The Cat Owner’s Manual, by Dr. Bruce Fogle. DK Publishing 2003

A handy, quick to read book on all aspects of cat ownership. While brief, it goes some medical issues that other cat books don’t- which makes sense, since the author is a veterinarian. A glossary in the back helps the reader to understand the medical section better. There is also a large section devoted to the various breeds of cats that includes whether the breed is quiet or talky, friendly or aloof, active or sedate- information that can really help a person decide if the breed is for them or not. He also goes into cat genetics, which I enjoyed- I finally found out why it looks like my black cat has a white undercoat! (the hair is only black on the tips; the part closer to the body is white. It’s caused by something called the inhibitor gene).  My only quibble with the author is his section on homeopathy- he doesn’t push it, but it’s there with vaccinations. I know a lot of people use it, but personally I think it can risk the cat’s life to use it instead of biological vaccinations or science based cures. 

 

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The Total Cat: Understanding Your Cat’s Physical and Emotional Behavior from Kitten to Old Age, by Carole C. Wilbourn. Quill, 2000

Despite the title, this book is more about the psychological side of the cat, rather than the physical, although the physical is certainly in there. The author of this book had been a cat therapist for more than 20 years at the time she wrote the book, so this is a natural for her. She discusses feline emotions and personalities, dealing with problem behaviors, introducing new members to the family- be they cats, dogs, babies or adults, and even socializing feral cats. It’s sound in most spots, but I had a couple of disagreements with her; one is the use of homeopathic remedies for fear and anxiety, which while harmless I don’t feel work; and her method of bringing a new kitten into the house with an existing cat which involves leaving the kitten alone in the house with the new kitten for several hours the first day, trusting the existing cat to take care of himself and the kitten. I feel that can be very traumatic for the kitten, who has not only a new cat to deal with but a new environment and a loss of it’s former family. 

 

Do Cats Always Land on Their Feet? By Marty Becker, DVM & Gina Spadafori. Health Communications, Inc. 2006

An alternate title for this book could be “Trivial Pursuit: Cats Edition”. All those weird little things cats do get explained here: what exactly is a hairball, why do cats eyes glow at night (it’s not really lasers), who invented kitty litter, why they knead on you, why they pee on your pillow when you go away for a few days. Each entry is short; one or two pages. It’s a quick, fun read for cat lovers, and the information is solid.