Trooper

By: Forrest Bryant Johnson

Narrated by: Barry Abrams

Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's Summary

Whenever middle-aged desert tour guide Forrest Bryant Johnson went out on his daily walks into the Mojave, all was usually peaceful and serene. But one beautiful summer day in 1987, Forrest heard a cry of distress. Following the cries, he came upon a small bobcat kitten, injured, orphaned, and desperately in need of help. So Forrest took his new feline friend home for a night. 

But when the little "trooper" clearly needed some more time to recoup, that night turned into two nights, a week, and eventually 19 years. And so Trooper became a part of the Johnson family. And in those 19 years, Trooper lived his nine lives to the fullest. He explored desert flora and fauna around him, befriending kit foxes, jackrabbits, desert tortoises, and other creatures and getting into mischief along the way. 

Trooper became a "big brother" to stray tabby Little Brother, teaching, guiding, and protecting Brother on the pair's adventures and misadventures. He became a beloved patient at his local vet and cherished housemate of Forrest's wife, Chi. And Trooper even managed to melt the icy heart of a tough guy neighbor. But most of all, throughout his 19 years, Trooper became Forrest's best friend as the two shared each other's worries and frustrations, musings and rants, joys and laughter.

©2018 Forrest Bryant Johnson (P)2018 Tantor

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Anyone who lives in the Mojave Dessert area would enjoy this. I also think that if you have never been a “cat” person, it will give you insight and appreciation to those who are and maybe willing to give it a go yourself.😉

Pure entertainment (and envy on my part)

I almost said all cats are extraordinary but caught myself. We've had some real dummies visit our suburban yard. The author transmitted the sense of how unique and thoughtful his bobcat was. Although his relationship with Trooper wasn't strictly in line with current ideas about keeping a wild animal we surely all envy the opportunity and privilege of living with one of these wonderful creatures. (Maybe I was too harsh on the performance. If the audience was meant to be young children, it would be captivating, I'm sure. No so much to this senior.)

I had to stop listening for awhile because I didn’t want the story to end

I love this story. The ending had me puddling up a bit, but then feeling better as we do overtime when we lose our beloved animals.

A wonderful story about the relationship between a smart and sensitive man and his clever and perceptive cat that were so in tune with each other.

A great read/listen for all animal lovers.

What an amazing cat. I am grateful that Mr. Johnson paid homage to Trooper by writing this book.

Trooper The Bobcat Who Came in From the Wild

Imagine having a bobcat as your bestfriend for 19 yrs! Heartwarming and heartbreaking! true story

If you love cats....

This is a heart warming, empathetic tale about a man and his family who were lucky enough to enjoy life with a Bob cat. For the ailurophiles (cat lovers), one can identify with the similarities between Trooper and our domestic feline friends. It's an enjoyable read that will draw one in at a profoundly emotional level. I loved this story and you will too.

an exceptional story

there were times it was hard to believe, but with good books there's always a little bit of Truth to that. Troopers story is magnificent. at the very beginning I found the reader hard to listen to but by the time I was at the third chapter I was hooked by the book and the reader's voice was perfect. I listen to the first 17 chapters in one day and just finished the books now. even for folks who don't have or even like animals, this is a compelling story.

lovely story

lovely story. will make you warm and fuzzy.

Love Trooper!

Beautiful, heartwarming story of an usual but magical relationship between a man and his bobcat (and golden cat!). Highly recommend!