3 comments about Complete Care For Your Aging Cat.

1. I highly recommend this wonderful book for owners of adult cats of any age. The information is very well presented, complete, and useful to any cat owner. I would definitely recommend that a cat owner have this knowledge BEFORE their cat is old so they can be informed and prepared what to look for in their cat and get proper supportive care before the cat is too ill.
   
   I also think it's fascinating to know that there are certain conditions found in specific breeds. This would help anyone who would want to acquire a cat in the future to be informed about everything they would need to know about the breed they're considering.
   
   Huge kudos to Amy Shojai for writing "Caring For Your Aging Cat."
   
   Laura Speirs
   The Kitty Sitter
   Beaverton, Oregon



2. Cats are living longer and there's more advanced care available for them. This book clearly talks about all the issues related to the older cat. It has something for everyone in that it give details about complicated information (such as cellular aging) which will be read with interest by those who have some knowledge about cats....but it also explaine things in simpler language for the lay-person.

   This book is a must read for all people who cherish their cats and want to make their cats' golden years more comfortable.




3. Amy Shojai has written perhaps her best work with this book--a touching, caring, hopeful tribute to the aging pet. We who are pet lovers have to face that there will be an end to our beloved pets' lives, but Shojai's book combines practical advice and emotional support to help ensure your aging cat lives out the rest of her days in comfort and happiness. Including chapters on nutrition, exercise, play, and that last sad choice we are sometimes forced to make--euthanasia--Complete Care for Your Aging Cat is a vital addition to any pet lover's bookshelf.

   Amy Shojai is an author with a heart, as well as a brain. Her books reflect her love and passion for the animals in our lives, while giving us the advice we need to keep them healthy and happy.

1 comments about Disease Mechanisms in Small Animal Surgery.

1. I'm a first year vet student and was guided to buy this book to better understand pathophysiology of disease. It has been excellent! I love this book. Only a few of us in my class have it, as its not easy to find. The text is easy to read compared to some and has clear, concise, chapters on every anatomical concept.(doesn't have a huge section on exotics, though). Buy this! You won't be disappointed.

5 comments about Why Paint Cats: The Ethics of Feline Aesthetics.

1. Buy this book and share with all your friends- the cat painted as a showgirl got a great laugh here at work.



2. I don't know what I was expecting in this book. I had seen a couple of the pictures out of context and was intrigued by the paint jobs on these cats. My first disappointment in the book came when I opened the package and discovered just how tiny this book was. I had not paid attention to the size listed on Amazon and was very upset that the book was so tiny and the pictures so small. As I flipped through the book, the stories behind each paint job were entertaining. A good number of the paint jobs began to disturb me in their weirdness. Some of the cats were admittedly beautiful enhanced with "naturalistic" paint jobs, but others were quite humiliating and I cannot fathom why someone would want their cats painted in a humiliating way. I have not opened the book since zipping through it the first one or two times and would hesitate at recommending it to a true cat lover.
   
   About a week after posting the above review, I found out that the cat paintings in this book were likely computer generated (check out snopes). If that is true then even the stories behind the paint jobs are a farce. Yet another reason not to bother buying this book.



3. (As a cat lover) I wish my cat could look at this book. I am sure he would be entertained!! The enhancement of a beautiful animal is much appreciated. I love it when children look at this book. Their comments are wonderful.



4. I bought this work on the way to a party a few years ago.. It became an instant hit. People who were shy and didnt know anyone, bored children, happy party people, everyone took a few minutes to pore through this book, talk about it to their neighbors.. and debate which cats they liked best, and what they they thought of the idea of cat painting.
   
   A splendid, funny, thought provoking book, that will forever cahnge the way you look at cats.



5. I did not notice these were miniature books only 4" by 4", you can't see any of the paintings they are too small.

2 comments about House Cat: How to Keep Your Indoor Cat Sane and Sound.

1. About two years ago, I did a complete 180 and became a cat lover, having previously felt indifferent toward them. In January of this year I adopted a beautiful calico cat from the adoption room at PetSmart (where I purchased this book also, right at the end of the cat food aisle).
   
   I am so grateful to have purchased an independent book on the subject, rather than the equivalent from the "For Dummies" or "Complete Idiots' Guide" series. Christine Church presents her suggestions, her do's and don'ts, in a very engaging and lively way through numerous anecdotes involving her own many cats. She has owned as many as eleven cats (and at least one dog). The book is informative on a number of subjects; I was enlightened to learn, for example, that not only is declawing painful, it can change the personality of some cats for the worse. Previously social and friendly cats sometimes become mean and withdrawn after losing their beloved claws. After reading "House Cat" I can safely say I won't have my cat declawed.
   
   The story of Gillie was both heartbreaking and heartwarming! What an incredible cat, to survive cancer for so long and hop around on three legs! When I see his picture on the dedication page, I regret that I never met this cat in real life.
   
   I was also quite touched by the story of Taffy, the cat who always longed to go outdoors and was granted her wish late in life when she was too frail to possibly run stray. Taffy is one of the several feline dedicatees of the book; Christine Church writes: "For Taffy, whose life brought sunshine to mine and all who knew her. I'm glad I was able to give you sunshine in the end."
   
   With excellent photos to supplement, this is a well-written book indeed.



2. Never before have I seen a non-fiction book with interesting stories to start each chapter and make you want to read more... Like a novel, but unbelievably informative! If you want to know how to care for your indoor cat, or any cat, or are thinking of making your cat an indoor cat, or getting one.... Here's the purrfect reference. Also added, besides good information and interesting antecdotes, are links to excellent and informative web pages. This is truly the cat book for the 21st century!

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

1. 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.



2. 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.



3. 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!



