McCaffrey, Ann. No One Noticed the Cat. 1996. Leisure Books, 2007.
No One Noticed the Cat was marketed as a children’s novella, and I suppose it is. But Ann McCaffrey does not write down to children. She adopts the somewhat formal tone of a fable, and while there is no overt sexuality or vulgar language, the plot is not overly simple, nor are the diction and syntax. Consider this sample: “Not a painting, portrait, or object d’art but wasn’t draped in sable. Their footsteps echoed through corridors totally devoid of petitioners and minor officials.” In fact, this novella could as easily have been marketed as a young adult or an adult fantasy. Here is the premise: When Prince Jamas comes of age, his wise old regent dies but is immediately reincarnated into the body of a cat named Niffy. Without language, the cat continues to offer advice, which Jamas is wise enough to take. When he is courted by a princess from a neighboring kingdom, he must deal with the evil queen bent on assassination. She is as evil as any baddie ever created by the Grimm brothers, but Jamas and his cat think things through and act with the ingenuity and audacity of the best of the jack tales. 4 stars. ( )

I've always loved Anne McCaffrey's style. Her writing is crisp, elegant, and feels effortless. This novella is cute and silly, but McCaffrey's eloquence sets it apart from other YA fantasy stories. It's evocative and lovely. ( )

A young prince is guided through experiences and decisions by Niffy the cat who was left to help the prince by the dead regent, Mangan Tighe. A cute little book by one of science fiction's greats. ( )

A light YA fairy tale, I would say aimed at the younger end of the range. Readable, but not as good as Black Horses for the King.

A wonderful story that McCaffrey apparently wrote with her grandchild in mind. When his Regent dies just as Prince Jamas reaches adulthood he leaves behind a remarkable cat who proceeds to guard the prince from harm. With a greedy King in the next kingdom over who is married to an even greedier Queen, Jamas needs all the help he can get. I had forgotten how delightful this short book is. For fans of fairytales.