4 comments about The Natural Pet Food Cookbook: Healthful Recipes for Dogs and Cats.

1. I was very surprised to see that many of the recipes call for corn. Dogs cannot digest corn and this is widely known. Before I was aware of this fact, I included mixed vegetables (which include corn) in my dog's recipes. Her poop would contain undigested corn. That's what made me Google corn for dogs. So, I was disapponted to see corn in the recipes - supposedly OK'd by a vet.



2. Wendy Nan Rees always seems to be in the forefront of 'what's cool' in the pet industry. I have her other three books which I love, but this book is really a step ahead.
   From the Pumpkin & Veggie kibble recipe that anyone could put together easily (and even eat if you wanted), to the amazing Thanksgiving for All Turkey Loaf, Wendy has really formulated some winning foods that any pet lover would be happy to make, and feel comfortable giving to their pet.
   I hope Ms. Rees continues to publish pet related books-her winning way of writing, the solid information she departs, and her great graphic style all combine to make her one of America's top pet lifestyle advisors.



3. I am impressed by the research and quality of this cookbook. It is a nice hardcover book which is better for keeping in the kitchen and wiping off if it gets food on it. It seems like the author did her homework here, some of the recipes look good enough for the owners to eat!



4. This is the best book on the subject I have ever seen. Gave to a prominant attorney hre in La Vegas wit six dogs. He raved over it! Congratulations Wendy. Do some more.

5 comments about Cat Getting Out of a Bag and Other Observations.

1. This is a heartwarming little book for anyone who has ever had a cat in their life. Jeffrey Brown manages to capture the universal things that cats do in brief illustrated glimpses. You will probably be able to recognize your own cat in most or all of the comics in this book. Always brings a smile to my face whenever I read it, but this is not a book for someone looking for a humorous comic.



2. If you have ever lived with a cat, you will recognize these scenes. If there is another cat person in the room while you read it, you will find yourself sharing just about every page until you're reading it together. If there's a non-cat person in the room, that person may be confused by what the fuss is about. But that person just doesn't understand.



3. This 'book' is totally inane and isn't worth the paper it's printed on ... a total disappointment!



4. A fun and wonderful book for anyone who has or had a cat. Illustrated observations of the artists cats, snoozing, running, playing, and more. A quick flip through the book will almost always elicit an "awwwww" or a "my cat does that, too!" Beautifully designed little hardcover as well - a perfect gift.



5. I'm actually a dog person and not a cat person, but picked up this little book for my son's fiancee. We have been adopted by a cat, as has she, and ALL of this little book rang true. I was surprised, being a dog person, that it made me laugh out loud loads of times. I've since purchased three more copies for other cat people. Garfield it isn't; quirky, funny and observant it is.

5 comments about One at a Time: A Week in an American Animal Shelter.

1. Authors Leigh and Geyer made a brave move to follow and document the lives of animals in a shelter in northern California for one week. They have a story to tell that will at times warm your heart with joy and at other times break your heart. They are to be commended for telling a very difficult story in an honest and non-biased way. They make a point to tell stories of the dogs and cats in the kennel consistent with the actual adoption/euthanasia rates at that kennel. Some animals are adopted or recovered by their human guardians others are euthanized. It's heartbreaking to know that some dogs and cats have no chance of adoption and are euthanized simply because of their unpopular breed or age or health condition. Some happy adoptable animals succumb to kennel stress and the personality problems it causes. Some wonderful animals never have a chance from the second they enter the kennel. I found myself looking at the end of each brief story to see the outcome before I even started reading about the animals. Many do find wonderful homes but the odds are against shelter animals especially for cats. The authors are honest and fair to the shelter staff who also face unbelievable odds in their attempts to save animals. There is not enough money to care for sick animals or time or staff to socialize animals with behavioral problems. It is often a losing battle. The authors make it clear that much of the blame lies on irresponsible people who don't spay or neuter their animals. Some people just become bored with their pets or don't make the effort to work on correctable behavioral problems. Some seemingly well-cared animals are found lost and not wearing an ID tag. An ID tag and microchip could save countless lost animals. You begin to realize how hopeless the odds are even at the most well-run animal shelter. Many more animals arrive than can be adopted. You need to be strong to read this book. You'll fall in love with some of the animals and learn they did not survive the kennel but there is joy in knowing many do find new homes. The book selects several animals to feature and there is a picture or two. All are beautiful animals who deserved a chance that many never got.



