Therapists Published Children's Book About Feral Cat
The new book aims to support foster and adoptive families with stories of a kitten adjusting to a new home.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Cats
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Therapist Nikki Roth and associate therapist Annika Allen have published a book titled Baxter the Cat. The project focuses on a feral kitten to help traumatized children adjust to new home environments.
Why it matters
The authors created this resource to specifically assist foster and adoptive families in navigating the emotional needs of children. It serves as a tool for families managing the transition process for children who have experienced trauma.
The book is currently available for purchase online. It features graphic design by Annika Allen and narrative work by Nikki Roth based on her experience adopting an abandoned Siamese kitten.
The players
Nikki Roth
Nikki Roth is a mental health therapist who wrote the book based on her personal experience adopting an abandoned Siamese kitten.
Annika Allen
Annika Allen is an associate therapist who created the graphic design for the new book.
The details
Baxter the Cat tells the story of a feral kitten as a metaphor for a traumatized child learning to adapt to a new home. The book combines clinical insights from Roth's background as a mental health therapist with visual storytelling.
Timeline
Thursday, October 8, 2026
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Culture Shift
This project reflects the growing trend of utilizing therapeutic literature to address specific childhood behavioral transitions. It marks a shift toward specialized storytelling designed to aid emotional processing in foster and adoptive family dynamics.
Local families attending the upcoming conference in Sioux Falls can review the book firsthand during exhibition hours. The publication provides a concrete resource for parents looking for age-appropriate ways to discuss adjustment and trauma with children.
The takeaway
Using animal metaphors can be an effective way to help children articulate their own feelings of displacement and safety. Families can integrate such stories into their daily routines to facilitate open communication about emotional adjustment.
What happens next
The authors are scheduled to exhibit the book at the Community Response to Child Abuse Conference at the Sioux Falls Convention Center on Thursday, October 8, 2026, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Further reading
Learn more about local pet-related resources in the Cats section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KELO-LAND TV.
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