No comments about Problem Cats and Their Owners: A Behavior and Training Handbook.

4 comments about Good Cat!: A Proven Guide to Successful Litter Box Use and Problem Solving.

1. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was very helpful. There was a lot of good, practical advice. Book gave me insight to my cat's behavior - he's pretty good at this stage - but I understand him even better now!! Thanks, Shirlee!



2. This book is easy to read and full of useful advice that I haven't found anywhere else! The book tells you how to solve your cat's behavioral problems by getting to the root of the problem. I love my cat and I love this book!



3. I didn't find anything in this book that I couldn't find on the web, but the advantage of owning it is that it is all in one place and can be used for a quick reference.
   
   I have two adolescent cats that urinated repeatedly on a bed and in the corner of the dining room. In November I dropped them off at the Animal Protective League on a Friday afternoon and told the truth as to why I was leaving them. On Saturday I read the receipt they gave me and saw separate charges for each cat for 1) Euthanasia; and 2) Cremation. By Sunday evening I was sick and quite depressed. All I could see was one of them (named Jewel) looking right at me meowing with a scared look in her face as they were taking her away.
   
   On Monday I called and was able to get them back on Wednesday sans gonads. Using this book and other information from their vet and the web I devised a five week program of re-education for my friends consisting of:
   
   1) Changing litter brands; 2) Moving the litter boxes to a more convenient location; 3) Confining them to the basement with their food and litter when I wasn't at home; 4) Thoroughly treating the spots where they (both of them!) were urinating; 5) Playing with and feeding them both at these same spots; 6) Gradually allowing them more time to freely roam the house.
   
   I graduated them both the first week in January by giving them complete ownership of the house and here it is mid February and there have been NO violations. They sleep on the bed and pretty much ignore the area in the dining room where they used to urinate.
   
   I really could not have lived with myself had I not at least tried to work with them before opting for the the last resort - euthanasia. I now have two friends that share their house with me and provide me with good companionship and a lot of laughs.



4. Very common sense, basic training info. My 15 year old cat is urinating all over the house, however, we have been taking him to a weekend home for 15 years and to date has never had an elimination misshap. My long time veterinarian is equally perplexed as to his different behavior in 2 different places. All the available urine analysis & blood tests were done.
   I've tried multiple unscented litters at home and different litter boxes to no avail. There has been no change in the location of his litter box or our behavior,that is noticeable to us!
   I was hoping that this book would have offered us some solution that we hadn't already tried. If you don't have extensive experience with cats, I'd recommend it to the lay cat owner!

1 comments about Cat Behavior and Training: Veterinary Advice for Owners.

1. This is one the best books you can find to teach yourself how to train your cat. This book covers most of the problem behaviors that cat owners will face including improper elimination, aggression, scratching on furniture, et. This book goes into why cats behave that way and sets out simple and humane methods to correct problem behaviors.

4 comments about Understanding Cat Behavior.

1. U.K. biologist Roger Tabor's book is a cleverly illustrated and fairly comprehensive overview of feline behavior. Beautiful full-color photos are used very effectively throughout the text. However, his biologist's focus favors cats in their natural state. He sees the increasing trend towards confining cats in the U.S. and U.K. as a major contributor to behavior problems (p.120). While this may be true, many U.S. bird-lovers might dispute the British study he refers to that found outdoor cats were not threatening bird populations (p.135).

   This book is not a primary cat care manual, or a collection of detailed case studies, but it is an excellent supplemental text for any cat owner who wants (and needs!) to understand their pet better. Though much of it is not of any immediate use to owners of neutered/spayed indoor cats, the entire text is full of fascinating detail and illustration of all aspects of feline behavior throughout the life-cycle. Tabor starts from biological descriptions of the feline class and works towards the behavorial specifics. The problem-solving section is only the last 20 pp. of the book, but it seems thorough enough to cover most common situations.

   I gave this book the full 5 stars because it's very well done for what it offers. However, if you're primarily interested in spayed/neutered indoor cat behavioral issues, there are better books to advise you.




2. This book was promoted as a cat behavior book. It has some interesting information about cat physiology, but the information on behavioral issues, such as scratching, not using the litter box, and so on, is really sketchy. I sent it back because the author is strongly in favor of outdoor access for cats but he never once mentions the potential dangers of life outdoors. He suggests that indoor-only cats are neurotic and unhealthy. But he says nothing at all about FIV or Feline Leukemia, nothing about dogs, mean people, cars, antifreeze, or any of the other dangers that you should consider before making the decision on whether to keep your cat indoors or not. My husband and I each lost great cats to FIV because we didn't know that we were putting them at risk by letting them out. I think it's irresponsible of Roger Tabor not to acknowledge the possible dangers of outdoor life.