2. It is rare that I find a book that I cannot put down - and I read this book in one sitting. It teaches the reader about life in an animal shelter through the short stories written about the animals the writers came to know during a week at a shelter. It gives you pause, describing shelters from the animals' perspective, as well as from the perspective of the humans that interact with the shelter (volunteers, shelter staff, adoptive pet parents, and pet owners who resign ownership). It gives interesting and surprising statistics. It talks about foster parenting shelter dogs, and it touches on visiting pet programs (for nursing homes, etc.). It gave me ideas that I might use the improve my local shelter as a volunteer. I thought I knew everything there was to know until I read this book. It is so well written, and it opens your heart and your mind to the realities of life and death for shelter animals.



3. I purchased this book as I have done many other books about shelter dogs,abandoned dogs etc. I love animals-all animals,but especially dogs.There were some wonderful stories in this book, there were also stories that totally broke my heart, seeing two large bins full with little bodies that the sanctuary found it necessary to euthanzise. ,I didn't expect to see a photo like that,but as much as it broke my heart,people need to be made aware. Animals are precious, they are like children, I have a daughter and I have three dogs, I love them all equally,my dogs are part of my family and are treated as such. People seem to think they can pick animals up and toss them out when they get fed up with them- it makes my blood boil.There was one story in particular that really got to me where a dog named Kelly had been so let down, she just gave up, she wouldn't even lift her head, the sanctuary- rightly or wrongly-decided that she could not be re-homed so they put her to sleep,there is a photo of them doing so, with a young guy holding up the her beautiful head and she is looking straight into the camera, the sadness in her eyes will haunt me forever, I just wish I had known about her, I would have given her a home and worked with her to help her to trust again.,and to show her boundless love.
   There are many atrocities in this world, to me, cruelty to animals is one of them.
   If anyone reading this is thinking about getting a dog, please think carefully before you do- they take a lot of your time and commitment but the love they give you in return is immeasurable.If only people were more responsible,these poor animals ,who only ever wanted love from someone, would never end up in this situation.
   I hope that particular little dog is in Rainbow Bridge, and is healed now.
   God Bless her, and all the other animals that have suffered and are suffering the same fate through no fault of their own.
   It just isn't right.



4. This is a must read for everyone who has had a pet, has a pet, or is thinking of getting a pet. The authors do a wonderful job of revealing the plight of animals in shelters today. I bawled the whole way through the book, but it's because it's the truth. And something needs to be done.



5. It's such a good book. Many stories are sad, but it also offers real hope as to what we as individuals can do. Highly recommended. You'll go back to it when you find you need inspiration.

5 comments about Home-Prepared Dog & Cat Diets: the Healthful Alternative.

1. I bought this book because my eleven-year-old cat has a gastrointestinal disease. As a result, he went from 11.5 pounds to under 7 pounds in one month and refused to eat any canned or processed food. After trying many brands and watching him leave them untouched for several months, I decided to try making his food. This book gave me good, solid, safe information to use. I did find it difficult to navigate at times--the information is spread out and the cat recipes are intermingled with the dog recipes. I also found some of the nutritional information hard to follow, especially the details on the multivitamins. I ended up bringing the book into my vet to check that I was feeding my cat a balanced diet. That said, the vet completely approved and my cat LOVES the food. He actually cleans his bowl now. Finding this book has been a huge relief after watching my cat waste away.



