5 comments about Why Do Cats Always Land on Their Feet?: 101 of the Most Perplexing Questions Answered About Feline Unfathomables, Medical Mysteries and Befuddling Behaviors.

1. I bought this book for my Dad who at 82 has hated cats his whole life. We found a stray 3 week old kitten by his back porch. It weight 1.1 and was very sick. I have 4 cats of my own and could't take it home with me so my Dad said he would care for him until I could take him. That day never came. My Dad named him Elmer and my sister and I are both jealous of all the attention our new "brother" gets. The book was well written and fun to read. My Dad enjoyed it and it gave him some insight to cats as he has never been around them.



2. 
   When I bought the book I thought it was just going to be a funny cute book about cats. When I started to read it I learned so much that was helpful, and it made me laugh. I would read outloud so my husband would enjoy it at the same time. I think any body who has a cat needs to read this book.



3. "Do Cats Always Land on Their Feet?" is fun and full of cat facts and mind games they play. It is written by pet experts, Dr. Becker and Gina Spadafori, who explain the cat way of thinking and behavior. The questions are listed in the contents so you can pick and choose the questions you want answered. Many are health-related - such as What causes diabetes in cats? This answer includes proper weight, diet, care and web-based resources for owners of diabetic cats. Other medical mysteries and perplexing questions answered are: Were cats once really worshiped as gods?, Why do cat's eyes shine at night? Are all calico cats female? Can cats tell time? Why are some cats so chatty? and Why do cats like to drink running water?
   
   For cat lovers everywhere - here are 101 questions adeptly answered. A great little book



4. Very interesting book. I bought it as a gift for my cat loving daughter and a friend. I ended up reading it as well and learned a few things.



5. Just not worth the money and shelf space to me. Trite and nothing the average cat person does not already know or could easily research online for 'free.'

1 comments about Oh, Cats! (My First I Can Read).

1. This book uses repetition and easy vocabulary to tell the story of a little girl and cats. Simple enough for even beginning readers, this is sure to please young cat lovers everywhere! The illustrations complement the words nicely and make it appealing to young children.

3 comments about Withrow and MacEwen's Small Animal Clinical Oncology.

1. Small Animal Clinical Oncology is NOT aimed at "civilian" pet owners like me. I bought this book after getting a cancer diagnosis on my dog, desperate for more detailed information than what I've found so far in books for the general public. I hesitated at the price, but I'm now very glad I bought it. I strongly suggest having Taber's Medical Dictionary handy if you're not in the field, and many of the photos were very tough to look at. Each chapter is written by different authors, it's footnoted to the nth degree which makes it easier if you should want to find further info. The chapters are well laid out and offered lots of basic and not so basic info on different tumors and cancers, progression, treatments, theory, classifications, pathology, etc. The last chapter on Bond Centered Practice is very touching from where I stand, addressing the handling of us owners in a very comforting way.

   This book has most anything pet owners could want to know from a conventional medicine standpoint if they're willing to wade through it. There's info about the not-so-conventional side too, I found that a bonus since I'm interested in both sides. I did get totally lost in a couple of the theory chapters, that's to be expected for the likes of me, but I managed most of it. While a tough read for for a those not in the field, I've really learned a lot from this book, it's the best I've found on the subject so far. I can't rate this 5 full stars since I am not in the target group it's written for. If there are any problems, inaccuracies, or unnoted controversies, I'd probably never know, but none are obvious to me anyway.




2. If you want the low-down on small animal oncology - this is where to look! This text is the next-best thing to a consultation with a specialist.



3. I am currently finishing up an advanced clinical rotation in surgical and medical oncology at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. I bought this book as a main resource, along with Fossum's surgery text, Slatter's, and Nelson/Couto's medical text. Withrow's book has been extremely helpful with the background information required to diagnose, treat, and predict the behavior of most tumors. I would recommend this book to anyone specializing in oncology, surgery, internal medicine, or even the general practicioner.

5 comments about Sour Puss: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery (Mrs. Murphy Mysteries).