4. 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. Fluff in its purest form, this is definitely a cozy read. And even though I did have it all figured out, it was still compelling enough for me to read because I liked the characters (though I admit my favorites were the animal characters). Nothing earth-shattering or deep, but cute. A good book to read when you really don't want to have to think - just enjoy a good story.

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.

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.

2 comments about The Healing Touch for Cats: The Proven Massage Program for Cats, Revised Edition.

1. I bought this book because I have two ill, elderly cats, and want to do more for them than shove pills down their throats. Although I was already intuitively doing a lot of what's described in this book, it does provide some new options for me. I gave it only a 4 because a lot of the information wasn't new to me. For someone newer to being the servant of cats, this is an EXCELLENT resource (probably a 5 star book) for learning how to interact physically with your cats, and what you learn in this book will bring both of you loads of good times and pleasure, as well as mutual healing.



2. A sensitively and clearly written, well illustrated and very thorough guide to therapeutic cat massage. The author combines professional expertise as a vet and a masseur with a profound understanding of - and respect for - animals.

3 comments about What Vets Don't Tell You About Vaccines.

1. This is an excellent reference with easy to understand explanations a lay person can readily use when taking their dogs to the vet. I wish this information would have been available when my dogs were pups. I would not have exposed them to repeated vaccines. I believe some of their current health issues are because I blindly went along with my traditional vet's recommendations. I am very glad this is in print again since it is heavily referenced in her newest book "Shock To The System" which I highly recommend!



2. About ten years ago I had no idea there was any controversy regarding annual vaccinations.
   
   I then watched the World in Action programme in which Catherine O'Driscoll was highlighting the dangers of the vaccination programme. I was shocked. I felt sure the Veterinary Establishment would prosecute her for bringing their work in to disrepute but, no - they met behind closed doors instead!
   
   I then got her book and decided to thoroughly read it - and I was even more shocked but, at least I understood why the Veterinary Establishment didn't prosecute her: because the information in her book came from the vet's own manuals; own handbooks - hence the title: 'What Vets Don't Tell You About Vaccines'.
   
   For anyone who really really really love their dogs, this book is a must.
   
   In Summary:
   
   MLV vaccines should not be given to those with B and/or T cell immunodeficiencies
   
   MLV vaccines should not be given to those with allergies, skin disease, heart disease, neurological problems
   
   MLV vaccines can stimulate autoimmune diseases
   
   In addition to 'faulty genes', environmental factors can render vaccines harmful
   
   Vaccines can overwhelm even a healthy host if negative environmental factors exist
   
   We question the assertion that only a tiny minority of animals are affected
   
   Vets have not been taught the full truth about vaccines.
   
   And that says it all. A friend of mine puts it more simply:
   
   Healthy animals don't need them,
   And unhealthy ones shouldn't have them,
   So no animal should get them!



3. We people have a tendency to believe that anyone whom we think know more than we do, are "gods". By this definition all that we don't understand, and that people tell us, we tend to believe and honor as true...like sheep in a herd we follow the leader.
   Ms O'Driscoll makes sure that NO ONE who reads this book will leave untouched by the facts she unconvers. And it is not one fact, it is one after another! One more horrifying than the other. She shows that very many of today's allergies, asthma, arthritis etc are really often due to immunization and booster vaccines. I say, this book is not only good, it is NECESSARY!
   It is written about dogs, but make no mistake: dogs are people too. And we have blood, heart and spleen, like any dog. We are made up with the same system and "they" push and FORCE us to inoculate or children, to actually SET THEM UP for lifelong suffering. And then they deny it.
   I wish everyone - even people without pets read it, and especially - I wish a book like this was written also concerning humans. This is SUCH an easy to read book, with SUCH a chocking message, and this is something we need to take our hearts today. Now. Not wait. Knowledge is power, ignorance is extremely expensive.

5 comments about The New Encyclopedia of the Cat.

1. I purchased this book for a cat-loving friend. However, I nearly kept it for myself once I pursued through it. It's now one of the books I will eventually get for myself. Can't think of one of my cat friends that wouldn't love this book.



2. I thought the book was very good. It was filled with great photographs
   of many breeds of cats, most never heard of, and lots of illustrations on
   the anatomy of the cat. There is a section on health, nutrition, care and behavior. There is so much more to this book. My only disappointment
   was in the lack of material on the Big Cats. There are some beautiful photographs of them though. I ordered The Last of the Big Cats and that took care of my inquisitive mind. If you are a cat lover, this New Encyclopedia for the Cat is just what you need.



3. I JUST GOT THIS BOOK TODAY AND IT IS AWESOME!!!! THERE ARE SOOO MANY WONDERFUL COLOR PHOTOS OF ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF CATS. I THOUGHT THIS BOOK WOULD BE NICE BUT IT IS EVEN BETTER & MORE COMPREHENSIVE THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. THIS IS A LOVELY REFERENCE AND/OR COFFEE TABLE BOOK THAT IS ALSO VERY, VERY! INFORMATIVE. IF YOU LOVE CATS LIKE I DO YOU SHOULD REALLY GET THIS BOOK. IT COVERS SO MANY DIFFERENT BREEDS OF CATS AND SO MANY DIFFERENT TOPICS IT IS JUST WONDERFUL. IT'S LIKE THE BIBLE FOR CAT OWNERS. AND IT IS JUST SO LOVELY!!!!!! 5++++++ STARS. I LOVE IT!!!!



4. A rather extensive look at the origins and development of the Domestic feline. Includes most (I'm not a cat expert) common varieties and breeds of all cats.



5. Everything you want to know about cats in a highly readable and informative book that my daughters love to read. Certainly the best book I've read about cats in a long time.