2. If you are feeding or thinking of feeding a homemade diet (raw or otherwise), and you want to understand the scientific and nutritional basis for these diets, this is the book for you.
   
   Having read everything I could get my hands on about canine nutrition, raw diets and homemade diets, I was thrilled to find a book that explained the nutritional side of these diets. There are plenty of books that tell you what to do, but few delve into WHY.
   
   This is not a book of stories about animals' lives changed by a miracle diet. It is a fully referenced book about the nutritional needs of dogs and cats, including the digestability and availability of nutrients in different types of foods. The author explains how this information is used by dog food companies to formulate their foods and the shortcomings of commercial foods that result. The book has an in-depth discussion the needs of dogs and cats with various medical conditions, as well as babies and seniors.
   
   I have to admit that I have a background that made the nutritional information in the book easy to understand. I don't know how accessible some of the material would be for some readers. But even if you were to skim the technical information, you could get a lot out of this book.
   
   The author has his own diet that he designed using computer programs that nutritionally balance the diet. Personally, I feed a raw diet, not the diet the author recommends. But his diet makes sense. Actually, this book doesn't discuss raw feeding at all. But now I have the scientific validation that what I'm feeding is correct from a nutritional standpoint. I've also made a few changes in the diet and supplements I feed based on the information in this book. I found it very helpful, and it gave me peace of mind.



3. I'm surprised at the amount of complaining with the cat recipes. I found the recipes for both dog and cat to be plentiful, well written, and easy to follow. I also obtained bone meal in powder form, but is it really that difficult to read the bottle, it tells you how much to give. I have used this book since purchasing it in June 2007 and have never been happier. We were about to lose our dog to Protein Losing Enteropathy (PLE)even though she was on a bunch of stuff from the vet, and this book is what brought her back. My vet was so impressed with the book that they bought a copy for themselves. I found it easy to find the recipes I needed just by going to the index. I had no dissapointments with this book and have recommended it to several people with both dogs and cats.



4. I have several dogs, have been feeding them a raw meat diet for 2 years and have read many books on the subject. I wanted to make sure that I am including the correct nutrients so bought this book for the recipes. What a shame! All of the recipes in this book were variations of the same recipe: Cooked meat, bonemeal tablet and 1 multivitamin. Don't waste your time or money on this book. This is the first time I've ever sent a book back for a refund.



5. What a disappointment! I am really angry about the way this book misleads you into believing that the recipes are formulated to provide complete nutrition for dogs & cats with home-prepared FOOD. I am trying to find nutritionally well-balanced home-prepared dog food recipes and was really looking forward to finding them in this book. The book claims to provide "complete nutrition" recipes & does seem to give a lot of information about the nutritional needs of dogs & cats as a prelude to the "complete nutrition" recipes. On page 79 (Chapter 5: "Feeding a Normal Dog or Cat") the author states that "the following diets are all nutritionally balanced and complete." And on page 80, just before you get to the recipes, he writes: "When the diet cannot be balanced with natural foods to provide vitamin and mineral requirements, it is necessary to supplement with a vitamin-mineral preparation." HE THEN GOES ON TO INCLUDE A MULTIPLE VITAMIN-MINERAL SUPPLEMENT AS A NECESSARY INGREDIENT IN EVERY SINGLE RECIPE. THAT'S RIGHT: EVERY SINGLE RECIPE REQUIRES A VITAMIN-MINERAL SUPPLEMENT TO BE NUTRITIONALLY COMPLETE!!!!! In other words, NONE of the recipes are nutritionally balanced based on the food ingredients, they are totally dependent on vitamin supplements. What a ruse--BUYER BEWARE!

5 comments about Planet Cat: A CAT-alog.

