Rebecca was used to finding some of her Uncle Oscar's secret stashes within the walls of her Victorian apartment. In fact, Rebecca looked forward to finding Uncle Oscar's bundles of cash whenever she was in a financial bind. Rebecca's apartment was located right above The Green Vase showroom, an antique store she inherited from her uncle. But Oscar's niece wasn't the only inhabitant at The Green Vase; her cats Rupert and Isabella considered themselves equal partners and roommates. When troublemaker Rupert tears a whole in the kitchen wall while chasing a mouse, he uncovers another of Uncle Oscar's hiding places. But this time Rebecca finds something completely unexpected.

Rupert's discovery leads Rebecca to a strange vase with a bear inside. Although baffled by the seemingly insignificant find, Rebecca knows her uncle was protecting the location of a great treasure before his death. But upon closer inspection of the bear, Rebecca realizes it is clutching a tiny California flag with a location inscribed in the back -- Nevada City. Believing that she is on the verge of finding Uncle Oscar's biggest treasure, Rebecca heads off to Nevada City with her quirky neighbor, Monty, and her two feline friends.

While Rebecca's main reason for visiting Nevada City is to find clues leading to her Uncle Oscar's treasure, Marty is there to represent the mayor during the Tour of California bike race. As Monty over-dramatizes his new job at the Mayor's office, Rebecca tries to piece together what California's flag has to do with Uncle Oscar's hidden treasure. When Rebecca begins to dig into California's history in Nevada City, she realizes that Monty and her cats weren't the only ones to follow her; her Uncle Oscar's former business partner turned enemy, Frank Napis, is hot on her heels. Rebecca knows Uncle Oscar's well kept secret is much more than a treasure -- her discovery could reveal a secret about California that will change history forever.

Cat lovers who love a good mystery will be purring in contentment. Rupert and Isabella's adorable narration will make you smile, but HOW TO MOON A CAT is also full of historical details about California's Gold Rush-era. History buffs and cat lovers will be delighted with the author's blend of mystery and historical facts with the purrfect touch of feline humor. I felt the book was focused more on history than Uncle Oscar's mystery, but Rupert and Isabella guarantee to make this history lesson fun!