great team players. Anytime it feels like we're making progress, someone sees a bug and the group just falls apart.”

– Miko, Lower East Side

“I'm cautious. A lot of people fault me for it. Saying I've missed out on things. I just don't take my lives for granted.”

– Petie, Gramercy

“I'm a big believer in positive thinking. Like, I start to think ‘I'm getting hungry. There should be food in that bowl.' Then fifteen minutes later, the woman puts food in the bowl. It happened because I believed it would happen.”

– Toe

“I spend a lot of my day hitting the free food spots. If I'm not doing that, I'm usually under a tree somewhere, writing poetry. I want to check out a poetry night somewhere, maybe recite a few of my favorites. But I feel like a lot of things would get lost in translation.”

– Benson, Middle Village

“I didn't get a chance to know my mother, but I'm told she was also a cat. So I'm sure if we reunited we'd have a lot in common.”

– Hazel, Union Square

“It's another new year. Everyone seems bent on self-improvement, making their lives better. But I just don't know how my life could get any better. I can't even remember the last time I felt justifiably hungry or tired.”

– Pete, Upper West Side

“I've been a runway model since I was two. It's unfortunate, but this is a young cat's game and I don't think I've got much more time left. I'll probably start my own line when they no longer want to see me strut.”

– Wesley, Bushwick

“Before they caught me, I was running a clowder in Hell's Kitchen. I worked with some of the most heartless rodent killers this city's ever seen. I walked into a trap one morning and that's how I ended up here. It's for the better though. You can't live like I was living for very long.”

– Hera, Upper East Side ASPCA (Hera was adopted!)

“I just don't look far into the future. You say ‘what do I have to do next?' and you worry about it, and you stress. But I'm like ‘what am I doing now?' because I think the rest will take care of itself. I think we should all live that way.”

“So you're saying we should all be cats who live in a house where a person takes care of us?”

“Yes. What's stopping you?”

– Eliza, Long Island City

“The questions get old. I don't have hair like most cats, I get it. Yes, I'm cold sometimes. No, I don't feel naked. But does any of that matter? Let's get past the superficial garbage and work together on something. Maybe if we work together, we can figure out how to work the can opener.”

– Elise, Astoria

“Being a small business owner isn't easy these days. You have to do whatever you can to maintain your advantage over the big box stores. Having a cat in your shop is probably the best thing you can do. The chains can't do that, they can't have cats. And who doesn't like a cat? You walk in somewhere and there's a cat, you're like ‘Oh sh*t, there's a cat. I'm coming back here.' you know?”