1. Now, this Harry Harristeen is not the same charming person that used to work in the post-office! What has happened? The dialogues sound like excerpts from an agricultural manual. Real people don't talk like that! Of course I understand the problem of writing a murder mystery series situated in a small town with mostly the same people: You have to introduce new characters in every book which (surprise!) mostly end up either as victims or murderers. (That's why Miss Marple always traveled so much!) Well, maybe there is hope, since Harry and Fair are going on their honeymoon to Kentucky in the next book... Sometimes I wonder, if Ms. Brown is even still writing these books, or if they're ghostwritten by a farming politician who loves horsepower, but not so much cats and dogs...PS: And I do miss Miranda's orange-glazed sticky buns!



2. I've always been a fan of Sneaky Pie, but I think she allowed Rita Mae a bit too much input on this one. Borrrrrring, endless details about the Virginia wine-making industry (I'd call it an info-mercial) and many product placements (boots and coats) make this read more like a combination of an agricultural textbook and a slick-cover catalog than the murder mysteries I've loved.
   
   Let's hope the next installment, due out in 2008, goes back to the previous format where the story is actually about the characters and not "things".
   
   Many hisssssssssssssssses and swats for this one.



3. ... all over the place:
   
   Love between humans; love between humans and animals; love between animals and humans; love of humans for wine; and love of humans for money.
   
   If you need to sum up this book it's all about the love.
   
   The book starts with the long anticipated marriage between Harry and Fair. Since this is the second time for each of them - although to each other, again - the church wedding is lightly attended and immediately the scene is stolen by Mrs. Murphy and Pewter who stage a royal cat fight right in from of everyone.
   
   From there, we go on to spend most of the book on wine, vines, and vineyards. As this is a huge turnaround from the horse country chitter chatter of the previous books, it takes one quite aback. I suppose that Albemarle County has to evolve or maybe Rita Mae Brown got tired of writing horse tails - in any case, please be aware that the horses are in very minor roles here.
   
   Next come the mystery and the murder. Just on schedule, one of the new characters is missing. A search yields nothing but that is because the searchers neglected to ask the animals for their advice. Once Pewter, Tucker, and Murphy are engaged they find the body and lead Harry to it. Which, of course, leads to more questions and more bodies until Harry herself gets involved.
   
   The storyling in this book was flat in several respects. First of all, one of the main charming points of the series up until now was how Harry knew everyone from her post in the little post office. Well, she quit it last book and rather than being even more penny pinching, she suddenly has no job and lots of money - early on in the book it's mentioned that she bought the 230 acres from Blair - enough money not to really be working at anything beyond her beloved farm chores. She certainly has time to drive around with Susan, Coop, Boom Boom and her other assorted friends rather than earn a living. Is all of this money coming in from her husband?
   
   Other changes that took place were also somewhat stilted. Boom Boom apparently discovers that her true love has always been other women. This is from the same Boom Boom that has been features in many of the books as either a marriage-buster or husband-stealer. So, now she is a lesbian?
   
   Because the small old post office was demolished, Miranda is also relegated to tiny roles and only appears once in person - although her baking is still mentioned frequently!
   
   Finally, the mystery itself is not much of a mystery. By the middle of the book it was obvious to me who the murdere was and I found the rest of the killings to be done in poor taste. The whole plot was really stretched out and made too convoluted as supposed explanations for what was going on. Another trend that I do not like is that Harry has lately always had to be the one who resolves the crimes at severe risk to herself. In this case, she is completely uninvolved in the story line until almost the final chapter or two, but then is viciously attacked and only the help of her various animal friends saves her life. The finaly negative comment is that the final battle is way too graphically depicted! We do NOT need to read about what each bloody attack accomplished in terms of pain and damage to various body parts.
   
   For all those reasons, I downgraded the rating to a three. I still love the concept of the animals solving the crimes and telling the stupid humans where to look; I still enjoy reading about the Virginia aristocracy and their foibles; and I still enjoy Harry and the various people she associates with. So, let's hope for a better effort in the next volume and raise a glass of wine to it!



