Helpers and Healers

A Book of Cat Rescues

Non-Fiction - Animals
120 Pages
Reviewed on 12/15/2025
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Jennifer Senick for Readers' Favorite

Helpers and Healers: A Book of Cat Rescues by S. Mathur follows a group of cats, the people who help them, and community members in western New York. They’re all connected through the work of a local cat shelter. It blends rescue stories while also exploring broader ideas like kindness, cruelty, and healing. From daring roadside rescues to stories about their lives in the center, this tale shows how everyone involved works together to provide vulnerable cats with safety and, more importantly, forever homes. It also touches on the animal shelter’s growth, the creation of a feral/special-needs building, and the often unseen work behind rescue efforts — from fundraising to outreach events. How far can love and courage really go? What surprising journeys will these cats take?

Helpers and Healers by S. Mathur drew me in right away, partly because of my absolute love for cats, but also because of my long-held sense that they’re not just companions but quiet healers in their own right. The cover is what initially sparked my interest. I wanted to know more about the felines I saw there. The writing is direct yet warm, steady, and easy to follow. I could envision standing in the facility with the workers and lovable cats. I felt sad at times, but that feeling never lingered because hope consistently overrides the darker moments. My favorite story was Roscoe’s; he was described as orange-and-white, just like the shelter cat I adopted, which made his journey even more touching. I highly recommend it to fans of cat stories or other animal-rescue tales, who will likely find it a very rewarding read.