Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats is a lively and entertaining look at the amusing antics of cats and the foibles of people. The cat owner will recognize many instances of familiar feline behavior, and the perceptive reader will see numerous parallels to human attitudes and behavior. Moreover, since these poems generally portray both the virtues and the failings of the cats being described, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats should increase the reader's tolerance, sympathy, and awareness.

Finally, these poems serve as an excellent introduction to Eliot's poetry, preparing the reader to understand his humor, his poetic techniques, and even some of his more serious themes, which are here presented in a relatively light tone.