3. Understanding Cat Behavior is an excellent first resource to learn about the evolutionary heredity of the domestic cat and how that heritage influences the behaviors of our modern animals. Roger Tabor gives much detail on common behaviors of all cats, large and small, as well as outlining the differences of feral and pet domestic cats from their larger and wilder cousins. Several common "behavioral problems" in our house cats are discussed and why those behaviors occur from an evolutionary stand point. His overview of feline lifestages and physical signals are a great starting point to learning more about the tiny predator in our homes.
   
   If you're looking for more in depth information about cat behavior, cat nutrition, or cat welfare this is probably not the book for you (I would suggest "Your Cat - Simple New Secrets to a Longer, Stronger Life" by Elizabeth M. Hodgkins, DVM Esq). However, if you're new to cat parenting, or never researched cat behavior, this book provides an easy start to understanding why your cat companions behave as they do.



4. I found this book to be very interesting, and I learned a lot from it. I'm a cat lover (not an expert) and I would recommend this book for anybody who is curious about the nature of cats, their behaviors, habits, instincts, etc. as they are found in nature.
   
   I live in a very rural, wooded area, and my cats have complete freedom to be inside or out. Without cats around, the mice would have chewed my entire house to sawdust years ago.
   
   I realize (from past experiences) that their lives are very risky compared to fat, pampered, defenseless, confined cats, but they are in their natural environment, are not overweight, are very active, lean, mean, love to hunt and are very happy. And, of course, they are wonderful companions!

5 comments about Cats Into Everything.

1. This book did not match my expectations. It is fun to flip through and look at some of the images, but most of the photos are not very well done, too cluttered with everything, but the cats. The layout of the book is too cluttered, confusing too. That said, there are a few very nice shots and overall it's a fun book, but i still put it down with a bad taste in my mouth. If you're looking for cool pictures of animals in nice pet-friendly surroundings, but "Animal House Style" by Julia Szabo. It's a so much better book!



2. Every kitten should come equiped with this book. If you don't like it, you ought to consult a physician. A no-BS, colorful, I-wanna-kittie book, we loved every page. But then...ours is a multi cat home with house cats, barn cats, in-the-studio cats and even yard cats. So maybe I'm a bit too subjective, waddya think?

   It's not brain surgery, it is just plain cute. Right now I am ordering six more copies to send to friends and family. No kidding.




3. This is another book by the authors of the Cat House. This is their story of how they live with the felines who run their home. It's both funny, touching, silly and amazing to what lengths they go to keep their furry brood happy. I can only say that they've exceeded my efforts, but only just. Best wishes to them and to the felines blessed to share their 9 lives with them.



4. Amazing what cats can "Think" of to get into. Such delightful creatures to watch,enjoy,love!!!



5. This is the second book by the authors of The Cats' House. We bought this copy for friends in B.C., and they tell us they love the ideas in the book. They also plan to "open up" the walls of their new home with cat-ways, make cat-tunnels between rooms, and paint everything in bright Mexi-colors. We can't wait to see how it turns out!
   
   If you and your friends love color and cats too, this is the perfect gift!

No comments about Teaching Your Cat Simple Tricks (Storey Country Wisdom Bulletin, a-272).

5 comments about Roundhouse Kick (Achieving Kicking Excellence, Vol. 9).

1. This series is a fantastic reference for anyone interested in the finer points of kicking, particularly for those of us whose exposure to this aspect of the martial arts has been somewhat limited. I have been doing this stuff since 1970, for example, yet have focused exclusively on styles that have very little emphasis on kicking applications (e.g., Goju Ryu karate, Kodokan judo, and Matayoshi kobudo). Goju Ryu, for instance, utilizes roughly 70% hand techniques. Don't get me wrong, I have a pretty mean mae geri (front kick) that can rock your world, but there are many other leg techniques utilized by other arts that I am simply not at all expert with--hatchet kicks, axe kicks, and crescent kicks, to name a few.
   
   This is why I was so excited to find Shawn Kovacich's comprehensive "Achieving Kicking Excellence" series. If you are familiar with Kris Wilder's outstanding tome, The Way of Sanchin Kata: The Application of Power, these books take a similarly in-depth yet approachable style. Each volume explores one type of kick in great detail, outlining some 50 or 60 technical points (depending on the type of kick), in an easy to understand and utilize manner. At first blush you might think that it would be tough to devote an entire volume to just one type of kick, yet each offering in this exceptional series runs more than 200 pages and is packed with meaningful information.
   