4. I really enjoy all the books by Ms. Brown and Sneaky Pie. I don't understand why everyone seems so outraged by this one. So she goes on about certain subject matters. I didn't think it was that bad at all. A fiction book that actually tries to teach you something, what is the world coming to...



5. I think it is cute that Rita Mae Brown gives co-author credit to her cat, Sneaky Pie Brown! How cool is that?
   
   The discussions between the animals gave this book real flavor. We get to learn the thoughts of Mrs. Murphy and Pewter (cats), Tucker (dog), plus that of an owl, possum, snake, and a mule.
   
   The main human character is a lady named Harry, a retired postal worker who spends her time tending to her farm and solving mysteries.
   
   This was a fun read with pretty good mystery elements. The only thing I didn't care for was the overabundant speil of agri-information concerning grape cultivation, vine diseases, horse raising, and biochemical warfare. I felt it was a bit heavy on those parts. I still enjoyed the book, though.

5 comments about The Cat Who Went Underground (Cat Who...).

1. In this latest outing with Qwill and the cats there is a lot less mystery and more cat hijinks.
   
   This time around Qwill is visiting his log Cabin in Moose County with his catsYum Yum and Koko. Once there Qwill wants to add onto his cabin only to find out that all the professional carpenters are working on bigger summer projects and he has to go with someone less worthy. Finally he snags the right one only for the carpenter to disappear. From here on it is one carpenter after the next due to mysterious disapperances. Its up to Qwill to find out what in the world is going on.
   
   This one has all the humor and fun as the previous novels but with less mystery and more emphasis on fun and hijinks. This novel has everything from UFO's to crazy 4th of July Flash Floods. This book is perfect for a summer read at the beach where you can just read but don't have to pay to much attention to what is happening due to not much myster involved. Definitely a great read though....Next one in line: The Cat who Talked to Ghost....



2. You gotta love these pesky critters who are not so different from most cats. They have helped Ms B raun tell fascinating tales for many tomes. I hope to keep reading about them for eons.



3. Qwill, Koko and Yum Yum are at it again, and I wasn't disappointed. It was a fun story. I enjoyed reading it, and really enjoy listening to the cassettes in the car--the traffic isn't so bad with them along.



4. While part of a series, this book stands fairly well on its own. You don't need any prior knowledge of Quilleran or his Siamese cats to enjoy it.
   
   The serial murders provide the backdrop for his summer at Mooseville, but the majority of the story is really Quilleran and his interactions with the various eccentrics populating the lakeside community and of course with Yum Yum and Koko. Some of those are very endearing, particularly in the nursing home, others are merely humorous (Big Lou and his new tools which he doesn't know how to use).
   
   While there are certainly some dark moments - it is a murder mystery - it was still pretty quick and overall light reading. The plot is subservient to the characters, and I guess that is okay for this fare. But several potentially interesting sub-plots are left unresolved, which was less than satisfying to me. The "visitors", the Russell girl - would have liked more information on those story lines.
   
   Entertaining and fine for a break from more serious works.



5. Qwill decides to spend the summer at the lake since Polly is in England. After moving into the "K" estate cabin, he decides it is too small. He plans an addition but much to his dismay, many carpenters are unavailable because they are dead. Yes, carpenters are dropping like flies by accidents and natural causes. Qwill finds a really good one and then he disappears!
   
   The plot thickens. Mildred, Qwill's friend and Moose County Home Economics teacher, calls on a psychic friend to help. Koko and Yum Yum help with the investigation. More excitement and death happens before Koko figures it all out.
   
   I loved this book! You will too!

5 comments about Raw Meaty Bones Promote Health (P).

1. For those who have more time to read about raw feeding, this is your book. Dr. Lonsdale's book "Work Wonders" (in my previous review) is great for shorter reading. Since I have owned dogs all my life, I have also lost many to cancer and other related illnesses. With my new dog, I am trying raw feeding and reading all that I can about it. It's different and takes time getting the right diet and what agrees with her. I believe in being open minded, and this book really opens the mind.



