The Cornell Book of Cats: The Comprehensive and Authoritative Medical Reference for Every Cat and Kitten

Customer Reviews:

The Bible of Cat Care.......2007-03-01

The title says it all. If you're not a vet, this is the next best thing, to help you know what to ask your vet when your cat has problems. Also is great for minor aliments and first aid.

Always an Important Book.......2007-02-23

This copy I bought for our local non for profit shelter. I have purchased at least 10 copies of this book. It is written in a matter that both the professional and the pet owner can understand. It proofs to be most valuable for a cat owner. Educates and helps the cat owner understand both health, anatomy and illness in a cat. Also, valuable when you bring your cat home to understand "just what did the vet say?"

A must-have source to start with.......2007-02-12

I disagree with readers who say that the book is too general or out-of-date. It's a BOOK, not an article in a scientific journal.

That said, I also disagree with readers who say that it's too complicated. I believe that it's an important book for any responsible cat owner to have on the shelf. If you're worried but aren't sure whether something is an emergency or not, you can check here before making a midnight call to the vet or racing to the emergency clinic. If your vet tells you that a condition is suspected or diagnosed, it's a great reference to start to learn more about it, or to help you formulate questions for your vet. No, it's not a replacement for a visit to a vet, but it's a help.

Remember how every new parent read Dr. Spock's book 40 years ago? Well, I see this in the same light. A MUST for cat owners that provides information, helps allay fears, and guides you. If you have a serious question, it gives you the right technical terms to do more research. If you don't remember all of the details that you heard at the vet's, you can use it as a refresher.

Indispensable........2004-06-20

"A cat is only technically an animal, being divine." - Robert Lynd.

"The twenty-first century may be the century of the cat," says Franklin M. Loew, former Dean of Cornell University's renowned College of Veterinary Medicine in this book's preface, citing statistics according to which even at the end of the 20th century, the number of cats in the United States alone already equaled that of the entire human population of Europe (and with sinking birth rates among humans, it is not hard to guess where that particular trend is headed in the near and midterm future).

Authored by the staff of Cornell's Feline Health Center, "The Cornell Book of Cats" is an indispensable reference guide for every cat owner who cares about his or her feline companion(s). The book provides detailed coverage on every aspect of feline life, from the cats' origin and breeds to cat (mis-)behavior, nutrition, anatomy, reproduction and all major instances of disease and infirmity. Particular attention is given to kittens, aging cats, skin and sensory disorders, internal disorders and medical emergencies. While the explanations do rely on a number of medical/veterinary terms, they are generally clear, comprehensive and easy to understand; in addition, most of the veterinary terminology is defined in a 22-page glossary at the end of the book. Numerous figures, tables, sketches, statistics and photos further illustrate the text; and treatment suggestions are provided for all diseases and disorders described. As the authors point out, this book is *not* intended to make a visit to the vet unnecessary in each and every instance (and sometimes, the remedies suggested here are only the beginning of the path to complete treatment) - but the book does help a cat owner determine when the often not inconsiderable expense of a visit to the vet is truly warranted. Moreover, it is a tremendous supplementary resource to even the best vet's recommendations, and it provides a wealth of background information on our four-pawed friends. Highly recommended.

"A house without a cat, and a well-fed, well-petted and properly revered cat, may be perfect house, perhaps, but how can it prove its title?" - Mark Twain.

More of a reference book for a vet.......2004-02-03

I just purchased this book and was disappointed. It is really more for a reference book that a vet might have or if your cat has already been diagnosed, you could look up the diseases to get a bit more of an understanding. If you are looking for a book on how to treat and understand your sick cat, this is not the book for you.

For instance, there is one reference if you try to look up HAIRBALL, and it tells you nothing...no information you could actually use. Basically, it's a dictionary and nothing more.

Book Description

Help! Your feisty furball is into EVERYTHING! The American Veterinary Medical Association says that there are 64 million cat owners in the United States, and whether you share your home with a feline friend or a feline felon depends on how your cat spends the first year of its life.

Award-winning pet journalist Arden Moore offers hundreds of practical tips to help you raise an indoor cat without losing your sanity, and she presents them in a fun question-and-answer style. Includes advice from leading veterinarians, animal behaviorists, and shelter directors, plus success stories from cat owners.

Customer Reviews:

Helpful Information.......2007-01-19

My daughter recently adopted a kitten and this book was quite helpful to her in caring for the new pet. She had many questions that were answered and she constantly refers to it when situations arise that she needs assistance. This book is great for new parents of kittens.