1. I purchased this book just two weeks ago so I have yet to get through the whole thing. However, I have definitely made a dent in it and I have to say it is totally rad. I have two senior cats who I love to death. My family adopted them when I was very young so I never really took much intrest in educating myself about cats. Now as a high school senior I have developed a serious fascination with all kinds of felines. This books contains all of the information you could ever want, it is packed with facts. With a book of this size I was worried that it might contain too much filler and not enough killer. I was pleased to discover that my assumptions were unfounded. Planet Cat talks about social/cultural/ political history of cats, grooming, health concerns, the basics about adopting cats, etc. I was kinda bummed to see that a decent portion of the book is dedicated to grooming/health concerns. Im sure caring for your cat tips are relevant to other readers but I was in it for the history. Whatever the case by the time I found info on Hemingway's cats, Literary Cats throughout history, and stories of amazing cat feats, I was no longer bummed. This book is a cat tome! I don't regret buying it. Highly Recommended



2. 
   Planet Cat is not the type of book that you want to bomb through in one sitting. Instead, Planet Cat should be savored slowly like a fine wine as you marvel at the amount of time and research that has gone into this collaborative effort.
   
   Authored by Sandra Choron, Harry Choron and Arden Moore, Planet Cat offers the reader a distinctive look into all things C-A-T. From early history to contempurrary culture, learn about famous cats, famous people who share their lives with cats, Presidential kitties, care and training, cat behavior even popular and obscure cat myths debunked. You name it; you will find it within Planet Cat.
   
   Such extensive content requires a six page Table of Contents as the three authors behind this book contact authors and experts gathering up content in an easy-to-use guide. Learn about what gifts will satisfy the cat who has everything. How to photograph your cat, travel tips, which websites are the most popular for cat lovers on the Net, how to secure insurance policies for your cat- they litter-ally cover every cat-topic on the planet.
   
   Put this book on your bookshelf for it is an educational find, fun to read, highly informative, and a must-have for any cat lover. Sits proudly in my bathroom next to my copy of Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Cat Lover's Companion.
   
   Bravo to the authors for providing such a wonderful find!



3. This is such a FUN and informative book. Couldn't put it down when I received it. The prrrrrfect gift for all kitty lovers!



4. This book has tons of information on cats. It's the perfect book for any cat lover.



5. I bought this book becuase I had checked it out at the library, and it has so much good information in it! Just about anything you can ask about a cat is covered. It even tells you lots of way so say "cat" in different languages. If you're a cat lover, I would definitely reccommend it!

5 comments about Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats.

1. This book is an absolute necessity for any cat (or dog) lover. This book was given to me over 4 years ago by my cousin who was studying Veterinarian Medicine. This book has helped me in many many ways. From first aid for one my cats to preparing them healthy snacks and treats. I still use this book today and would simply not live with out it. I would highly recommend this book. I love hoe detailed this book is, especially on important subjects like vaccinations. Although this book should be more of a guide than anything else really. This book is not meant to replace any veterinarian advice or care for your beloved animal.



2. This was the first book I purchased in the field of nutrition for my dog.
   I am happy I did buy it, but it turned out that my dog was not doing well on grains. The recipes in the book (I am not sure if the newer edition contains more grainless recipes) all contained a lot of grains and ground meat. I found out later that a dog, as well as a cat, needs to use his teeth and jaws and that he needs to chew and tear. I still have the book and regularly consult it when I want to look up what to do in case of illness (I missed information on problems with the thyroid there).
   So: diet-wise I can't give it a good review, but I like the list of ailments and cures, as well as the first aid part!



3. Many people swear by this book, but I don't find it that essential. Most of the information was not especially useful or was common knowledge. Mainly I disagree with Pitcairn's use of grains in a dogs diet. Instead, I recommend New Choices in Natural Healing Dogs & Cats and The Nature of Animal Healing.



4. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a forum for questions that can be asked concerning Dr. Pitcairn's latest edition of his book, so I am
   hesitating to purchase it. I own the 1982 edition and wonder if it has been updated as far as recommendations of diet- specifically foods that have been deemed dangerous to dogs and cats- as one reviewer mentioned, raisins. I have recently heard of onions and garlic included as dangerous foods for dogs and cats, and Dr. Pitcairn's earlier book is laced with encouragement for feeding them to our pets. As someone who is severely allergic to onions myself, I have learned that they lurk in MANY places and in various forms. Onion powder is just as detrimental for me as raw onion, and is found in chili powder and many other spice combinations, soy sauce, ketchup, mayonnaise, chicken broth, vegetable broths, bouillon, tomato sauce, even canned beans, especially the organic varieties. I avoid feeding anything that might contain these to my dogs. I wonder if the revised edition of Dr. Pitcairn's book includes cautions about feeding onions and garlic to pets? Since I cannot find an answer to my question without purchasing the book, I will continue to hesitate to do so.



5. I can't praise this book enough. It has literally saved me hundreds of dollars in pet care costs and more importantly saved at least one of my pets' life. I've owned my copy for at least eight years. I have a Weimaraner with allergies which this book has kept her allergy free without the prescriptions recommended by the vet.
   More recently I had a cat with a blocked urethra, common in male cats, which can also lead to a rapid and painful death if they are completely blocked. The emergency vet wanted $1500 to catheter and care for the cat for two days with antibiotics etc. I opted to have them do the catheter ($300) and took him home to care for him. I followed the books instructions. He did great right away by giving him the vitamins the book suggests and the prescription food the vet suggested. But after two weeks of being 100% well he started to have blood in his urine again, the first sign of the problem. Then I realized that I had slacked off on the vitamins the book suggests, (vitamin C, and some others). I had mistakenly assumed the "prescription" food would be good enough. I immediately gave him the books homeopathic remedy followed by the books recommended vitamins and their "Healthy Powder" (recipe in the book) and his problem cleared up the next day and he has had no signs of any problem since. He is in the best health he's ever known! And I'm being smarter about his needs.
   If you care about your pets, believe in their own abilities to heal, and natural and holistic approaches to pet health, this book is the best; it's the one I go to first to find the answers to my pet's problems.

5 comments about The Pill Book Guide to Medication for Your Dog and Cat.

1. This book has been nothing but helpful to me. Considering I am a devoted cat slave and regularly take my kitties to the vet this book has helped me immensely on everything (so far) that has been prescribed for my little fur babies. This book is a must for any animal lover



2. This is a very good and handy reference. However, the author should consider to put all medicine's brand name, scientific name to the index. Otherwise, it is difficult for a layman like me to check.



3. I was disappointed because the book was described as brand new and arrived with a torn cover.Other than this it was what I ordered.



4. I've had this book for a couple of years and it has truly saved the day!! I find it most useful for OTC medications for my pets. Sometime the vet is not available and I don't want my pets to be uncomfortable while waiting for the doctor. So, I give them OTC meds and know that I have not given them a thing that can harm them. Also, dosage being so important, I am assured that they are not being overmedicated (which can make them worse or even kill them.) I have such faith in this publication that I sent one to several relatives and friends for their animals safety. Doesn't get a much better recommendation than that!!



5. Up to date and informative. Being a rescuer I see my fair share of the Vet's office. New medications always get a once over to check for signs of allergic reactions. This book is a great source. It also helped once when a friend's dog snatched a pill. While waiting for Animal Poison Control I was able to let her know the dog was not in trouble. Every rescuer, breeder and exhibitor should have a copy. The average owner may not need it unless they make a lot of vet visits for medications.
   -S
   Redwood Siberians

5 comments about Cat Wrangling Made Easy: Maintaining Peace and Sanity in Your Multicat Home.

1. I bought this book because I own three cats. One is a senior and he started to pee outside of the litter box and my vet said it might be behavioral. Although Dusty seems to know a lot about her cats, she does not know much about MY cats. In fact, I kind of think they would dislike her...
   