2. I just wanted to take a second to write a little review. No not one of those big reviews that yells "give me all the attention, I'm the best reviewer out here!"
   
   But a lil small review that covers some of the things some people have spoken about and what not.
   
   First some say this book seemingly is all about the author, Tom Londsdale. Ok, the forward, preface, and even chapter 1 is about him and the industry, but then he goes in to great detail about dental care, how artificial dog foods damage the teeth and so forth and so forth.
   
   Some say it's hard to follow, well, I'll admit at times it is. It's a book of detailed reasons of why to go on the raw diet. It's not a recipe book, it's a good book to give you an idea about the raw diet, and frankly for the raw diet you dont need a recipe book! What's so hard about giving a raw chicken?
   
   So I give this 4 stars, because it is a good book, however it can be a bit boring at times.
   
   I just ordered "give your dog a bone" how I look forward to reading that!



3. This book is a helpful guide for those discussing a RAW diet with their vet. Lonsdale provides an in depth account of what he's seen as a doctor of veterinary medicine. The book was much easier to read than some other books related to this topic. We used this book as a companion when discussing our dogs' health with our veterinarian. She found the information useful and I believe that is a compliment to the book. If not for making the choice to switch to RAW, it will have you asking your vet more questions about your pet's healthcare.



4. Vets are good for medical stuff. I use them for drawing blood, running blood tests and prescribing medication when needed. Other than that, I would disregard anything a regular vet has to say about both animal nutrition and animal psychology*. Vets are brainwashed by these food companies when they are in vet school to push their unhealthy (but profitable) foods. There is a reason this author had to fight so hard to get his ideas out there.
   Dogs survived thousands of years without bagged kibble, doing guess what? Eating Raw Meaty Bones. This book is such an eye-opener to something that should really be just simple common sense. Dogs are meant to eat MEAT, not corn meal, wheat or high-fructose corn syrup. Cats need meat even more so.
   The DAY we changed our dogs over to eating Raw Meaty Bones, we noticed an astonishing difference. They are healthier and happier because they are doing what dogs should do!
   READ this book, take the little bit of extra time to FOLLOW it and you will be rewarded 1000x over by your animals.
   *My husband has been involved in animal training for years and follows something close to Cesar Millan's approach. So as far as dog psychology goes, if you can't hire my husband, read Cesar's book and watch the Dog Whisperer!!



5. I purchased this book along with several other raw feeding and natural pet care books. I expected it to simply be another raw "how to". And while it does include a chapter that gives a basic overview to feeding raw, the majority of the book is dedicated to the scientific reasoning of raw. It is a major confidence booster to the beginning raw feeder to see exactly WHY they are making the best possible diet choice for their animals. Dr. Lonsdale writes in a way that even the average pet owner can understand, while avoiding dumbing the material down. It is also fascinating to see the struggle that modern vets who support raw have had with trying to prove the worth of this diet.

5 comments about The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell (Cat Who...).

1. Amateur feline sleuths KoKo and YumYum again help reporter Qwilleran solve the mystery. This time, the Town of Pickax is on the verge of its 150th anniversary. Polly, Qwill's amore, has moved from Head Librarian to Manager of The Pirates' Chest, a bookstore financed largely through the K-Fund which came from Qwill's unexpected inheritance.
   
   A large part of Braun's success is a reader's enchantment with Qwill, his two cats and his community. After an architect student sketches the interior of Qwill's apple barn home, a murder takes place at a family reunion. Qwill and his Siamese cats put together their senses to find out the who and why. The mystery plays a small part of this novel but it is fun to revisit the world created by Braun.



2. The books arrived sooner than I expected them to arrive, and are in excellent condition. I am very pleased with the promptness and care shown by "Please-Buy-Mine" and will keep them in mind when the next occasion arises for buying books.



