Kittens in the Sun

Even as they begin to explore the world around them, the kittens grow rapidly into little cats. Clumsy at first, they begin to investigate their surroundings. Curious and playful, bursting with energy, they encourage one another to venture further and further away from home.

The breathtaking beauty of the islands serves as the ideal backdrop for these frolicking felines, whose daily to-dos--including pouncing, playing, and, of course, lounging--are expertly documented by Silvester's trained eye. And while they'll soon grow to be independent cats, this brief moment in their tender and all-too-cute lives will forever live in Kittens in the Sun.

Product Description
Now in paperback, Kittens in the Sun is full of "enchanting full-color images that capture the essence of everything feline" (Cat Fancy). Once again, photographer Hans Silvester offers us a transporting look at the feisty four-pawed critters of the Greek Isles and their whitewashed paradise. Silvester is never more at home than when training his camera on feline bliss Mediterranean style, and here it just gets better as he narrows his focus to the smaller and fuzzier members of the family. Atlantic Monthly has described his work as "the finest pictures ever taken of cats."

However, when I first became aware of his book about the cats and dogs, I was thoroughly dismayed by his choice of subject matter and the way he has chosen to portray the lives of these creatures as idyllic and carefree.

Having been to these Greek islands, I have learned firsthand that the large majority of these poor animals are ignored, injured, or mistreated by people there-anything but "respected." The photographer has omitted portraits of the true conditions for most of the stray dogs and cats in Greece-crippled, starving, dying of thirst, hurt or maimed, with the humans around them barely taking notice.

The full horror of the story was revealed to me by locals on the islands. Each year, the cats & dogs are allowed to breed uncontrolled, because tourists are fond of seeing the cute animals around town and on the beaches. At the end of each tourist season, as many of them as possible are rounded up and killed (I couldn't bear to learn how), until the following year when the ones that survived begin the cycle all over again. I found this same story on all the islands I visited, including Mykonos, and I was so appalled that I shortened my stay and left Greece altogether.

The situation is a tragedy, and my feeling, as a photographer and animal lover, is that Mr. Silvester should not be misrepresenting the conditions of the cats and dogs on these Greek islands, especially when it is for monetary gain. I hope animal lovers around the world will agree, and send a message to anyone who profits in any way from the suffering of these dogs and cats in the sun.


If you love cats, these books are for you   March 12, 2000
 3 out of 4 found this review helpful

I recommend all of Hans Silvester's books of cat photography. You get lots of photos and relatively little text, so they are perfect for those of us who just want to look at interesting, artistic photos of cats. Plus you get a glimpse of life in the Greek islands, so you can pretend you are enriching your mind while you ooh and aah at the images of furry felines. And if you read the text, you actually will learn about the cats and the people who share the islands with them.


GREAT   December 4, 1999
 5 out of 6 found this review helpful

Picked it up in the bookstore & couldn't put it down! What great pictures, I rushed home & ordered it from Amazon! : )


A Love for Cats   November 30, 1999
 11 out of 12 found this review helpful

If you love cats, you will love this book. This photo essay is a beautiful collection of kittens. Not only is it cute, but the photography is truly a work of art.