A Snowflake in My Hand Paperback – April 1, 1989

I have just made my second purchase (through Amazon) of this fantastic little book. I originally purchased the paperback, but now am getting the hardbound edition to add to my permanent collection (the paperback is starting to fall apart). That's because I have read and re-read this book so many times that I've lost count. After reading it for the first time, how I view the quality of my life and the lives of my beloved cats, both past, present and future has changed dramatically. Anyone who reads "Snowflake" would understand why the "Psych Prof" has this little gem as required reading for her courses. I keep my "cat eared" copy close at hand, and when I need it, I will pick it up and spend a few minutes with Ms. Mooney and her wonderful stories -- shedding tears along the way.When I lost my dear Rodolfo (Rudy), my big, grey buddy who died of renal failure just before Christmas last year, I used Ms. Mooney's poetic prose as part of his eulogy:We hope we gave Rudy a good quality of life -- especially these last 6 weeks when he went into his final illness. There were times during those weeks when he was actually back to his normal self. We dared not ask how long, because in asking might hasten his departure. But the miracle we had hoped for did not materialize, and he crossed the Rainbow Bridge today to join his sisters Sarah and Mimi.(From the book) "We smile with the memory of this Rudy, who was really no longer with us. For this handsome gray cat who I held in my arms, the days began to seem too long. It was not easy to let go of this life that had shared so much joy with us. He had given us almost 14 years of happiness. But Rudy's joy was in the past. The present brought with it only pain. I held him, watching his handsome eyes blur through our tears. We cried, all of us, for Sarah, for Mimi -- for all of us, who had lost our dear friend."(From the epilogue) "I discover him anew with each gray cat I see. He is present in my joys and deepest sorrows. And sometimes, when grayness falls upon the autumn day, or when the air is full of the promises of rain, sometimes then I feel him near. In this moment, memory and senses in accord, reminiscences blend, and time has no meaning. The wind lingers in my presence, inviting me to share a secret, somewhere out of time. This young precocious breeze, just a whisper when we first met, had grown into a sturdy winter wind. He is with me, as real as the winter snow that blends the tears upon my face. And it is only when I try to touch him, to make him linger yet awhile, that he dies all over again. Like a snowflake in my hand, he is a fragment of melody unawares. Evasive and elusive, a song without words, a song with no end.""While somewhere else as I now say good-bye again, as shadows of my shadow pass before me, somewhere else a cat leaps to the windowsill to greet the summer breeze. The gray cat stretches beyond his length and purrs, harmonic with the world."A life-changing book for anyone who has ever loved a cat.

This is probably the most heart-wrenching, painful book any cat lover will ever read. That said, I had to have a second copy due to loaning it to friends and having to fight to get it back. This is a celebration of felines who shared their stories and their hearts with the author. There is a sincerity to it that is unmatched in most cat stories. There is honor, dignity, and unconditional love in these cats whose story is told by Samantha Mooney. Her style is clean, honest, and not overly sappy, as it easily could have been. Instead she quietly and intimately shares with us the cats who have meant so much in her life, and now in ours. It also is a clear reminder that such cats are on loan to us only, and that we will have to say goodbye to them far too soon, but the love is always worth the loss. If you love cats, read the book. it will stay with you forever. But keep the tissues close at hand when you're reading.

A most beautiful, heart wrenching and tender book. It describes the life of the people, the Vets and mostly the sick cats that are brought to this remarkable Cat Clinic in New York City. If you are a cat lover, and even if your heart is drawn more to SNOOPY, you will find this book inspiring and yes, believe it or not, happy. Death is an unfortunate reality. Blessed are those who can find that the end of days are not all sadness and gloom but can be filled with immeasurable kindness, enrichment, enlightenment, love, and laughter! I LOVED THIS BOOK and so will you!

This is my favorite books on the subject of personal loss. Samantha Mooney opens her heart when she describes her life working in a veterinarian oncology ward. We read about the people and the cats that she meets, the cats she adopts, life on the oncology ward, life with multiple cats, the deep sadness that comes from loving something that is finite, and the courage to go on after one's heart is rent by loss.I think this would be a valuable book for anyone who has experienced loss in his or her life, and probably also for anyone who loves cats.

