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About the Book
About the Book
Love, Loss and Litter Boxes is a heartfelt literary debut by Abhijeet Telgote, a writer from the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, now based in Mumbai. At its surface, it’s a story told through the eyes of a cat. But beneath its gentle narrative lies a layered, emotional journey of grief, healing, identity, and companionship.
The Narrator: Cherry the Cat
The Narrator: Cherry the Cat
Cherry, a stray kitten, narrates the story with innocence, wit, and surprising wisdom. Rescued by a lonely young man named Aarav during a rainy night, she begins a life of warmth and safety — but also starts noticing the silent pain Aarav hides. Through Cherry's eyes, we see how two broken beings slowly help mend each other.
The Author’s Journey
The Author’s Journey
When Abhijeet Telgote began writing Love, Loss and Litter Boxes, he wasn’t trying to write the next great Indian novel. He was trying to stay alive. Abhijeet has battled bipolar disorder since the age of 13. In an interview with a local newspaper, he shared that his creative projects often served as a lifeline—
| “I would tell myself, let me finish this one thing before I end my life. And by the time I finished it, I felt better.”
This book, he says, saved him many times. It started as a project to fill the emptiness. Over time, it became a purpose. And eventually, it became a tender, honest novel about a cat, a boy, and everything we leave unsaid about grief, belonging, and healing.
Symbolism and Social Relevance
Symbolism and Social Relevance
Though told from a cat’s perspective, the story cleverly mirrors themes of caste, class, and social exclusion in India. The stray cat represents the voiceless — the abandoned, the judged, the overlooked. It's an allegory for belonging, for wanting to be loved despite one's background.
What Readers Are Saying
What Readers Are Saying
The book opens with a series of heartfelt reviews by early readers. Many compare its tone and moral storytelling to Indian classics like Panchatantra. One reviewer wrote, “This book made me cry in the morning and laugh by night. It stayed with me.”
"Rarely does a story blend symbolism and emotion so flawlessly. This is how you talk about casteism and discrimination without shouting.”
- Deepak Rajadhyaksha
“A poetic, raw, and beautifully told journey. If you've ever loved a pet, this book will never leave you.”
- Mehraaz Shaikh, CEO, Spectadors Group, Leo’s Human
"Every meow is a metaphor. Every purr is a poem. And every thought Cherry shares about love and life is a philosophical revelation."
- Arnold Pinto, Lawyer, Sundari, tiger and Kalu’s Human
"Bingo never said a word. But somehow, she told the loudest story. I cried for her, for Cherry, and for every quiet goodbye we pretend doesn’t hurt."
- Shreeya Shetty, Social Media Executive, Bingo’s Human
“This book is not about cats. It’s about us, told by someone who watches us without ego, judgment, or agenda—a cat.”
- Nilesh Chavan, CEO, BluPigeon Creative Agency, Sailee’s Human
"The way casteism and racism are subtly represented through the lives of stray and adopted cats is nothing short of literary genius."
- Zubia Quazi, Lawyer, Famin’s Human
“This isn’t just about cats. It’s about the ones we lose, the love we find, and the homes we build inside each other.”
- Shreeya Dongre, JPMC, Genghis’s Human
“A love letter to grief, healing, and the quiet strength of a furry companion. This story doesn't just touch your heart, it curls up in it and stays.”
- Hetal Sawant, Assist. Manager Marketing at Dharma Productions, Taco’s Human
Why This Book Matters
Why This Book Matters
In a literary world that often favors the elite, Abhijeet Telgote offers something different: vulnerability, honesty, and symbolic genius. Beyond its charming narrative and unique feline perspective, Love, Loss and Litter Boxes carries the quiet weight of lived experience and unfiltered honesty. It is a story rooted not in fantasy, but in deeply felt emotion — from loneliness and companionship to healing and heartbreak. While the narrator is a stray kitten, the themes reach far into human reality: caste, class, mental health, abandonment, and the yearning to be seen.
In an interview with a local newspaper, when asked why he thinks this book matters, Abhijeet Telgote responded:
“Once a great writer friend of mine told me, ‘If your story is honest, it’s gonna find its own audience.’ So I’ve tried my best to keep the story as honest as I can.”
This pursuit of emotional truth over literary ornamentation gives the book its power. It doesn’t demand attention — it earns it, slowly and sincerely.
Cherry, the narrator-cat, is more than a voice. She is a stand-in for all those who are passed over, thrown away, silenced. In a country still grappling with casteism and class divides, Love, Loss and Litter Boxes becomes more than a book. It becomes a voice for the voiceless.
More importantly, it proves that literature is not the property of the privileged. A debut writer, fighting bipolar disorder and coming from the margins, has created something that connects — across class, species, and sadness.
Closing Thoughts
Closing Thoughts
Love, Loss and Litter Boxes isn’t just a book — it’s a reminder that art can save lives. It saved the author, and it might save someone else too. In its simplicity, it offers comfort. In its depth, it offers truth. If you’ve ever loved a pet, lost someone dear, or felt like the world didn’t quite see you — this story will see you. And in seeing Cherry, perhaps you’ll also see the hidden grief and quiet love inside yourself.
Recommended Reading for:
Recommended Reading for:
Pet lovers
Mental health advocates
Fans of Panchatantra-style moral storytelling
Readers looking for something tender, honest, and unforgettable
Trailer : Love, Loss and Litter Boxes
Trailer : Love, Loss and Litter Boxes
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