This covers it all for Cat Lovers!.......2003-01-04

I learned more than I ever thought possible regarding the care of cats. A terrific book, and my only regret is that it was not available some sixty years ago when I started my love affair with cats. I am doubly impressed that the Humane Society of the Unted States has endorsed this terrific owners manual. My hats off to Arden Moore along with thanks for writing such an informative book for all cat owners.

Good, but a bit over the top..........2002-09-07

There is some very valuable advice on how to deal with your kitten. I immediately stopped playing the foot under the covers game with my kitten in order to discourage her from attacking my toes. There are sensible suggestions on how to say "no" to your kitten. And I'm anticipating a move in the next few months, and I think Moore's suggestion to rub a wet towel on your kitten and then rub the towel on the walls of the new house, so that she'll recognize her own scent, will work. On the other hand Moore thinks you ought to keep a first aid kit for one cat that would easily fill the needs of a family of five, she suggests cutting the handles off of paper bags so that kitty won't get herself strangled in them, she suggests making your own scratching post, and gives advice on how to make several toys that pretty much amount to ones you can buy or glorified versions of regular items (socks, a belt from an old robe) that are sure to bring out kitty playfulness without the elaborate Martha Stewart like construction. I was also confused by some of the eating strictures. One table says kittens can't eat dry food until 12 weeks, but the text has kittens eating dry food much earlier. Moore seems to make light of lactose intolerance, and among her kitty treats includes scrambled eggs with margarine and cottage cheese!!! And her kitty chowder seems more like a human treat to me. Counterpointing the interesting suggestion to give your kitten a small piece of raw tuna as an alternative or addition to brushing are chapters on command training, new age therapies and kitty massage. This is fine and cuddly, though I doubt I'll teach my kitten to do much more than sit, if that, and I'm not taking her for acupuncture. This primer is written not so much by a cat lover as a cat fanatic. (Though I admit that if you're going to be a fanatic, it may as well be of cats.) Still I prefer the more practical down to earth advice of Cats for Dummies, than some of the outlandish, occasionally preposterous, cat adulation techniques of the Kitten Owner's manual. Then again, I am going to try the kitty massage.

very impressive.......2001-09-10

I have been a cat owner for over 7 years and there was alot in the book that I was amazed at. I never knew you could train your cat to speak and things. I was able to follow the guide and now my cat speaks! It took alot of treats tho!!!
Cant wait til her next book comes out.

A lifesaver.......2001-07-17

Arden Moore's "The Kitten Owner's Manual" is a highly informative, clear and often entertaining answer book THAT ACTUALLY works. So often I have turned to a pet book to help me care for my new kitten and I've come away confused and at a lost -- for ideas and a few bucks. But with this book, my questions were answered about my kitten's destructive habits, its finicky diet and its nervous behavior whenever strangers come into the home. It's a simple and very helpful book that gave me the solutions I needed.

Average customer rating:

The best book on complete kitten care.
Dr. Spock for kitties
Complete Kitten Care Is Right

Complete Kitten Care
Amy D. Shojai
Manufacturer: NAL Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0451206347

Book Description

Nationally-known pet authority Amy D. Shojai offers a veritable "Kitten 101," packed with feline facts:

* choosing, training, and communicating with kittens
* the personalities of different breeds
* purebred versus shelter kittens
* introducing a kitten to other family members and pets
* food and grooming considerations
* common medical concerns
* cat legends, myths, and fun facts
* plus, a myriad of kitten and cat resources: the best kitten websites, cat associations, magazines, and pet stores

Customer Reviews:

The best book on complete kitten care........2006-04-13

I was looking for books on kittens and I got something better:
A book on complete kitten care.This book has got the lot.For a book of its size I am impressed.This book covers various aspects on kittens from where to purchase,where not to buy,the kitten's new home,toys and so much more.This is a comprehensive book.

This is a must have book for anyone considering buying/adopting a kitten.This book will help you before you buy a kitten so by the time you bring one home you will have already a home for your new kitten.This book is great value too.I highly recommend this book.

I was too busy enjoying the book so I didnt bother finding fault.

Dr. Spock for kitties.......2004-02-14

I picked up this book last year, and I studied it carefully before getting my first kitten, Ginny. The title doesn't lie, "Complete Kitten Care" is exactly what you get. The three-month old female I got last August is now a happy and healthy member of my family thanks to the advice from this book.

