Cat on the Edge by Shirley Rousseau Murphy

The charming first book in the delightfully cozy Joe Grey Cat Mystery series, now with a new look. Joe—a tomcat who is suddenly able to understand humans—is the sole witness to a murder in the quaint coastal village of Carmel-by-the-Sea and finds his relaxing days of curling up and catching mice are now on the line.

He thought it was a perfect crime… the only witness was a cat.

It's been quite a week for Joe Grey. First, the large, silver feline is alarmed to discover, when his owner yells at him to dispose of a mouse, that he can understand human language and even more shocking, that he can speak it as well! Then he has the misfortune to witness a murder in the alley behind Jolly's Deli—and worse, to be seen witnessing it. It's all a nightmare for a cat who would prefer to sleep the day away carefree. With his nine lives suddenly at risk, Joe has no choice but to get to the bottom of the heinous crime—because his mouse-hunting days are over for good unless he can help bring a killer to justice.