This story focuses on the author's life working with a multitude of cats afflicted with feline leukemia. It is both heartwrenching and insightful. The stories of the lives and losses of both her patients, and her father, could soften the hardest heart into treating others with love and respect - because you never know how long you will have the ones you love. My only complaint with this very well-told story is that the author writes vehemently about those who chose to put their animals down (basically stating that they didn't give their pets a chance and therefore robbed them of a wonderful life) without acknowledging that the owners probably chose to euthanize their loved ones out of mercy, not maliciousness or despair. Yet, overall, I recommend this book and believe the stories of these precious lives will stick with the reader and inspire both tenderness and treasuring each day as a gift.

Read it the same day I received it. For anyone who has loved and been loved by a cat, this will move you to laughter and tears. I especially fell in love with Fledermaus.I read an article recently about the high suicide rate among Veterinarians. Many devote their time and talent to shelters, rescue organizations, and other not-for-profit efforts. Many animals who come into their hands have endured great suffering and many die. Theirs is a profession born of love and compassion. We owe them so much. So to the Veterinarians (and equally devoted Vet Techs) around the world, thank you for devoting your life to the care of all animals great and small.

I absolutely love this book.Read it and the memory will stay with you forever. Most touching and valuable love story about all the cats the writer ever met. I would really like to find out how her life developed after this, but she is very elusive. It really makes you value everything that a cat can bring into your life.

Be prepared to sob your heart out. I wish I had the words to describe how amazing this little book is, but I wouldn't be able to do it justice. We have a small 'library' in our staff quiet/lunch room on my unit (I'm a R.N. at an acute care facility), where we bring in books, music, therapeutic oils, etc. that we share amongst ourselves. I purchased 'Snowflake' shortly after I lost two beloved kitties within six weeks of one another, Puss Puss at age 17 and then Olivia at age 14. After I read Snowflake I brought it into our library. It was too powerful not to share with others. It has since made many journeys each time returning, a little more tattered and tear stained, back to me.

Die Autorin Samantha Mooney, Angestellte des bekannten Animal Medical Center von New York, berichtet liebevoll über den täglichen Kampf ihrer vierbeinigen Patienten, ein Kampf, der sich über die Klinik hinaus bis ins Häusliche und und in die Ferien hinein erstreckt.Über die Jahre hinweg hat die Autorin viele Dauerpatienten begleitet, wie z.B. den getigerten Kater "Clancy", der auf der ganzen Station Gast war, die schüchterne Katze "Fledermaus" oder den ruhigen Kater "Oliver Cromwell", der als Freund eine Seemöwe hat, die er bei seinem Urlaub in Maine trifft.Im Vordergrund der Klinik beim täglichen Kampf um die Tiere steht dabei die Lebensqualität der Tiere. Ziel ist es die Lebensqualität der Tiere zu erhalten und zu verbessern. Das heißt aber auch im richtigen Moment loszulassen. Wie eine Schneeflocke in der Hand. Alles ist vergänglich. Das Schöne bleibt einem aber in Erinnerung.Nicht nur für Katzenfreunde zu empfehlen, sondern für jeden der Menschen und all die Tiere liebt. Die Geschichten erinnern den Leser an die Tierarztgeschichten von James Herriot aus England.Dies ist die englischsprachige Ausgabe. Das Original ist 1983 erschienen. Die deutsche Ausgabe habe ich bereits vor Jahren gelesen, bekannt unter dem Titel "Die Katzenklinik - Meine vierbeinigen Patienten". Ein Buch, das man immer wieder herausholt oder sich einmal die Originalausgabe vornimmt. Das Cover ist von der Autorin gestaltet worden.

One of the best regarding a vet and her relationship with animals.

what a lovely book, a most enjoyable read, the sad parts as well as the heartwarming ones,was upsetting to read about chico dying, as we had a cat who died alone in a vet surgery in his cage, brought all that back,samantha mooney was obviously in the right job, her love and caring for cats shines right through the book.