2 comments about Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia.

1. Helpful book--I have just begun my class in this area, so I have not really gotten into it yet but I can tell when I look ahead that there is much useful info in it.



2. I had an opportunity to look through this book when a fellow vet tech student borrowed it to use for our Surgery class. It has ALOT of helpful information and was particularly beneficial for me in regards to monitoring during surgery and how to handle surgical emergencies (hypoxemia, hypovolemia, etc.). I would definitely recommend getting this book!

5 comments about Outwitting Cats: Tips, Tricks and Techniques for Persuading the Felines in Your Life That What YOU Want Is Also What THEY Want (Outwitting).

1. I have lived with kitties my entire adult life and love them dearly. I also have many "how to" kitty books. This is by far the best. Interesting, fun, and comprehensive. What more can we ask? Buy it! You need this book!



2. I have been looking for the cat complement to Dr. Fogel's wonderful "The Dog's Mind" ("The Cat's Mind" isn't it!). This book fits the bill. For someone who knows virtually nothing about cats and did not intend to have one, the introduction to the physical and mental nature of felines is indespensible. The behaviors covered are exactly what is needed as well. The author is obviously a "cat person" and gets a little biased, but the info is still solid. And it is so well-written that I had a hard time putting it down!
   
   Whether or not you agree with the title ("Outwitting" is a series, BTW, and authors had to kinda retrofit their writing to fit the theme - Outwitting Dogs is another excellent entry in the series), this book holds nothing but useful information.



3. This book was very informative and entertaing at the same time. I highly recommend!



4. This is a wonderful and practical book about feline behavior and why your cat is the way it is. It lays it out straight to those of us who couldn't figure out why our cat would never listen when told "No!" and never come when she is called. They're cats, not dogs, not babies... they are independent-minded and headstrong and no amount of punishing, bribing or begging will get the cat to do exactly what you say.
   
   The book is full of practical information about how to deal with "naughtiness", how to read your cat's body and vocal language, and how to be a better cat parent. It's also decidedly funny and even tongue-in-cheek at times ("Mewphy's Law #11: If you pester a cat long enough, you will get scratched. Mewphy's Law #12: You will deserve it.") It's packed with information about the history of cats and the physiology of cats, but the really pertinent information is the psychology and behavioral aspects of cats, something that most cat-care books don't give a lot of information on.
   
   This book is really excellent, particularly if you're new to owning cats (as I am) and need a little bit of guidance in figuring out their personality.



5. This book is interesting and easy to read, and I definitely learned from it, despite the fact that I'm no beginner with cats.
   It provides a good basics, from a history of the domestic cat, to an overview of a cats body structure, to tips on making your house more "cat friendly." I was just a bit dissapointed in the "outwitting" suggestions though.
   Although there are a few ideas that I may try, many were either obvious (to outwit a cat who eats magazines, put the magazines in a drawer), gross (to outwit a cat who eats off your plate, just let them have a few bites and they'll lose interest) or impractical (to outwit a cat jumping on furniture that you don't want them to, set up motion-activated audio recordings of you yelling.)
   I would still recommend this book to anyone with an interest in learning about cat behavior and/or looking for ideas on improving their cat household. It's one of the best overall cat books I've read, but the title is just a little bit misleading.

5 comments about Ragdoll Cats (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. This is a very good reference book for anyone who is buying their first purebred kitten. There is some background information on Ragdolls, advice on finding reputable breeders, care instructions etc. I have found that most cat books are full of fluff and outdated information, but this book I found actually practical and useful. I loved the color photos. Yes, it is a short book and does not give every bit of information about the breed, and if that is what you are looking for then you will not like this book. But what can you expect from a book of this price and size?
   
   BTW, a reviewer below is a bit mistaken. Not nearly all breeders insist upon killed virus for innoculations, only some do.



2. This is an attractive small soft covered book with many beautiful color photo's of Ragdolls and cute illustrations by Tana Monsalve. Unfortunatly, as a previous reviewer wrote, most of the information here could pertain to any kind of cat. It's generally a domestic cat care book; however,there's a short but interesting "how to" chapter on Cat Shows.

