Other editions of book Cleo: The Cat Who Mended a Family

"The next Marley & Me. Even non cat-lovers will be moved." —Good HousekeepingThe Beloved #1 International Bestseller Tenth Anniversary Edition “We’re just going to look.” Helen Brown had no intention of adopting a pet when she brought her young sons to visit a friend’s new kittens. But the runt of the litter was irresistible, with her overlarge ears and dainty chin. When Cleo was delivered weeks later, she had no way of knowing that her new family had just been hit by an unthinkable tragedy. Helen was sure she couldn’t keep her—until she saw something she thought had vanished from earth forever: her son’s smile. The reckless, rambunctious kitten stayed. Through happiness and heartbreak, changes and new beginnings, Cleo was the glue that affectionately held Helen’s family together. Rich in wisdom, wit, heart, and healing, here is the story of a cat with an extraordinary gift for knowing just where she was needed most. With a New Afterword by the Author “A remarkable memoir . . . Helen Brown opened my heart.” —Beth Hoffman, New York Times bestselling author “An absolute must.” —Cat World

"The next Marley & Me. Even non cat-lovers will be moved." —Good HousekeepingThe Beloved #1 International Bestseller Tenth Anniversary Edition “We’re just going to look.” Helen Brown had no intention of adopting a pet when she brought her young sons to visit a friend’s new kittens. But the runt of the litter was irresistible, with her overlarge ears and dainty chin. When Cleo was delivered weeks later, she had no way of knowing that her new family had just been hit by an unthinkable tragedy. Helen was sure she couldn’t keep her—until she saw something she thought had vanished from earth forever: her son’s smile. The reckless, rambunctious kitten stayed. Through happiness and heartbreak, changes and new beginnings, Cleo was the glue that affectionately held Helen’s family together. Rich in wisdom, wit, heart, and healing, here is the story of a cat with an extraordinary gift for knowing just where she was needed most. With a New Afterword by the Author “A remarkable memoir . . . Helen Brown opened my heart.” —Beth Hoffman, New York Times bestselling author “An absolute must.” —Cat World

The Beloved #1 International Bestseller Tenth Anniversary Edition "We're just going to look." Helen Brown had no intention of adopting a pet when she brought her young sons to visit a friend's new kittens. But the runt of the litter was irresistible, with her overlarge ears and dainty chin. When Cleo was delivered weeks later, she had no way of knowing that her new family had just been hit by an unthinkable tragedy. Helen was sure she couldn't keep her--until she saw something she thought had vanished from earth forever: her son's smile. The reckless, rambunctious kitten stayed. Through happiness and heartbreak, changes and new beginnings, Cleo was the glue that affectionately held Helen's family together. Rich in wisdom, wit, heart, and healing, here is the story of a cat with an extraordinary gift for knowing just where she was needed most. With a New Afterword by the Author "A remarkable memoir . . . Helen Brown opened my heart." --Beth Hoffman, New York Times bestselling author "An absolute must." --Cat World

"We're just going to look." Helen Brown had no intention of adopting a pet when she brought her sons, Sam and Rob, to visit a friend's new kittens. But the runt of the litter was irresistible, with her overlarge ears and dainty chin.When Cleo was delivered weeks later, she had no way of knowing that her new family had just been hit by a tragedy. Helen was sure she couldn't keep her--until she saw something she thought had vanished from the earth forever: her son's smile. The reckless, rambunctious kitten stayed.Through happiness and heartbreak, changes and new beginnings, Cleo turned out to be the unlikely glue that affectionately held Helen's family together. Rich in wisdom, wit, heart, and healing, here is the story of a cat with an extraordinary gift for knowing just where she was needed most."A remarkable memoir. . .I realized that Helen Brown didn't break my heart at all--she opened it." --Beth Hoffman, New York Times bestselling author of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt"An absolute must." --Cat World"The next Marley &Me. Even non cat-lovers will be moved." --Good Housekeeping

"We're just going to." Helen Brown had no intention of adopting a pet when she brought her sons, Sam and Rob, to visit a friend's new kittens. But the runt of the litter was irresistible, with her overlarge ears and dainty chin.When Cleo was delivered weeks later, she had no way of knowing that her new family had just been hit by a tragedy. Helen was sure she couldn't keep her-until she saw something she thought had vanished from the earth forever: her son's smile The reckless, rambunctious kitten stayed. Through happiness and heartbreak, changes and new beginnings, Cleo turned out to be the unlikely glue the affectionately held Helen's family together. Rich in wisdom, wit, heart, and healing, here is the story of a cat with an extraordinary gift for knowing just where she was needed the most.