The topics covered here involve everything essential that a kitty novice needs to know, such as vet visits, spaying/neutering, adjusting to other pets, and grooming. The most important chapters that should not go unread are the sections that deal with medical emergencies (falls, drowning, and electrocution), and recognizing/treating sick kittens. I'm lucky enough not to have applied that information to my experiences with my kitten, but it's still good to know.

On the behavior front, "Complete Kitten Care" helps you understand your kitten's way of thinking and help you fix his mistakes, particularly litterbox-related mistakes. Also very helpful is the chapter on understanding body language, and how your kitty communicates with you. I now understand all of Ginny's moods by the size of her pupils, volume and pitch of her meow, position of her ears, and how her tail is held.

This book doesn't go without any entertainment, though. There are lots of adorable kitten photos and drawings that will easily melt your heart. In the back of the book, it has cat legends and fun facts, and there are lists of cat-related web sites, magazines, care organizations, pet supply sources, and other cat books.

Highly reccomended! A+

Complete Kitten Care Is Right.......2003-07-15

I've fostered dozens of kittens in the last ten years and made just about every mistake there is to make. Now that I have this book, I'll never take on another little one without having it at hand. All parts of this book are valuable to the new kitten owner, but I especially appreciate the sections on recognizing and treating health problems in young animals, and the section on emergencies is priceless. It tells you how to rescue your little one from a dog or other animal, how to administer artificial respiration if necessary, even perform acupuncture to jump start a stopped heart, how to give CPR to a drowned kitty, how to slow down shock, what to do if kitty ingests a poison plant, how to treat both heatstroke and hypothermia.

There's much else in the book, including learning to play with your kitty, understand her communications, and provide the kinds of toys and equipment that will suit her needs best. Complete Kitten Care is just what the title says it is. You probably shouldn't even think about acquiring a new kitten until you have a copy.

Customer Reviews:

A good book for someone thrust into handraising.......2007-05-11

A neighborhood feral cat had 4 kittens outside our basement (recessed) window. Because of the commotion there, she moved 2 and abandoned 2. We brought in the abandoned ones when they were 3 days old. So far, they are 2.5 weeks, and growing strong. This book provided valuable, and concise, information to help us through.

You can find tons of information on the Internet about this subject. A lot of the medical information you will find has sites conflicting with each other. (Joy!) This book is easy to understand, has lots of images, and is ASPCA certified.

I strongly recommend it for anyone who is taking the place of a mother cat for newborns.

The Guide to Handraising Kittens.......2006-01-25

This is a valuable reference book for anyone who rescues cats. It's very thorough and straightforward, with excellent photos throughout. I'm very pleased with it and will recommend that the rescue group I work with purchase a copy for all new kitten foster homes.

A must for Cat rescuers!.......2002-10-12

This is a very helpful book! Everyone is bound to find a kitten or kittens with out a mom. This book will help you raise them into big healthy cats. I foster newborn orphans from and animal shelter, or just feral cats that are trapped and should sometimes be raised by a person so they will not be taught to be wild by their feral mom. You will learn how to bottle feed or tube feed, how to keep them warm, and much more. I highly recommend it!

A must-have book for anyone raising a kitten.......2001-06-11

Anyone who takes care of stray cats inevitably finds a kitten or a whole litter of them with no mother. "Handraising Kittens" is a must-have for anyone who must see a newborn kitten through the first critical stages of its life. Easterly describes with compassion and in detail the steps necessary feed a kitten, build a nest to keep it warm, teach it to eliminate wastes, and clean it in ways that will not threaten the kitten's life. Easterly also provides sample charts for tracking a kitten's feeding, weight overall progress. If you must raise a kitten yourself, this book is invaluable.

The Complete Guide to Kitten Care (Mark Evans Animal Care)

Average customer rating:

A helpful, humorous book for new kitten owners.

The Complete Guide to Kitten Care (Mark Evans Animal Care)
Mark Evans
Manufacturer: Macmillan General Reference
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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Animal Husbandry | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0876055994

Book Description

These two titles address everything pet owners will need to know to make the best of their pets from birth and adolescence to adulthood. Author Mark Evans covers all areas of interest to new owners including information on training and stimulating your young pet, when to take your pet to the vet and what to expect when you're there, and how to form a strong bond with your pet from its first weeks of life. Mark Evans, veterinarian, author and winner of the Dog Writers Association of America Maxwell award, provides straightforward, indispensable information. Excellent color photos of irresistible puppies and kittens make these books as attractive as they are informative.