   I also thought that there should have been diagrams or pictures displayed along with the description of Colors and Patterns. I'm just discovering Ragdolls myself and the myriad of colors and patterns in this particular breed of cat can be confusing to a novice.




3. This is a generic cat book. Substitute Siamese,American Curl,Domestic Shorthair, or the name of any other breed of cat for the word "Ragdoll" wherever it appears and you've got a "handbook" for that breed. And not a particularly good one,either! Some information is missing or incorrect. For example, there is no explanation concerning the use of killed virus for innoculations-something that every Ragdoll breeder I know insists upon. Missing is information on the slower physical maturation of Ragdolls,that they often do not attain their adult size until three or four years of age and that they remain kittens much longer than some other breeds. The Ragdoll is a unique breed (yes,yes,I know- all cats are unique;however, this book is supposed to be about Ragdolls.),but nowhere in this book do I find any references to the special personality,behaviors,and quirks of the Ragdoll. (As I write this my year old Ragdoll male,AJ,is sitting on the table next to the computer,wondering why I use the word quirks. It's meant in a loving way,my "little" boy.)Actually, this book would be a great deal more interesting,informative, and helpful if the author had consulted AJ before writing. I bought this book hoping to gain insights into the Ragdoll cat-a breed I adore.And I certainly did learn something--how to return a book that was not terribly useful or complete.



4. Ragdoll Cats Everything about Purchase and the "Guide to owning a Ragdoll Cat are both highly recommended reading if you own or want to own a ragdoll cat. Most complete books I have found anywhere. Thank you Amazon.com..



5. I thoroughly enjoyed Ragdoll Cats : Everything About Purchase, Care, Nutrition, Health Care, Behavior, and Showing (Complete Pet Owner's Manual). The pictures are wonderful! It was terrific to see so many pictures of traditional Ragdolls. I have hoped for a Ragdoll book that wasn't so focused on the breed's history and breeding but on the pleasure of having a Ragdoll. Readers will find the manual very helpful. I especially enjoyed the author's opinion on non-professional breeding. This is a must-have for every Ragdoll fan!P.S. On page 84 is my Ragdoll--Supreme Grand Champion Dixiedolls China.

1 comments about Psycho Kitty: Tips for Solving Your Cat's "Crazy" Behavior.

1. I got this book sort of as a joke for a colleague whose cat was refusing to use the litter box and was just plain mean. Much to my surprise, the book contains a lot of great advice, often with multiple suggestions on different approaches, for addressing many common cat problems. I don't know how it's going with my colleague's cat, but as who has shared a home with several different feline characters, I heartily recommend both this book and the author's "Twisted Whiskers" as a companion volume.

5 comments about The Christmas Cat.

1. Just for those who are looking for a copy of this--it's going to be rereleased as part of Love Came Just in Time very soon . . . and it's not an out-of-print book. I get emails often asking for this book and according to my publisher it's still in print. Don't overpay for something you can still get for a traditional price!



2. Julie Beard - My True Love Gave to Me Anne Clancy looks to be celebrating Christmas alone - not even her black cat Niner is around having been missing these last four days. Hearing what she thinks is his bell, she rushes out in a snowstorm calling for him and is hit by a car. When a most startling blue-eyed gorgeous hunk of man revives her, she assumes it is her neighbors friend who she was to meet that evening - darn but she could have warned her he was drop dead gorgeous! Only it wasn't the neighbor's friend - and it wasn't even Wisconsin, USA 1975 anymore either. She was catapulted back in time and mistaken for this gorgeous hunk of a medieval knight's intended bride. Now what's a modern girl to do? Divine short story with a lovely ending.