For all those people who say they aren't cat people, but deep down know they are. Helen Brown wasn't a cat person, but her nine-year-old son Sam was. So when Sam heard someone mention that her cat had just had a litter, he pleaded to go and see them. Helen was powerless to resist and the deal was done - to be delivered when the kitten was big enough to leave her mother. Just a week later, Sam was killed in a road accident. Not long after this, a little black kitten was delivered to the family's doorstep. Totally numbed by Sam's death, Helen had completely forgotten about the new arrival, which belonged in another universe when Sam was still alive. Helen was ready to send her back, but Sam's younger brother, Rob, identified with the kitten who'd also lost her brothers. Stroking her, it was the first time Helen had seen him smile since Sam's death. There was no choice, the kitten - dubbed Cleo - had to stay Cleo's immense character slowly taught the family to laugh again, giving them hope of getting back to normal. She went on to become the high priestess of Helen's household - vetoing her new men, terrifying visiting dogs and playing an integral role in their lives to become both a guardian and friend.

"We're just going to look." Helen Brown had no intention of adopting a pet when she brought her sons, Sam and Rob, to visit a friend's new kittens. But the runt of the litter was irresistible, with her overlarge ears and dainty chin.When Cleo was delivered weeks later, she had no way of knowing that her new family had just been hit by a tragedy. Helen was sure she couldn't keep her--until she saw something she thought had vanished from the earth forever: her son's smile. The reckless, rambunctious kitten stayed.Through happiness and heartbreak, changes and new beginnings, Cleo turned out to be the unlikely glue that affectionately held Helen's family together. Rich in wisdom, wit, heart, and healing, here is the story of a cat with an extraordinary gift for knowing just where she was needed most."A remarkable memoir. . .I realized that Helen Brown didn't break my heart at all--she opened it." --Beth Hoffman, New York Times bestselling author of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt"An absolute must." --Cat World"The next Marley & Me. Even non cat-lovers will be moved." --Good Housekeeping

"We're just going to look." Helen Brown had no intention of adopting a pet when she brought her sons, Sam and Rob, to visit a friend's new kittens. But the runt of the litter was irresistible, with her overlarge ears and dainty chin.When Cleo was delivered weeks later, she had no way of knowing that her new family had just been hit by a tragedy. Helen was sure she couldn't keep her--until she saw something she thought had vanished from the earth forever: her son's smile. The reckless, rambunctious kitten stayed.Through happiness and heartbreak, changes and new beginnings, Cleo turned out to be the unlikely glue that affectionately held Helen's family together. Rich in wisdom, wit, heart, and healing, here is the story of a cat with an extraordinary gift for knowing just where she was needed most."A remarkable memoir. . .I realized that Helen Brown didn't break my heart at all--she opened it." --Beth Hoffman, New York Times bestselling author of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt"An absolute must." --Cat World"The next Marley & Me. Even non cat-lovers will be moved." --Good Housekeeping

Helen Brown wasn't a cat person, but her nine-year-old son Sam was. After he heard about a litter of new kittens, he pleaded to go and see them. Helen's heart melted as Sam held one of the kittens with a look of total adoration. The deal was done: as soon as the kitten - dubbed 'Cleo' - was old enough, it would be delivered to Sam. A week later, Sam was run over and killed. Not long after, a little black kitten was delivered to Helen Brown's doorstep. Still totally traumatised by grief, Helen had forgotten about the kitten. She was ready to send Cleo back, but when Sam's younger brother Rob held the tiny kitten, he smiled for the first time since witnessing his brother's death. There was no choice: Cleo had to stay.