For this month’s cemetery book review, I wanted to share a unique photography collection that brings together two of my favorite things—cemeteries and cats!

Cemetery Cats by Owen Phillips is a charming photography book that highlights the whimsical world of cats hanging out in cemeteries around the globe.

Independently published in 2021, Cemetery Cats offers a visual journey made up of photos taken by Phillips over the past 20 years. He’s visited cemeteries across three continents, capturing the quiet moments between cats and the peaceful cemetery spaces they call home.

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:

“Over the past 20 years, the author has made thousands of photographs of cats in dozens of cemeteries in numerous countries on three continents. This book is a collection of some of the best of those photographs.”

This softcover, full-color book features lovely photos that capture everything from playful kittens among the gravestones to calm, watchful cats perched thoughtfully on monuments.

There’s a great mix of moods throughout the pages—some moments are silly or sweet, others are more quiet and contemplative. A few of the photos even feature cats as part of cemetery symbolism and statuary, which I really enjoyed seeing. Those little touches made me think about the special way cats, and animals in general, fit into our ideas of death and remembrance.

That said, I did find myself wishing that each photo had been given its own page. It would have really let the mood and composition of each image stand out more. I would’ve also loved a little storytelling to go with the photos—maybe a few notes about the cemeteries, or what it was like to encounter each cat. That extra bit of context would’ve made the collection feel even more personal.

I haven’t run into any cats in a Northern Ontario yet (though I did meet a friendly dog once who seemed very happy to welcome us!), but flipping through this book has me hopeful I’ll spot one someday.

So, if you love cemeteries, cats, or photography collections, I’d definitely recommend adding Cemetery Cats to your collection. Plus, buying a copy helps support Phillips’s future photography adventures in search of more feline graveyard friends!

Thanks for reading! 

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I am always on the hunt for cemetery-related book recommendations. If you are an author and have a cemetery-related book you would like me to review, please reach out at hello@chantallarochelle.ca. I would love to hear from you.