   Jo Beverley - A Gift of Light Kitty Mayhew was alone working on a tapestry trying to figure out what was wrong with her mother's cat who was making the strangest sounds and putting her body through some very strange contortions. It was her maid Polly that let her know that the problem was that the cat was in heat and hadn't she heard the `tom cats' making all kinds of racket at night. The very worst of the `tom cats' was a big black one that she found out belonged to a neighbor. Armed with all the dignity she could muster Kitty went to the neighbor insisting they control their `tom' cat from courting her female. What she discovered was a very impudent owner who didn't seem to see that this was as much of a problem as she did. In fact, this rascally `Lord Chatterton' thought that this little spitfire needed to be taught the finer points of courting - human style. Through a ruse using the servants courtship as an excuse, he talked Kitty into the two of them acting as chaperones to find out if the servants budding courtship would last if it didn't have to be kept clandestine and would be brought into the open.

   This was a cute, lovely story with some sweet and sassy dialog. Lord Chatterton was the initiator of trying to teach a lesson in courtship, but it was Kitty who finally taught Tom, Lord Chatterton, what it really meant to let in the `light of the Christmas season' and truly love.

   Barbara Bretton - Home for the Holidays This was a darling story told partly from Sebastian, a Maine Coon cat's perspective and partly from his human owners, Jill and David. It is Christmas Eve and David and Jill are divorcing. Jill and David had been together since college; loving each other thru the hard times then slowly falling apart as David's need to advance his career and make more and more money was more important than spending time with his family. It would take Sebastian, the cat they both loved, on a journey that they could follow - to make David remember that the most important thing he needed was Jill and that they were partners - and that they were once happiest when all they had was a little money but whole lot of love. Sweet story.

   Lynn Kurland - The Gift of Christmas Past I really liked this offering from Lynn Kurland. Sir Sweetums, Abigail Garrett's cat, has been missing, and her life feels as though it has gone down the drain, no job, no cat, no unemployment insurance, and no boyfriend just a couple of days before Christmas - she felt like George Bailey and was ready to jump off a bridge into the river. Well, she didn't exactly jump but she did fall in and when she came up for air she found herself in a cesspool of a moat. Not only a moat, but she was no longer in Wisconsin, but England and it wasn't 1998 anymore but 1238! She dragged herself out of the moat, and made her way to the gate at the top of the drawbridge - only to find a surly man dressed up like a medieval knight holding a sword and he didn't quite know what to make of her either! This was a really darling story with Sir Sweetums, who had passed by his ninth life, and was now a guardian angel cat who had one last human he had to find a suitable mate for. Very nice and romantic as these two people from different times had to come to grips with each other and the truth of who they were! Very humorous as well!




3. I bought this book for the Lynn Kurland story. It is wonderful. Miles and Abby are made for each other. I loved it for the time-travel aspect. Lynn knows how to capture the essence of the times she sends her hero's and heroin's back to.

   If you want to carry on reading about Miles and Abby's life together read THE MORE I SEE YOU, it is set about 20yrs. after this story. You won't be dissapointed.




4. I originally bought this book to read Lynn Kurland's story, but after I read her story I decided to keep going and read the others. I found ALL the stories to be good reads, especially Jo Beverly's "A Gift of Light". This has given me the opportunity to find other authors that are readable.



5. The Christmas Cat is a delightful and light hearted book. I enjoyed reading the book by one of my favorite authors and it enables me to determine if I would like to read other books by the other authors included in these books. It also provides you with several different story lines so that you can finish the book in one day instead of not knowing the end of the book until later.

5 comments about Maine Coon Cats (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. This book is indeed the 'complete pet owners manual' written to prepare the reader for what's in store if you follow through on obtaining one of these breathtaking animals. I learned a lot about the history and care of the Maine Coon Cat. I recently lost my American shorthair who managed to live for 19 years and 11 months. Lyon was a great joy to me and took to my retirement very well until she became deaf and blind and could not longer take care of herself. I plane on getting a Maine Coon Cat
   
   as soon as I can find a suitable one.