Customer Reviews:

A helpful, humorous book for new kitten owners........1999-02-20

My boyfriend and I recently fostered 7 orphaned 3 week old kittens. This book was invaluable! It talked about what to expect every week of the kittens life. When they were supposed to open their eyes, when they would start to play, what was normal and what needed attention. Also discusses their cognitive development. It was so clearly written and enjoyable, even humorous, that my boyfriend read it cover to cover and he's not a reader.

Average customer rating:

Me & My Kitten
Scholastic Inc.
Manufacturer: Scholastic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

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ASIN: 0439929644

Kitten Care & Training: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet

Average customer rating:

An Interesting and Reliable Guide
Old Info Out of Date
Cool!!!

Kitten Care & Training: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet
Amy D. Shojai
Manufacturer: Howell Book House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0876053924

Book Description

An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet is the series to turn to when you want a basic reference that's reliable, up-to-date, and complete.

These guides feature:

Expert authors, plus renowned guest contributors on specialized topics
Full-color photos throughout
Basic information on the breed, species, or topic
Complete coverage of care, health, grooming, training, and more
Tips and techniques to make life with a pet more rewarding

Customer Reviews:

An Interesting and Reliable Guide.......2004-10-05

It may be out of date, I don't know. When it comes to important matters, everyone should consult with a trusted veterinarian. But for emergency care, interest, and a general guide, I've raised four cats on this book. Everything, from warnings on what and what not to feed your cat and what plants you can and cannot have in the house to when to call your vet, is covered, well, and easy to find. The book could use a more extensive index, but it was a very convenient and affordable helpmate for an anxious mother.

Tuxedo was four weeks old when we brought him home, which we didn't know, because he was a barn cat, and nobody really knew how old they were. Twenty-four hours after we got him settled in, we discovered that baby had no teeth. So, there we were, desperately going through the library and the pet store, frantic to figure out why baby didn't use the bathroom, didn't eat, and was losing weight at an alarming rate.

Some books were more helpful, but we were poor, and some just didn't cover enough, and some covered TOO much. I got lost in extemperanious information, and couldn't find what I needed. This one was "just right." ;-) It gave me just enough to quiet my new mother fears, and help me answer all of my questions, without losing me in technical terms, and kept me from calling the vet every ten minutes.

Tuxedo is now 16 solid pounds, healthy as an ox, and well trained. He has welcomed three women into his family, and they've all been at different stages of health, and different ages, but this book has helped us get through them all. I keep it handy, and still, after four years, turn to it about once a month when I'm in over my head.

Old Info Out of Date.......2002-02-23

In 1996 when this book first appeared it offered current information and was one of the first to address "training" in cats and to promote early-age neutering. It is written in an engaging style and remains a good basic reference for first-time kitten owners. But in the seven years since publication, much has changed in the world of feline health care, such as vaccination recommendations, and the understanding of behavior and feline diseases. DO NOT rely on this book for health care advice.

Shojai's latest book, "COMPLETE KITTEN CARE" is a much better choice. This is the author's 18th pet care title and it has up-to-date medical information and advice based on Shojai's interviews with hundreds of veterinary experts. The training and behavior material comes from Shojai's hands-on personal experience with shelter cats and kittens, as well as insights from professional breeders.

Cool!!!.......1998-03-12

VERY COOL!!!It'S Really Nice And Interesting!! Cat'S LOVER SHOULD HAVEE!!!Thats'Me!!HeHe!!

Average customer rating:

This is a helpful guide to raising young "FLOOFIES"
very helpful book
Waste of Money.
Mostly good guide
Saved By the Book!

Hand-Raising the Orphaned Kitten
Myrna L. Papurt
Manufacturer: Barron's Educational Series
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0764107275

Book Description

Here's detailed advice on weaning and nurturing newborn kittens that have been orphaned or abandoned by their mother. Topics include:

Equipment you'll need in order to keep newborn kittens safe and help them flourish.

Instructions on keeping the animals clean, handling them correctly, and raising them to the point where they can begin to take care of themselves.

Important nutritional information - setting up a feeding schedule and knowing what and how much to feed.

What to do when your kittens get sick.

The book includes full-color illustrations, line art, sources of equipment and supplies, and a glossary.