   No dojo darling, Kovacich really knows what he is talking about. A fourth-degree black belt in both karate and taekwondo, he has competed in full contact sparring tournaments (including the prestigious Sabaki Challenge) and is the world-record holder for both endurance- and high-kicking as certified by the Guinness Book of World Records. Kovacich has been teaching martial arts since 1985 and this knowledge, skill, and ability really shine through in his writing.
   
   The text is clear and comprehensive, yet written in everyday language that just about anyone can easily grasp. No matter how good the writing, however, this sort of topic needs wide-ranging illustrations to ensure thorough comprehension. Fortunately there are tons of them. Regrettably though, the pictures are quite dark and/or grainy in most places (my only real complaint about the series). Despite the fuzziness of the photo printing, however, the pictures themselves are first rate as are the corresponding illustrations. Most of the pictures not only have captions but also reference numbers that align with the text to assure further clarity. There are separate illustrations that show the appropriate foot position and base of support for each movement too. This layout method is really slick; I like it a lot. There is a pretty good index in the back that supplements the table of contents too, so you can easily refer back to anything you will want to re-read later on (and you'll almost certainly want to refer back to much of this information later on).
   
   While the front and back matter are virtually identical amongst the various volumes (such that each one can stand alone without the rest of the series), the core content is unique for each type of kick. This front and back matter (e.g., warm up and stretching) is a bit cursory too, though that is perfectly understandable given the primary focus of the books; truly nothing to be overly concerned with in my opinion. Each volume in the series is laid-out in an identical manner and includes the following topics:
   
   -- Basic anatomy of the kick
   -- Warm up and stretching
   -- Principles of the kicking movement (e.g., stability, balance, sequence of movements, speed, accuracy, targeting, visualization, etc.)
   -- Performing the primary kick (e.g., fighting position, knee raise, coil, impact, follow-through, recoil, knee drop, return to fighting position).
   -- Performing variations from the primary kick (e.g., step, switch, jump, spin, cross-over, etc.)
   -- Training and practice methods (e.g., skill, strength, speed, and power training)
   -- Trouble shooting the kick
   -- Kicking applications against an opponent
   -- Author's awards and accomplishments
   -- Recommended reading
   
   No matter how well written, you cannot learn martial arts solely from a book, of course, but this series is a fantastic supplement for hands-on instruction. It covers important nuances that are rarely described adequately by most sensei (or sifu, etc.). I have found that, in general, books can reach a level of clarity and comprehensiveness that is simply not achievable with DVDs as well. This series is no exception to that rule. Despite a bit of redundancy amongst the various volumes, the technical merits and detailed analysis of the kicks make these books a stellar resource for any serious martial artist. I'm proud to include all ten volumes in my library.
   
   Highly recommended!
   
   
   Lawrence Kane
   Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, Martial Arts Instruction, The Way to Black Belt, and The Way of Kata



2. Before I found my current school and instructor, I had been looking around my area for an instructor to teach me martial arts. At one of the places I tried, the instructor offered me a free class so that I could decide if I wanted to join his school or not. Since it was free I decided to try it out. I should have known better as nothing is ever really free. About half way through the class, the instructor was telling me that I would have to perform a Roundhouse Kick. I had heard of them, but never performed them. I told him that I had never had any classes before and I didn't know how to do it. He didn't really show me at all how to do the kick, he just told me to turn to the side and throw the kick from my hip. As you might well imagine I didn't do very good. After the class was over my hip started hurting badly and when I tried to get out of the car when I got home I started crying. A couple of days later I learned that I had thrown my hip out of place. Needless to say I never went back there again.
   
   A few weeks after that a friend of mine told me about my current school so I took a chance and checked it out. And I am very happy that I did. My current instructor is so nice and always has that little extra time to work with each one of us students. However, when it came time to learn the roundhouse kick, I was a bit apprehensive as you might imagine. After a few weeks I started to get the hang of it and actually felt pretty comfortable executing it, at least in practice. It was about this time that I first heard of Shawn Kovacich and his Achieving Kicking Excellence series of books.
   
   After doing some research, I went ahead and purchased Back Kick and Wheel Kick from Mr. Kovacich and then was lucky enough to get a copy of Axe Kick in PDF format before the official release of that book. Needless to say, I was literally stunned with the amount of detail that was in every book. Because of the quality of these books, I preordered the remaining books in the series. Out of all of the books in the series, Roundhouse Kick was the one that I was really anticipating. So when I finally got my copy of Roundhouse Kick, I started to devour the information. I literally learned oodles and oodles of information on what I was doing wrong and how to correct it. This book, like all the others in the Achieving Kicking Excellence series, breaks down the primary kick, which in this case is the Roundhouse Kick, to its finest details. One of the many things that I learned, was that I was not pivoting properly and that my upper body was doing all kinds of things that it shouldn't have been doing when I was executing each kick.
   