2. MY CAT IS A MIX BUT ABOUT 75% MNCOON. THIS BOOK DID EXPLAIN ALOT OF QUIRKS AND BRED IN HABITS I NOW SEE IN MINE. THEY ARE CRAZY CREATURES.
   VERY INFORMATIVE AND PICS GALORE,THANKS-LBSMITH



3. I found this informative and well rounded. Fun, not stuffy--with lots of pictures. For this price, a must-have!



4. This is a good introduction to Maine Coon cats. Mostly, this is a "care and feeding of" book that could apply to any cat, which is what this book is really for. If you are new to cat ownership and have a Maine Coon, this will get you started.

   We have Maine Coon rescue cats and we don't plan to breed any cats (preferring to adopt orphans--there's a glut of cats out there.) But if you were planning to breed Maine Coons, you surely would need a more comprehensive book than this slim volume.

   However, if you just want some general background about the history, pictures of coat colors and information about the general qualities of this breed, this book is just fine. The most valuable page is actually in the back, describing various illnesses, with a black and white drawing and description of a cat "not doin' right", which is how a cat subtly tells you it is feeling sick. We caught our cat "not doin' right" and she was actually on the point of being seriously ill. We caught it in time--thanks to that helpful description --cats are sometimes not terribly expressive, purring even in pain and perking up if their beloved owners are around.




5. I liked the book. It's a good book for people who don't know a lot about the maine coon cat breed. I found out several things I didn't know. Yes the end is a little generic, but it is only talking about how to take care of a cat, which would be generic. I think it's a good book for first time Maine Coon cat owners, such as myself.

5 comments about Getting Started: Clicker Training for Cats (Karen Pryor Clicker Books).

1. After reading the reviews of this book and the similar Cat Training in 10 Minutes, I decided to purchase both so that I could compare them and possibly benefit from two different sources. I can definitively say, after reading both, that Cat Training in 10 Minutes blows Karen Pryor's book out of the water. (See my comparative review of Cat Training in 10 Minutes for more info.)
   
   1. Comprehensiveness of Clicker Theory: 4/5 stars. The theory used in this book is operant conditioning. Using a clicker followed by a reward, you can reinforce desired behavior in your cat. Verbal commands (come, sit) are incorporated in this book; strangely, hand signals are *not* incorporated, which is too bad because they're quite effective.
   
   2. Accessibility: 1/5 stars. Clicker Training for Cats reads like a book of wordy stories about the author's own cats. I was constantly wishing that Ms. Pryor would just get to the point and tell me the training steps! Instructions are verbose and not highlighted nor numbered; they are merely incorporated into the narrative text, so it's difficult to find them. There are no illustrations that show you what to do.
   
   3. Organization: 3/5 stars. This book is arranged into four chapters and an appendix. Chapter 1 covers the theory behind and basics of clicker training. Chapter 2 covers several "useful" commands, such as coming when you call, walking on a leash, etc. Surprisingly, there is no instruction for teaching your cat to sit, sit up/beg, shake, or lie down. Chapter 3 covers several "non-useful" commands, like playing the piano and high-speed moves. Chapter 4 discusses undesirable behavior (see #4 below for more info). Apparently, Ms. Pryor left out Chapter 5: Resources. She references it in the second sentence of Chapter 3, but this "ghost chapter" is nowhere to be found in the book. Whoops.
   
   4. Correcting Undesirable Behavior: 2/5 stars. In her chapter on this subject, the author mostly gives anecdotes/psychological insight without specific correctional instructions, which I found aggravating. For instance, she describes how one couple realized that their cat was scratching the couch because it wanted to go outside -- yet she lists no tactics for getting the cat to stop scratching! On the upside, Ms. Pryor does describe a wide variety of problem behaviors: finicky eating, getting along with dogs/other cats, yowling, shedding, ankle-biting, and aggression. But again, she mainly gives anecdotes instead of correctional instructions.
   
   5. Helpful/Extra Features: 0/5 stars. Ms. Pryor's book has a woefully short Appendix section that lists 15 Tips for Clicking With Cats. That's it. No alphabetical or subject index. Those 15 tips are also conveniently published on her website, so there's really no added value in them being in the book.
   
   You wouldn't be doing yourself a disservice if you purchased this book, but my honest advice to anyone looking for information on this subject is to purchase Cat Training in 10 Minutes, as it is far superior. Good luck, and here's to your cat learning some great new tricks!