Customer Reviews:

This is a helpful guide to raising young "FLOOFIES".......2003-03-10

When I rescued an abandoned kitten from the yard of a friend who was moving (during the moving process, the mom left him behind), I had no idea where to begin. I called the local pet store for advice and they told me what kind of kitten formula to feed him since he was only about 3 weeks old at the time, but they gave little advice on any other care. This book helped show me how to keep him clean, how often to feed him, housebreaking tips and so forth. I recommend it to anyone inheriting a new "baby" Floofie into the family.

very helpful book.......2003-01-21

My mother and I have really enjoyed the book. We've gone back to it many times. It gave us lots of good advice for fostering kittens for our local Humane Society. It doesn't cover everything, but it gives the basics to begin. When kittens get sick, you need more information than the book says, but it's on the Internet.

Waste of Money........2002-12-15

I was very disappointed by this book. It tells you that you "should" or "shouldn't" do things, but doesn't tell you how.

My orphan was 5 days old when I found him. He does not remember his mother or siblings. As a result, he lacks social skills. I purchased this book to find out how to compensate because it has become a problem. The book says that socialization is a problem.

Well a big fat "duh!"

The authors may have chosen great photos, but their exertise with orphan kittens leaves a lot to be desired.

Mostly good guide.......2002-01-05

I have hand-raised over 100 orphaned kittens over the last seven years for the humane society where I volunteer, and am the former manager of it's temporary home care program where we care for an average of 300 orphaned kittens every year. I like some parts of this book very much but I can only recommend it with reservation. Especially good is the information on: 1) bedding materials (I liked her admonition that you want to keep the kittens warm, "not cook them"); 2) how to feed kittens from a bottle; 3) commercial and home-made milk substitutes; 4) kitten illnesses and disorders; 5) early spay-neuter of young kittens; 6) zoonosis (ie, the diseases and parasites cats and humans can transmit to each other); and 7) the terrible problem of cat overpopulation that exists today.

The parts I find troubling begin with the author's suggestion that someone with orphaned kittens first attempt to find a mother cat to care for them. Dr Papurt is concerned about diseases or parasites the stepmother might pass to the kittens but doesn't mention the fact that you may be putting the mom cat at risk for contamination by the kittens, especially if you found or were given the kittens and don't know anything about their medical history. I speak from experience -- after several success stories of adding orphans to the litters of other mother cats, I gave three orphans to a four year-old mom with one kitten of her own. We knew the history of the mother cat -- she had been an inside cat, she and her kitten had been given up for adoption after their owner died. But we knew nothing about the orphaned kittens who had been found on a farm. Within two weeks, all of the animals were dead of feline panleukopenia, spread from the orphans to the mom cat and her kitten.

The biggest problem I have with the book, however, is Dr Papurt's suggestion that kittens be separated from the time they are born until they are weaned six or seven weeks later. Her reasoning for this is that unless they are kept isolated from one another, infant kittens will chew or suck on each other's ears, tails, paws or genitals. In my experience, not only is this reaction very rare, but of the nine or ten cases I've seen of this behavior, all but two were directly attributable to the kittens being underfed (the isolated cases were two "neurotic" kittens that continued this behavior through the time they were adopted at the age of four months). I think baby kittens need to be together, they keep each other warm and they enhance each other's sense of safety and well-being. A kitten that feels isolated or abandoned will rapidly become unhappy and agitated, crying loudly for it's mother. Furthermore, older kittens must have contact with their littermates in order to become properly socialized with other cats plus they need to play with each other in order to develop motor skills.

I also found Dr Papurt's suggestion that you can mark the kittens with "ink, paint or nail polish" or cut their hair in various patterns after they are weaned and put with their siblings in order to tell them apart to be just plain bizarre. It can be difficult to tell infant all-black or all-white kittens apart but after a few weeks, differences in size, demeanor and face are usually apparent, as is the sex of the kitten. (...)

Saved By the Book!.......2001-12-03

As a foster mom in a local humane society, I took in a small, scrawny, crippled and very pregnant kitty. She hardly looked old enough to be out of kittenhood, herself. When her eight (yes, eight!) kittens were born, I knew I would have to watch closely in order to save them all. One gray tabby lay on his side, quiet and cool to the touch. I grabbed "Hand Raising the Orphaned Kitten" and quickly learned that the kitten needed a sucrose solution immediately. Reacting as quickly as possible, I mixed a solution of water and white syrup in a glass and gently fed it to the kitten with an eye dropper. Within half an hour, the kitten was less dehydrated and had higher blood sugar. Soon he began to search for his mother, strong enough now to compete for a place at the dinner table. Two months later, little Julius and his seven siblings are alive and thriving, thanks to the valuable information contained in this book. The text is simply written, understandable to the layman and easily applied. Even though Julius and his siblings were not completely hand raised, I supplemented their nursing with bottle feedings for six weeks, according to careful instructions in this book. I am certain Julius would not have survived if I had not read the information in M. L. Papurt's wonderful book!