3. "The sad fact is that if Ms. Braun were still alive, she'd be over 100 years old now."
   
   um, she was born in 1913? do the math???
   
   I agree this book was not nearly anything compared to the rest of the series... it had several disappointments... however, as a collector, I am always thrilled to hear when a new TCH is coming out... Hopefully the next one will have been straightened out... or maybe if there is a ghostwriter someone could just nix this book & rewrite another in it's place, as if that whole book had been nothing but a freaking nightmare... I know the writing was!



4. I've read the majority of The Cat Who... books over the years. This one was by far the worst. The dialog was corny. If I had a dollar for every exclamation point in the book, I would be a millionaire!!!!!



5. The first few books of this long series were rather charming mysteries, if a bit too cozy, perhaps, but they have dribbled down to pointless treacle. This book is virtually plotless, with flat characters, silly diialogue, and a vague but over-sweet atmosphere. Abundant use of exclamation points does not make a flat story seem to be dramatic.
   
   I'd rather remember the cat who books of the earlier entries in the series. It's time to stop them--now. I, for one, will read no more of them.

5 comments about Hairy Maclary Scattercat (Hairy Maclary).

1. We've been reading this, the hairy MacLary and other Lynley Dodd books for 5 years now....started when my son was about 18 months, and still going strong! There is as much in the language for a 6 year old starting to read on their own as for the shared experience with younger children.

   Lynley Dodd and Margaret Mahy MUST be New Zealand National Treasures.




2. This is a delightful book, the language is great and the pictures wonderful. Most of Lynley Dodd's regular characters such as Slinki Malinki and Scarface Claw make an appearance as Hairy Maclary bounces along through the pages in a boisterous mood. I love reading this one to my three year old niece. The words have a real rhythm to them and the story has just enough suspense to keep little ones interested. I have not yet read a Lynley Dodd book that I don't like - but this one is a real favourite!



3. Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy is peppy and bouncy and looking for fun. But what he really wants is something to chase and for a dog that often means cats. Hairy Maclary begins his rampage.
   
   Through the course of the book we are introduced to quite a few of the local feline community. But they are all quickly chased away with only slight effort and no real chance for a good chase. But then Hairy Maclary spots one more twitching tale and a long chase ensues. But who is chasing who?
   
   My kids love the Hairy Maclary books with its colorful illustrations, cute and funny animals, lyrical verse and plenty of fun. This one is somewhat reminiscent of the first in the series (HAIRY MACLARY FROM DONALDSON'S DAIRY) but still fresh and a delight. Some of these cats are truly adorable even to do fanciers. Check it out.



4. We recieved Slinky Malinky as a gift last year and read it so many times that the book fell apart! All of these books (any Slinky Malinky and Hairy McClary) have the cutest stories about mis-behaving animals interacting with each other and wreaking havoc for the humans in their lives. The illustrations are great and the stories are short enough that my one year old and three year old can both sit and enjoy them. I highly recommend any of the books in this series. They are just adorable.



5. My kids love Hairy Maclary's books, and this one is one of the best we have.
   I really recomend it, specially if they like Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy!

5 comments about Cat People.

1. I am a huge cat lover. Can't live without them, couldn't imagine even trying. So I was excited to get this book, as it seemed right up my alley. When I got it, I was disappointed in the size but good things come in small packages (or so they say) and I gave it a shot.
   
   I'm still disappointed. For an editor-in-chief, Michael Korda is in serious need of one himself. Run on sentences and completely non-sensical paragraphs abound, and if he switched persons once he did it 50 times. One minute he's talking about his wife and her cat, and the next we're reading from his wife's point of view, and then all of a sudden it's 3rd person. I had to read sentences over and over just to get what was being said!
   
   I didn't feel an emotional connection with the cats, either. How is it possible to desensitize a cat lover of my status? Bad writing, that's how. I was sad when the cat was hit by a car, but it was such a fleeting moment - given less than a paragraph of mention - that I couldn't feel THEIR loss.
   