2. I read this 75-page book in about an hour and a half. It's a good read, but at the end, I didn't feel prepared to train my kittens. In fact, I tried to do a training session with one kitten, and she didn't even do any reinforcable actions!
   
   Long story short, you need to buy Pryor's book Don't Shoot the Dog!: The New Art of Teaching and Training to get an idea of the theory behind clicker training. The book is actually not about dog training - it's about behavioral training theory, and it's really insightful. Chapter four covers eight ways to deal with unwanted behaviors. Cat jumping on the kitchen table? Method 1: get rid of the cat. Method 2: punish the cat by squirting it with water... Method 6: put the behavior one cue. That is, train the cat to jump up on the kitchen table, and never give the command!... Method 8: change the motivation. Give the cat her own place in the kitchen to hang out that's even *better* than the kitchen table, like a cat stand.
   
   And even with both of these books, I still recommend going to YouTube and watching videos of people clicker training their cats. Good luck!



3. This book is almost useless! I wish the author took her own advice and actually "got started" with the training instruction. This book is filled with antedotes and the author blowing her own horn. The only reason this book did not receive one star is because it can be used to give the reader a few ideas of what clicker training can do. That's it. That's all this book is good for. I do not advise purchasing this book.
   
   Buy Cat Training in 10 Minutes instead. You won't regret it!



4. taught cat in a matter of days to come to clicker very easy to follow and use



5. This is a good book if you want the basics on your cats' mind and how it may work sometimes. The possible reasons your cat does what it does. You may find out some things that you never knew before.Happy Reading!

5 comments about Wish You Were Here (Mrs. Murphy Mysteries).

1. I bought this book for my mother--Mrs. Murphy--just for the novelty and because she reads so ravenously it's hard to keep her supplied with good books. Now we've both read and enjoyed it. It is engaging and entertaining and moves along at a good pace. And it has a cat. What more could you want in a book?



2. I took this book out of the library, thank goodness, and really couldn't stand it. The author apparently feels that gratuitous profanity, in excess, makes for a good read. Not in my book! I was trying to find an author whose books might fill the void left by the end of LJB's "The Cat Who" series, as the ghost writers of that series are just painfully bad. Unfortunately, RMB comes off as a rather crude individual and her characters are the same. The "talking" animals were not cute, but rather disgusting. I could not feel any warmth from them or towards them. I know RMB has her fans who read every book she puts out, so I'm sure they all love her. That's fine. I will move on and keep looking for another author who loves cats and a good mystery.



3. I've read several other "Mrs. Murphy" mysteries, but never read the first one. It's interesting to see how the characters have changed (and some mellowed) since first meeting them in this book. It would be interesting to go back even further to when Harry got Mrs. Murphy. I loved this book, as I have all of the other things written by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie. I have also enjoyed the "riding club" series, even though I'm not a "horsey" person.



4. Lion's Pride; The World I Imagine: A Creative Manual for Ending Poverty and Building Peace
   
   As a writer of mysteries--as well as nonfiction--and an unreconstructed cat person, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the first installment in Rita Mae Brown's Mrs. Murphy series. I was so intrigued by the anthropomorphic slant on the animals that as soon as we've finished collecting Lilian Jacson Braun's The Cat Who . . . series, we plan to get busy on more of Mrs. Murphy and her human, Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen!
   
   The insidious fun here comes in the fact that as soon as the reader settles on one suspect, up pops another stiff, and the plot is thrown into chaos anew. The crime here, besides homicide, isn't that hard to understand, but there are some surprises before all the sleuthing is done, including how the animals get those humans to recognize the obvious!
   
   Mrs. Murphy and her clowder are not the only series creatures conceived by this writer, so Rita Mae Brown's mysteries will probably run on my wish lists for years to come!



5. I liked the story very much; however, I didn't like the language used in the book. I would not recommend this book. There's no reason the author has to have her characters use such language. Literature (even cozy novels) should set a good example, not stoop to gutter language. I'll stick to reading "The Cat Who..." novels.

