''101 Uses for a Dead Cat'', by Simon Bond (1947–2011), was a bestselling collection of

macabre In works of art, the adjective macabre ( or ; ) means "having the quality of having a grim or ghastly atmosphere". The macabre works to emphasize the details and symbols of death. The term also refers to works particularly gruesome in natu ...

cartoons A cartoon is a type of visual art that is typically drawn, frequently animated, in an unrealistic or semi-realistic style. The specific meaning has evolved over time, but the modern usage usually refers to either: an image or series of images ...

. The book was promoted with the

tag line In entertainment, a tagline (alternatively spelled tag line) is a short text which serves to clarify a thought for, or is designed with a form of, dramatic effect. Many tagline slogans are reiterated phrases associated with an individual, so ...

, "Since time immemorial mankind has been plagued by the question, 'What do you do with a dead cat?'" It consisted of cartoons depicting the bodies of dead cats being used for various purposes, including anchoring boats, sharpening pencils and holding bottles of wine.

Release and sequels

First published in the UK in 1981 as ''A Hundred and One Uses for a Dead Cat'', the collection was eventually republished in 20 countries and sold over 2 million copies.101 Uses for a Dead Cat. In ''Cartoonstock.''. Retrieved 14 September 2010 from http://www.cartoonstock.com/101_dead_cats/index.htm It spawned two sequels, ''101 More Uses for a Dead Cat'' and ''Uses of a Dead Cat in History'', as well as calendars featuring the cartoons and even a book in response called ''The Cat's Revenge - More Than 101 Uses for Dead People''. In 2006, a 25th anniversary edition of ''A Hundred and One Uses of a Dead Cat'' was published with a new foreword.

Reception

By December 7, 1981, it had spent 27 weeks on the ''New York Times'' Best Seller list. Its success was considered part of a larger "

cat The cat (''Felis catus'') is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from the wild members of ...

craze" in popular culture, which included the Jim Davis comic strip ''

Garfield ''Garfield'' is an American comic strip created by Jim Davis. Originally published locally as ''Jon'' in 1976, then in nationwide syndication from 1978 as ''Garfield'', it chronicles the life of the title character Garfield the cat, his hum ...

'', and the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical '' Cats''.

Further

Time Time is the continued sequence of existence and events that occurs in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequence events, ...

'' called the author and illustrator, Simon Bond, "the Charles Addams of

ailurophobia Ailurophobia (''pronunciation:'' aɪˌlʊər əˈfoʊ bi ə) is the persistent and excessive fear or hatred of cats. Like other specific phobias, the exact cause of ailurophobia is unknown, and potential treatment generally involves therapy.Milos ...

." He received

hate mail Hate mail (as electronic, posted, or otherwise) is a form of harassment, usually consisting of invective and potentially intimidating or threatening comments towards the recipient. Hate mail often contains exceptionally abusive, foul or otherwi ...

accusing him of obscenity and

sadism Sadism may refer to: * Sadomasochism, the giving or receiving of pleasure from acts involving the receipt or infliction of pain or humiliation * Sadistic personality disorder, an obsolete term proposed for individuals who derive pleasure from the s ...

. ''American Opinion'' stated that those who read the book should be "prepared to be disgusted or appalled from time to time". The book was parodied by British cartoonist Patrick Wright with his book ''101 Uses for a John Major'', in which the former British Prime Minister was illustrated serving a number of bizarre purposes, such as a train-spotter's anorak or as a flag-pole.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:101 Uses For A Dead Cat American comics Comics about cats 1981 books 1981 comics debuts Gag cartoon comics Black comedy books