Many lives/masters is a nice introduction to the concepts of reincarnation, easy read. For something more challenging along the same lines try "Messages from Michael" by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro.
As for the cats, I spent the first 30+ years of my lives caring for some very needy animals, low maintenance is high on my list of preferred qualities. Too, a LOT of people fuck their cats up by treating them like dogs. They have no idea what a "sane" cat should act like.