5 comments about Cancer and Your Pet: The Complete Guide to the Latest Research, Treatments, and Options.

1. Good information for people going through the struggle of cancer with their pet.



2. looks at both conventional and alternative options. I did not find alot on what I was looking for: lung tumours in dogs but on the general topic this book was very informative .



3. A clear, comprehensive, sensible introduction and overview--as much information as the non-professional needs. There's one area that may set off unnecessary alarms. The author gives encouraging news and advice concerning pets with cancer, treatments, and prognosis with one notable exception: cancer that has been caused by vaccination, for which, the author says, there is no cure. This led me to do a Google search and discover similar grim information, except magnified and multiplied.
   
   The truth appears to be that the problem--although a cause-effect connection has been established in some instances--is extremely rare and that worse harm may be inflicted upon a pet by not vaccinating it. I learned the foregoing not from my local vet but by driving kitty across state to the University of Wisconsin Veterinary School--which in addition to addressing the concern about vaccinations was able to determine that my local vet's diagnosis of cancer was a misdiagnosis (common bacterial infections can lead to limping, bone erosion and other symptoms of cancer).



4. My cat way diagnosed with cancer about 5 months ago. I found this book to be the most helpful in understanding her cancer (GI lymphoma) without being overly filled with jargon. It was also the best on helping me understand the treatments available (and why some weren't for my cat) but I wish it had gone into more technical detail about the various medications and what they do for chemotherapy. Unfortunately, none of the books I found provided that information. I like the fact that the book separates out discussion on dogs and cats. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone with a pet with cancer.



5. Hi there, this is Margaret H Bonham, the co-author of Cancer and Your Pet. Unlike some authors who have a secret agenda when it comes to treating cancer, both Deb and I wanted you to get all the information out there when it comes to cancer and your pet.
   
   When your pet has cancer, it's a scary time for you. You don't know who to turn to for advice. Quite frankly, most cancer is curable or we can do something about it. It's very important to understand the options, whether conventional or holistic.
   
   This book gives a good overview to each of the cancers you're likely to run across in dogs and cats and the modes of treatment currently available. We talk about cancer research -- what's the latest thing out there and how you can get involved in cutting-edge studies. We also about decision-making -- is this something you can afford and how far do you wish to go when treating the cancer? We talk about care for the cancer patient and how to recognize an emergency versus whether this is really a problem. We even cover holistic options -- something most books either don't cover or cover to the point of excluding other highly successful conventional treatments.
   
   Both Deb and I have had dogs who died from cancer. We know what you're going through. Check out our book. You'll be glad you did.

5 comments about What Is My Cat Thinking?: The Essential Guide to Understanding Pet Behavior.

1. What a fun little book! As a cat fanatic, I appreciated reading behaviorist details about the furry little buggers. Ms. Bailey admits in the introduction that these are based soley on observation, but I feel that is as valid as anything else. She covers all the big areas of cat behavior, from hunting to human interaction. The set-up is wonderful, photograph-based with captions explaining what the cat is doing and why. Beautifully organized and easy-to-read. Great for all cat lovers.



2. While much of the content of this book would be common sense to long-time cat owners, it's a great starting point for someone who hasn't had a feline in their life before. I really enjoyed the read and it's packed with really nice full-color photos. Best of all, the author doesn't overly anthropomorphise her subject but obviously loves cats as much as her audience.



3. I'm glad there was information in this book I didn't know before. I'm glad I bought it.



4. This was good if you want to have a basic understanding of what your cat's body movements mean and how they translate to how they are feeling. I recommend to read it with your children as there are many good pictures and it will better help them understand when to pet the cat and when to let it alone!



5. I bought this after reading other reviews, but I was extremely disapponted in this book. The title is very misleading. I've had cats for years and wanted to learn more about their behavior and the differnt types of meows. This book does NOT do this. It's very basic and they write about behavior most children could figure out after being around their cat for a while. It mostly addresses cats behavior with other cats which an idiot can figure out without having to read about it. Not worth the money.