   This is a great book for anyone, from the person that is just starting to learn how to kick, to the person that has been practicing kicks for years. The details that are included in each book are truly something to behold. I have never seen any book on the martial arts that has this kind of detail. You are to be commended for writing and producing such a fantastic series of books. I look forward to reading the rest of your books in the series and I have no doubt that I will be equally impressed with each one if not more so.



3. Valuable set of volumes on kicking for the martial artist
   
   
   If you are a novice martial artist, a kick-box exercise video nut, or someone who wants to advance their knowledge of martial art kicks, this book looks as if it would be very helpful.
   
   The series of books is organized by type of kick: back, wheel, axe, crescent, reverse crescent, front, hook, hatchet, roundhouse, side kick. Ten books in all.
   
   The volumes are absolutely loaded with pictures of not only kick technique but also of helpful strength-with-weight exercises, especially gym exercises with machines like the hack squat and leg press sled and of course the all-important lunge. So you get not only a discussion of how-to, but of what exercises can improve overall performance by gaining muscle strength. There are pictures with overlays of angles and axes, giving you an idea of proper form, though there is no substitute for a sensei giving you real-time feedback, of course. So these books are a good adjunct to martial arts class in the dojo; something to read and then take to practice and work on with real-time help.
   
   There is a section on sparring--right and wrong. There is a suggested reading list in the back. A very complete series.
   
   The only thing these volumes suffer from is slightly dark and low contrast black and white photograph reproduction due to pictures being on paper stock and not glazed plate stock, in order to keep costs reasonable for publishing. And the cover photo is wonderful but the graphic design (showing the title being shattered by the someone doing the title kick) was a GREAT concept but you can't read the title on the front cover (because it's being kicked to bits!) This is annoying; you have to read the spine to see which kick the book is about. If this bugs you, it's easily fixed: get some stickers or a Sharpie and mark the front cover with something like SIDE KICK VOL 10 or whatever works for you.
   
   Author Kovacich is a black belt in both Karate and Tae Kwon Do (which of course is one of the martial arts for which the kick is the premier technique.)



4. 
   I took some time after reading Shawn's other books to due provide the reviewer and Shawn's books a sincere examination. Was I reading them too quickly and less critically? After all, his format is similar through the series; it would be an easy mistake to do (although this similarity is a strength for this "kicking" series).
   
   Shawn's book on the roundhouse kick is simply outstanding. I did have a couple of minor cripples, but they are so minor they do not justify a 4 star rating because ultimately, it came down to the switch roundhouse kick that I think works well in some few situations, most notably a TKD type tournament, while may at times have drawback in full contact competition. I just wished this had been discussed. The switch roundhouse can be useful there as well, but a more detailed discussion should have followed. With that said to lower the rating this time on this kick for one area would be an injustice.
   
   The roundhouse kick is probably the most widely used kick for competition and sparring purposes. Thank for a second: It is the primary kick for Muay Thai, Tae Kwon Do, MMA, and full contact karate fighters like Sabaki practitioners. Great resource!



5. Like all the titles in Shawn Kovacich's Achieving Kicking Excellence series, book 9 Roundhouse Kick is a comprehensive study of one of the important kicks used in modern martial arts today. The book is incredibly thorough with numerous photos demonstrating the every aspect of the kick in minute detail. Mr. Kovacich knows his stuff and it is obvious that he has spent many hours honing his technique. The book provides an in-depth study of the bones, muscles and mechanics involved in the kicking technique.
   
   In addition, the book contains a wealth of supplemental information on strength, speed and power generating exercises to enhance the technique. There is also a section on stretching as well as the application of the technique.
   
   This book is ideal for any martial artist who wishes to perfect their roundhouse kicking ability. The beginner will find a wealth of information to assist in developing proper mechanics while the advanced practitioner will glean some vital knowledge from an accomplished teacher.
   
   Be sure to check out the other books in this series. You are sure to find one that addresses the specific kick that you need work on.
   
   Aaron Hoopes
   author of Zen Yoga: A Path to Enlightenment through Breathing, Movement and Meditation

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. 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. 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.



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



4. 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.



5. 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 comments about The Well-Mannered Dog: From Dealing with Cats to Staying in Hotels, a Total Guide to Good Manners.

1. This book is easy to understand and covers basic dog training and tackling specific problems. The authors like the "reward with a treat" approach but they don't rule out gentle corrections. They do warn against harsh corrections, explaining why punishment can make your dog fearful.



2. Great tips but my dog has a mind of his own. I wish he could read the book and do the things.

No comments about Psycho Kitty: Tips for Solving Your Cat's "Crazy" Behavior.