Out This Month: Bob Eckstein’s “The Complete Book of Cat Names”

By John Freeman on August 20, 2022

Just out now is The Complete Book of Cat Names, the latest title from award-winning illustrator and writer Bob Eckstein, whose credits include work for The New Yorker, New York Times, and others.

Bob Eckstein’s “The Complete Book of Cat Names”

Reader, beware! A cat’s name will set the tone for the rest of their personal and professional life. Recent studies from dubious cat blogs have shown that 80 per cent of cat owners regret the name they gave their feline friends. The number one reason: it became too popular. Fear not. Whether the goal is a name to carry on family tradition or to find something new and different, The Complete Book of Cat Names, available now in the United States, and due for release in the UK later this month, is packed with options, along with all-new, cat-themed cartoons by Eckstein, making this crucial step in owning a pet a pleasure.

Here, you will find the most popular cat names (to avoid), bookstore cat names (Homer or Pip), cat names for foodies (S’more or Capers), James Bond villain cats (Golden Paws or Jinx), and many more.

In addition, Bob provides handy charts for identifying a cat’s type (inside or outside, sassy or sweet). It’s the perfect gift for any cat owner.

Bob Eckstein’s “The Complete Book of Cat Names” Cartoon

“Some of my comedy friends (I look up to) and immediate family members (thank you, cousin Marlene) are telling me it’s the funniest book I have done to date,” said Bob himself of the new book on release from Countryman Press. “It has sage cat advice, curious cat fun facts, more cat cartoons that you can swing a bat at and, of course, the most comprehensive compilation of cat names to date, to which what you will do with, even I don’t know. But I have seen people reading advance copies and doing spit-takes and doubling over in laughter, so that’s something.”

Bob Eckstein’s work has appeared in Barron’s, MAD, McSweeny’s, National Lampoon, The New Yorker, The New York Times, New York Daily News, The Oldie, Playboy, Private Eye, Prospect, Reader’s Digest, SPY, The Spectator, Wall St. Journal and publications worldwide. He is a New York Timesbest-selling author, an award-winning illustrator, Erma Bombeck Humourist of the Month and nominated twice National Cartoonist Society’s Gag Cartoonist of the Year.

His work has been exhibited in the Cartoon Art Museum of San Francisco, Smithsonian Institute, London’s Cartoon Museum, Sordoni Art Gallery at Wilkes University. He is also the editor of the series, The Ultimate Cartoon Book by the World’s Greatest Cartoonists, Contributing Editor at Writer’s Digestand teaches at New York University.

• The Complete Book of Cat Names is available to order here from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

• American downthetubes reader? Check out The Comolete Book of Cat Names on Bookshop.org

• Bob Eckstein is online at bobeckstein.com | Facebook | Instagram Twitter| Podcast | New Yorker cartoons

• Check out these video interviews with Bob – more here on Inspico

What was your first awareness of art, and when did it become a compulsion?

When did you first think that you were going to make a career out of cartooning?

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.