Mammy Tittleback and Her Family: A True Story of Seventeen Cats

In Short

This charming narrative chronicles the life of a resourceful tortoise-shell cat named Mammy Tittleback and her rapidly expanding feline family. Set in rural Pennsylvania, the story follows cousins Johnny and Rosy as they build a dedicated "cat house," attempt to train their pets, and eventually oversee an unexpected, chaotic relocation of the entire brood to their grandmother’s farm. Part memoir and part gentle moral instruction, the narrative is celebrated for its authentic observation of child-animal bonds and its warm, anecdotal style that captures the humor found in the simple realities of domestic life.

The Story

The story begins with the sudden arrival of a striking tortoise-shell cat at the Wellington home in Mendon, Pennsylvania. Adopted by young Phil and Fred, the cat is named Mammy Tittleback and quickly establishes herself as a formidable mouser. As she begins raising successive litters of kittens, cousins Johnny and Rosy become her devoted caretakers. They handle the kittens, bring them into the house to show visitors, and eventually construct an elaborate, custom-built "cat house" in the barn. They even attempt to teach the kittens the alphabet and discipline them with a system of good and bad marks, mirroring their own school experiences.

When a local wild cat dies, the children find her four starving kittens and convince Mammy Tittleback to adopt them, despite her initial skepticism. This brings the total count to thirteen, creating a lively, sprawling family that follows the children through the garden all summer. As the season ends, the children move away to their grandmother’s home in Burnet, leaving the cats behind. However, their uncle soon arranges a surprise, shipping the entire feline family in a large box by train to Burnet.

The arrival of the box at the railway station is a comedic disaster. Due to the local political climate—it being an election year—the crate, labeled "The Garfield Club," is mistaken for a partisan prank, leading locals to paint "Hancock Serenaders" on the opposite side. When the box is delivered to the farm, the cats are released in a flurry of chaos. Unfortunately, the journey proves too much for two of the weakest kittens, Gregory Second and Lily, who pass away shortly after arrival. The children hold solemn, child-like funerals for them, complete with "monuments" made of repurposed household items. Eventually, the remaining cats are rehomed, with Mammy Tittleback and her kitten Blacky remaining at the farm. The story concludes with reflections on the cats' new lives, noting how Blacky has become a pampered household pet while Mammy Tittleback retains her independent, hardworking spirit, preferring the barn to the parlor.

How It Unfolds

The arrival of a stranger Mammy Tittleback appears at the Wellington farm, instantly winning over the boys with her kind face and fierce mousing abilities. She settles in, and her subsequent litters turn the quiet barn into a nursery for a growing, spirited feline population.

The children take command Johnny and Rosy dedicate their summer to the cats, building a multi-roomed shelter and attempting to "educate" the kittens. Their earnest efforts to organize the cats’ lives include strict mealtimes and even lessons in reading, showcasing the children’s deep, imaginative investment in their pets.

A family grows by necessity The children's resolve is tested when they encounter four orphaned kittens in need of a mother. Through patient observation and gentle coaxing, they successfully integrate the orphans into Mammy Tittleback’s nursery, marking a significant lesson in empathy and responsibility.

The surprise relocation The cats are sent to the grandmother’s farm in a crate, sparking a localized political misunderstanding at the train station. The ensuing chaos of their release at the new home provides a humorous, albeit poignant, shift in the narrative as the family size begins to shrink through rehoming.

A final settling The story closes with the realities of farm life, as some cats depart while others adapt to their new environments. The narrative ends on a warm note, observing the distinct personalities of the remaining cats and the affection of the humans who cherish them.

The People

Mammy Tittleback serves as the narrative’s anchor, a "business cat" who is both a devoted, instinctive mother and an intensely practical mouser. She is characterized by her independence; she allows the children to dote on her during the summer but remains focused on her own priorities, eventually choosing the utility of the barn over the comforts of the house.

Johnny and Rosy are the primary emotional drivers of the story. Johnny is the architect and "teacher," a boy of serious intent who approaches cat-rearing as a scholarly project. His devotion to the cats is absolute, and he struggles with the prospect of letting them go. Rosy, guided by her tender heart, is more focused on the emotional comfort of the kittens. Their development is marked by the shift from playing with their charges to facing the inevitable losses and separations that come with caring for animals.

Old Jerry is a warm, secondary figure—the kindly farm hand who acts as a bridge between the children’s world and the practical realities of the farm. He is a "wag" who takes the surprise arrival of the cats with good humor, despite the labor of transporting them. Aunt Hannah represents the elder generation, whose initially firm boundaries regarding the cats are slowly and amusingly eroded by the persistent, affectionate nature of Blacky, demonstrating how even the most established routines can be softened by a small, determined animal.

In Its Own Voice

"Her face is a very kind-looking face, but her tail is a fierce one; and when she is angry, she can swell it up in a minute, till it looks almost as big as her body."

This early description captures the dual nature of Mammy Tittleback, who is both a gentle mother to her kittens and a formidable presence on the farm.

"She's a real old brick of a cat to take these two. I hope the others will die anyhow."

Phil speaks with the blunt, unsentimental honesty common to children, highlighting the harsh realities of life on a farm where not all kittens can thrive.

"It’s the cats, ma’am," he said; "them cats of Johnny's from Mr. Wellington's: all of 'em."

Jerry delivers the news of the cats' unexpected arrival to Mrs. Chapman, perfectly capturing the comic absurdity of a crate full of felines being treated as a house guest.

What It's Really About

The book explores the intersection of childhood responsibility and the autonomy of animals. It argues that children develop character through the care of living things, yet it implicitly acknowledges the limits of that control. The cats are not merely playthings; they have their own needs, instincts, and destinies that the children cannot fully command. The story touches on the nature of grief through the children’s solemn funerals, suggesting that ritual is a vital way for young people to process loss. Ultimately, it is a meditation on the fleeting nature of childhood summer projects and the transition from the imaginative, idealized world of play to the more realistic, grounded expectations of the adult world.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy gentle, character-driven stories of domestic life will find this book particularly rewarding. It reads like a long, fireside chat, filled with the warmth of a family recollection. The writing is precise and affectionate, offering a window into a late 19th-century rural childhood that feels both distant and relatable. Modern readers should be prepared for the period-specific attitudes, such as the casual mention of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and the blunt, sometimes harsh pragmatism regarding the survival of kittens, which reflect the values of the era. However, these elements do not overshadow the core of the book: the genuinely funny and sweet interactions between the children and their cats. The humor—particularly regarding the political confusion at the train station—remains remarkably sharp. It is an excellent choice for those who appreciate stories that value the small, everyday occurrences of life, and it leaves the reader with a poignant sense of how quickly childhood, and the pets that define it, can change. The story of Blacky’s persistence with Aunt Hannah is especially endearing, likely to stay with anyone who has ever tried to resist the charm of a determined pet.