   Everything she suggested failed on them. In fact, many of the things she suggested doing made things worse. By the halfway point of the book my senior cat, who used to sleep with me at night, had started to hide under the bed to escape the other two kitties. Plus, everything she suggested costs a TON of money! I am a graduate student so I don't have hundreds of dollars to spend on cat toys, especially when I know the cats will just make their own out of scraps of paper! I ended up returning over $100 worth of products she recommended and in the end, when things had returned to normal, the kitties were much happier.
   
   The only product she recommended that actually helped was Feliway, but it was $35 for a little spray can. Wal-Mart has the same product for $10. I wonder if she gets product placement money...



2. Cat Wrangling Made Easy provides easy to implement solutions to problems we all encounter living in a multi-cat household. Dusty Rainbolt's writing style is very straight forward and honest with a sense of humor. This book is must read for any cat owner.



3. This book was recommended to me by a shelter volunteer. One of my cats has some major behavioral issues and I have been at my wit's end trying to solve her problems. I was even thinking of trying to find her a new home. It was that bad.
   
   My cat Tooko hates all my other cats, especially the oldest one, Heather. She spends all her waking hours tormenting poor Heather. Heather is scared for her life all the time and is disheartening to watch them. Heather even stared peeing in unusal spots because she was so upset.
   
   Ms. Rainbolt's book gave many helpful tips that REALLY worked. She had many recommendations for natural behavior products and an excellent guide for medications to handle aggression. She also, funny enough, had wonderful ideas for handling inappropriate urination and how to find the places that Heather peed.
   
   My house is now at peace and smells great, for a change.
   
   So, if you have cats, this is really a great idea. I appreciate her honesty and product recommendations. i hate it when you buy something that promises you the world and delivers nothing!



4. Reading this book was like deja vu. I, too, live with a family of kitties, and I had to smile or even laugh at some of the pointers and anecdotes with a "yep, been there, done that." This book has a lot of practical wisdom in it. Most of the suggestions work 100% of the time; 100% of them work most of the time. Your mileage may vary. At any rate, Ms. Rainbolt has a way of making sense out of complex observations and issues in living with a multitude of cats. It's like the kitties have their own sorority/fraternity and you get to be the house parent.
   
   The product suggestions were great. How odd it would be to read about suggestions for how to resolve an issue but no mention on where to get the stuff! My first questions would always be: what is it and where can I get it? I thank Ms. Rainbolt for doing her research and pointing the way.
   
   If you live with any number of cats, this book will help you keep sane and work out an understanding of what to do, how to do it, and how to live with what goes on in a household of cats.



5. "Cat Wrangling Made Easy" is written for people with multi-cat households, but it can help you manage any size cat family, tiny or huge. It offers lots of insights into uniquely feline behavior, as well as tips about playing, feeding, medicating, mediating, and all means of harmonious living within your kitty family. Plus, it has an entire section about products to help you solve the trickiest of cat-related problems.
   
   This book is well-written and well-researched, and cat households everywhere should welcome this thoroughly entertaining and informative gem.
   
   Betsy Stowe, author of Calico Tales...And Others

5 comments about Stop the Shots!: Are Vaccinations Killing Our Pets?.

1. Most pet owners don't know the harm they are doing by vaccinating their pets yearly. They are putting their pets in danger rather than helping them stay healthy. Read this book before giving your dog another vaccine! And find a vet that supports your decision not to vaccinate and a vet who will do titers.



2. Despite its title, Stop the Shots!: Are Vaccinations Killing Our Pets? does not advocate stopping all pet vaccinations, and especially does not recommend stopping all vaccinations that protect from the most widespread and deadly infections like rabies, parvovirus and canine distemper for dogs, and panleukopenia and rhinotracheitis/calcivirus for cats. Yet award-finalist author and pet lover John Clifton logically and rationally argues against so-called conventional wisdom, such as vaccinating against diseases that pets will never be exposed to (like Lyme disease for a pet that does not live in or won't travel to an area infested with it) or the use of annual booster shots. Chapters discuss how vaccines work, the health detriments to over-vaccination such as increased risk of pet cancer or curtailment of the pet's immune system's ability to naturally fight off diseases, factors to keep in mind when deciding when the proper time is for a booster shot, and much more. Enthusiastically recommended for animal owners and would-be owners as an informative aid to decide the right amount of vaccines to protect one's pet and keep it as healthy as possible.



