Clark Greer was a dyed-in-the-wool dog person who dreamed of someday romping with a faithful mutt. Cats were not even on his list of must-haves. That was until he and his wife, Georgia, adopted a timid kitten that had been born under a bush at a friend’s house. It was love at first sight—for the humans.

The cuteness quickly turned into the reality of life with the feral kitten they named Sadie. On day one the gray striped ball of fur commandeered every aspect of her new home, wrapping her humans around her tiny paw. It didn’t take long for her parents to discover that raising a feral cat was a lot like eating candy with a sweet, sugar-coated exterior that surrounds a sour interior. Both the cat and the candy result in a big surprise. The good news was that on her best days Sadie was only slightly difficult. Yet, over two decades Sadie became a beloved part of her family, teaching her humans to focus on the important things in life—patience, trust, and care.

The Striped Tornado: Life and Times of a Rotten Cat will inspire readers to rise above their challenges and sometimes change themselves rather than those around them—to find companionship and love in the most unlikely places.

Paperback available online.