   Given what I know now, I wouldn't have bought this book. Take that as you will. I expected this to be funny and touching, much like Marley and Me (which I highly recommend) - but it fell much too short.



2. I had actually picked this book up on a whim while shopping at barnes and nobles, and i have to say, its one of the best feel good books I've read. Its true thats its about the Korda's and their cats with a few inputs of friends and famlilies cats as well. But either way, it was very enjoyable. Even after I had finished the book, I wanted to know more and more about their cats. The book is filled with humorous stories about cat antics and the very different personality of each cat they've come across. I found myself laughing aloud, nodding my head in agreement, and indeed - calling over my boyfriend to read aloud to him a sentence or a paragraph even of things I found too amusing. This is a must have for all cat lovers. Its a quick read too, so if you're going on a trip, it'll be the perfect reading companion.



3. I have written a cat book similar to this one, and I've been trying to find an agent to represent it, so I was curious to see how this one read. Well, considering the author is an editor at a major publishing house, that explains how such a small book, 163 pages and of almost paperback book dimensions, got published. And how it got published despite a rambling storyline that doesn't seem cohesive at times, with chapters that seem to come from other books and stuck in at random.
   
   In short, the plot is: two people who like cats well enough meet, marry, and because they live in the country, acquire more cats. They are very civilized people, so the book is told in a very civilized, high society way, which waters down the humor of it a bit.
   
   And it seems their neighbors, who had more than 20 cats at one time, would make a better book than the Kordas, who seldom have more than five in the house at a time. I have eight rescued strays and I live in the suburbs, so I think even I have a more interesting story.
   
   Mr. Korda's little cat drawings are cute, though, and occasionally some of the stories are endearing or made me laugh, but the careless editing and plotting just got me mad, especially when I think of all the agents that keep turning me down and yet THIS got published.
   
   And my other major upset, and a warning to cat lovers who might be thinking about buying this book, is what the Kordas did to Mrs. Bumble, the biter. They had her put to sleep. No, they didn't try a behavioral therapist first. They didn't try anything. They had a barn and a tack room, for goodness sakes, and they didn't even transfer her to barn cat status. Because she would occasionally bite hard without provocation, they put her down! She was a beautiful, healthy cat and even the vet had reservations, but did what the Kordas wanted. Death to cat. That kind of turned me off on these people, and the Mrs. Bumble incident comes halfway through the book, so you're ruined for the rest of it. I don't think you get to call yourself "Cat People" when you do something like that.



4. Cats are fascinating, delightful creatures and when I read this book, I knew the authors felt the same way. Margaret's relationship to Chutney reminded me of my relationship to Rascals, my ginger cat who could better be called Lover Boy. The story of the New York City cat who fell out the window onto the awning of a nearby building was thrilling. Each and every one of the cats and the people who loved them just opened my heart even more to cats. I loved the book and bought copies to give away to friends and relatives who are "cat people." If you are a cat person, you will love this book.



5. Not "hilariously entertaining" as the front cover would have you believe -- that is, nothing in here is laugh-out-loud funny. But it's a whimsical and amusing look at how obsessive cat owners can be through the eyes of two who sort of slid into that borderline obsession and how they got there. Interspersed are some interesting factual asides about cats and famous cat owners, but this is more of a short book-length personal essay about the pleasures and perils of multiple cat ownership. Good airplane reading.

2 comments about Garfield Fat Cat Three Pack Volume III (Garfield Fat Cat Three Pack).

1. I loved this book. Being one of the earlier books in the Garfield collection Jim Davis had many fresh ideas to work with. You may be surprized that Garfield looks slightly different , but the attitude stays the same. If you want to see Garfield very different, see fat cat 3-pack number one. If you love Garfield, This is a must have.

   This book features: Mondays, The caped Avenger, The fence, Nermal, Odie, and of course Garfields sick addiction to food .

   Enjoy!

   If you liked this one I reccomend Fat Cat 3 pack: 4, 5, and 7.




2. This book is a must for old school Garfield fans.New school people don't understand this.Perfect for old fans 20+.Good buy.