3. An easy to read,informative book that should be compulsory reading for all pet owners.



4. A must read!!! This book doesn't take sides, it just presents the facts. I recommend it to any pet owners wanting to make informed decisions concerning the health and well-being of their pets. I've already passed it on.



5. This book is a MUST read!
   I had the pleasure of being a vet tech for seven years under an "old school" veternarian who NEVER PUSHED UNNEEDED VACCINES. Unfortunatley, when he retired I was left to work for his two "new school" collegues who pushed vaccines, experimental medications/anesthetics, used brute force instead of psychology.
   I was in the front line when injection-site sarcomas were being tracked by the AAHA (right rear rabies!)...I've seen animals "crash" after vaccines (especially cats and ferrets). I've also seen how "old" vets treated vaccines (prevention) and how "new" vets now treat vaccines ($$- it's a business). Sad. Very Sad.
   READ THIS BOOK...while it's not a pedagogical text on immunology and vaccines, it is an easy read for the non-technical that has a great reference section and will provide the caring pet owner with food for thought.

5 comments about How to Toilet-Train Your Cat: 21 Days to a Litter-Free Home.

1. i just bought this book last night and i read it cover to cover. granted i already did a few hours of preliminary research on cat toilet training methods and available training products online, the book was overly simplistic and i was appalled by some of the methods the author suggests.
   
   first of all, only 33 pages of the book are actually dedicated to the training process itself which is 27% of the book. the majority of the remaining pages covers litter box training, a subject that i can probably safely assume that most of us have already addressed. the author does not address questions related to correct toilet seat posture, training multiple cats, getting your cat to use other toilets, and traveling with your cat.
   
   the 33 pages of applicable material covers a 21 day process: the first 16 days consist of moving the litter box to the bathroom (1 day), gradually elevating the litter box to toilet seat height (12 days),and gradually moving the litter box from the stack of newspapers directly onto the toilet seat (3 days). on the 17th day, the author instructs you to remove the litter box altogether and give your cat the next 4 days to use the toilet seat itself. equipment needed? just heavy duty plastic wrap, adhesive tape, and newspapers. wow! lift the toilet seat, take a sheet of plastic wrap and attach the plastic across the toilet's porcelain rim leaving a slight indention in the middle. fill the middle with a cup of kitty litter and lower the toilet seat. the last 3 days instruct us to cut a small hole and then larger holes each day in the middle of the plastic wrap while at the same time using less and less kitty litter. on day 20, voila, get rid of the plastic wrap and litter! day 21, congratulate yourself. so in actuality, this is a 20 day training process.
   
   the author's instructions are much too simplistic and give more weight to the height adjustment the cat will have to make (jumping up to use the bathroom) than the changes associated with posture and balance on the toilet seat, the removal of kitty litter, and the water in the toilet being exposed as the barrier disappears. most importantly, i'd like to know how many cats the author has actually toilet trained using his methods b/c i don't understand how heavy duty plastic wrap and adhesive tape can support the weight of anything larger than a 3 lb kitten. if the cat doesn't feel safe on the training contraption, it is probably going to refuse to use it. if the cat were to actually fall in, i'm pretty sure the cat will rebel against any other attempts at toilet training.
   
   also, unless you have a spare bathroom, you may give up on toilet training before the cat. i imagine it will get really annoying removing, repositioning, and reattaching flimsy plastic wrap to your toilet everytime someone in the household needs to use it. or reinstalling and cutting holes in plastic wrap each time the cat soils the plastic wrap. i suggest buying one of the commercially available toilet training plastic pans, such as citikitty or litter kwitter, or just finding a metal bowl with the same diameter as the inside of your toilet bowl or aluminum baking pan that will sit securely under the toilet seat.
   