The Total Cat: Understanding Your Cat's Physical and Emotional Behavior from Kitten to Old Age

Average customer rating:

Disappointing
A common sense book
So helpful
Helpful and Interesting
Best animal behavior book I've ever read

The Total Cat: Understanding Your Cat's Physical and Emotional Behavior from Kitten to Old Age
Carole Wilbourn
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0380790513

Book Description

Hailed as "the founding mother of cat psychology," Carole Wilbourn has received international attention for her feline expertise. With her emphasis on treating the total cat, the "Wilbourn Ways" to a healthy cat follow the guiding principles of the ancient Greeks -- a sound mind in a sound body. Wilbourn explains how to talk to your cat -- and how to listen. She provides tools that can help you recognize, understand, and respond to your cat's body language, vocalization, and facial expressions -- the keys to your cat's behavior.

Wilbourn addresses specific situations that may develop with even the best-cared-for feline. You will learn how to detect the underlying causes to your cat's problem behavior -- whether yours is antisocial, self-destructive, or an overly aggressive "attack cat" -- and you'll receive invaluable guidance on everything from your cat's eating disorders and litter box aversion to its phobias and depression.

Whether you're introducing a new cat or person into your feline's environment or caring for an abused refugee, The Total Cat provides the insights necessary for understanding your cat at every stage of its life.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing.......2006-10-12

I was disappointed with this book because I expected more substance on how to cure cat behavioral problems. Most of what was presented in the book was common sense. The book also doesn't offer any in-depth case histories and therapy plans for cats with particular problems.

I feel this book would be useful for someone who knows little about cats. However, if you are familar with cats and their basic needs, this book doesn't offer much more insight than most people would know. I expected more from a well-known behaviorist.

If you are really looking for an in-depth book on pet behavior that is more useful, read Pam Johnson-Bennett's "Psycho Kitty" book. I found it to be absolutely excellent.

A common sense book.......2006-09-21

Because this is basically a common sense book I didn't find it helpful in dealing with my new kitten who is extremely loving and very curious. Her curiosity leads her to places where she should not go;n the author of this book tells me to put things away I don't want the cat to get into. To me this is not exactly the advice of an expert. I expected to learn how to teach a cat. The book does do what the title states; it does not do what I wanted. My mistake.

So helpful.......2004-06-08

I've never loved a cat before. My two dogs and I were bemused when a stray cat started following us around on our walks, eventually darting right ahead of us as we returned home, to be the first one in the door. Fortunately a friend gave me a copy of "The Total Cat" by Carole Wilbourn. My basic questions about feeding, litter box, and vet vists were answered briskly and sensibly. Then it got complicated when a second cat decided to move in. Carole's book walked me so carefully through the psychology of bringing the new cat into our family that it was painless. I turn to this book whenever a new catly situation arises and it hasn't let me down. Carole Wilbourn is either part feline herself, or has been a cat in a past life! Great book.

Helpful and Interesting.......2004-06-05

Ms. Wilbourn knows and loves cats. So do I - I've been a besotted cat person for over three decades. I was interested, therefore, to find that she had some things to teach me. She starts at the beginning with what you should decide before getting a cat. She then takes you through the course of the life you and your cat(s) share. She covers all the basics as well as problems which may seem unlikely but for which you'll be glad to have Ms. Wilbourn's advice. THE TOTAL CAT is clear, affectionate, and diverting without that nasty failing of so many "cat books" - cutesiness. I currently have three cats, all of whom dislike each other but, with Ms. Wilbourn's help, we are steadily working things out.

Best animal behavior book I've ever read.......2004-06-02

This book has been an excellent reference manual for me. I refer to it when I have basic animal care questions as well as major animal behavioral concerns.

Carole's guidance was very helpful when I brought a new kitten into my home. Tending to the older cat and letting him bond with the kitten is very valuable information and leads to a more adjusted animal pairing.

I have a very anxious cat who was resistant to any treatment from a few vets or previous animal behaviorist. She suggested that I sequester him so that he can feel safe and protected. I was hesitant to do this as it felt cruel. After trying it, it was obvious that he really needed this type of intensive care. Her suggestions have helped him to feel more secure in his environment.

I am so confident about her intuitive feline gift that I have also hired her as my cat's behaviorist.

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