   in all fairness, the book does address two topics that were completely new to me. in the first, the author states that you should not even attempt to train an unaltered cat. however, he does not address why this is true. secondly, he suggests that many cats can be "hooked" on the smell of chemically treated litter, so they should be slowly weaned off the scent by mixing the old litter with a new unscented (flushable) version.
   
   i bought this book at half price books for $2.98. it wasn't even worth that.



2. The book was very clear and the steps are easy. My cats started off following right along, However I didn't follow the directions exactly & did have a set back. I'm looking forward to trying again & hopefull that it will work this time. I would advise anyone trying this method to make sure the rest of their house is clean though. If your cat does hit a point where they decide to resist the training, that fresh pile of clean laundry seems to be a favorite site for them to express their irritation at the new change to their lives.



3. Most of the book contains information about how to litter train a kitten, but the last 20ish pages are the key. Our cat, Fenway, was not successful in just 21 days and required the alternate method. But, we are litter free now and have been for about two weeks. Plus, we really didn't need to buy anything new for this book. We had everything on hand. It was a bit annoying at the plastic wrap time as we had to leave our apartment to find another toilet. It would be nice if it had other chapters such as "Adding a second cat to your house" and "Moving to a new home." Check out this blog for photos of our Fenway in action--baggypantsandbravado.blogspot.c0m.



4. I bought this book recently after being fed up with cleaning the cat box, stepping on litter that had fallen out, and lugging a ginormous amount of litter up stairs.
   The majority (2/3) of this book is about cat behavior, even to what your cat's meows mean. In essence, why cats do what they do and how they have the potential to be toilet trained.
   I did more research on the internet before I began Kunkel's method. His method, for me at least, would involve more money being spent than I was inclined to spend (new box that fit the size specifications, undeoderized litter to wean my cats off of the deoderized kind, etc.). Plus, his last few steps involve saran wrap and tape that goes over the bowl of the toilet. In other words, I feel there is a lot of potential for psychological damage for the cat - and maybe the owner, too!
   Instead, I purchased a CITIKITTY (www.citikitty.com). My cats used it immediately - 20 minutes out of the box - and I am highly satisfied with the results so far. It is filled with litter and fits over the bowl of the toilet, under the seat. It is durable enough that the cats can stand in it and it is easy enough to take off when I need to use the toilet (no adhesives or other mess). A hole is made in the center that gradually gets larger so that the cat is forced to stand on the seat itself.
   Toilet training your cat is an exercise in classical conditioning, whatever methodology you use. Go slow and with the pace of your cat. Good luck!



5. Well, the book got made, and I bought it. Maybe I'm the dumb one!
   
   We are still (months later) trying, as we really want to eliminate the litter, but have had to research other books and the internet for more, MUCH more info. This author doesn't even offer info for more questions. It's as if he's covered every possible scenario in the world, now it's up to you, the reader, to do it.
   
   All you have to do is read the other reviews of this book to see that he's left out A LOT of possibilities. The reader is left to his own devices to fill in the numerous blanks. And as much time and energy as it takes, I find it almost impossible to believe the author has spent time training his friends' cats, too. It is time consuming, messy, and so far, extremely frustrating for both me and my cat.
   
   We have followed, word for word, every instruction in the book, and have still been unsuccessful. The Saran Wrap? Bad idea - the cat falls through, every time (even with heavy duty wrap & very light Siamese cat ) which causes MUCH consternation on the part of the cat. We finally rig it so he can go again - he'll go, but doesn't like it. He has to be contained in the bathroom, and even still, will go on the floor rather than in the pot.
   
   The pace of the training is entirely too fast, and offers no other options. Note to publisher: if you reprint this book, it needs some serious revisions.