Customer Reviews

Cats For Dummies

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This is a "miniature series" book. Amazon does not specify this clearly. Do not order this and think you are getting a full size book.

I had the huge pleasure of living with two wonderful cats. With them, I mainly figured things out by trial and error. One of them lived to be 17, so things went pretty well all told.

After he passed away and I spent time mourning him, I decided it was time to adopt two new cats. This time, I did the wise thing and tried to educate myself better about cats and cat care before adopting. In fact, since my last two cats came to me as strays, I'd never actually formally adopted a cat from a shelter, breeder, or the like and was looking for guidance on the process itself.

Having found other "for Dummies" books to be very useful, this was the first book I turned to, and so far it's been extremely helpful, both as a guide and as a convenient reference. One of my cats is three months old (my first kitten), and one is a year old, so they both have different needs, and this book covers those needs in a fun, intelligent way. The tone is light, but the information is serious and detailed, with tons of useful advice on adopting, training, feeding, grooming, playing with, and otherwise caring for you cat. Many cat books are written by self-proclaimed experts, so it's nice to see that this one was co-written by a licensed veterinarian with very impressive credentials. My only complaint about the book so far is really a minor one: it would have been nice to have more full-color photos.

As with any topic, this shouldn't be your only reference book, but it should certainly be one of your first cat references.

This kitty reference book really hits the spot. Explains the basics of how to choose a kitty, how to get it home, what to do with it what you've got it home. How to introduce it to family members, small and large, and other pets, also small and large. Well-versed in the pitfalls of kitty care. How to avoid fleas, how to get rid of them. How to spot them. Why never to touch a tick. What foods and litters to choose. Where to put them. Why some cats can't drink water out of plastic bowls!!! (Who knew?) Where to get ID tags for your little Gremlin. (Very helpful.) The minutiae of bathing kitty. Which kitties need more grooming and bathing. But there's also more interesting stuff, like how many fur coats different cats have. (Most have four, but some only have two or three.) What the different fur coats are for. The Latin name of those cute little whiskers. What they're for. How many they have. And why your overweight baby might get stuck in a hole. (Hint: vibrissae don't grow with added poundage.) This book was obviously written by feline lovers for those who are infatuated and smitten with cats and kittens. It's fun reading in itself, and will obviously be extremely useful for answering yet unthought of questions.

I just received this book yesturday and i've already read half of it. Cats for dummies, 2nd ed., has helped me in choosing a cat companion and has many tips on health care, litter box problems, breeding, and more. If you have a cat or are considering a cat this is the book for you.

I hated cats. I really really hated cats. Mostly because I am allergic to them, but I generally hated them. Last Christmas we got a cat and then I was forced to deal with the fact I am now a cat owner. What do I do when forced into a situation I know nothing about? I buy a "....for Dummies" book on the subject. Enter Cats For Dummies. I now consider myself somewhat of an expert on cat behavior because of this book. You learn everything you need to know about cats from this book. Our cat is different than any other cat out there, but no matter what the issue with our cat I can find something about it in this book. A must have for the new cat owner and a good reference guide for the experienced.

I loved this book when I first got it because it was full of fun and interesting advice on everything from grooming to training. The discussions of declawing, etc., were thoughtful, practical, and wise.

Then, when my beloved Cyrus started to fail, I reluctantly turned to the section on geriatric cats and although in some ways it confirmed my worst fears (Cyrus's kidneys were failing) the information and advice was given in such a way as to be comforting. Remember, Spadafori wrote, cats live in the day. This was wonderful advice and helped me appreciate Cyrus's last good times.

I put the book aside for quite a while after that, but when the idea of a new pet no longer seemed like sacrilege, I pulled it out again and read about "road testing" kittens. And now that the rambunctious Musetta is a year old, I'm reading those sections on training again and just loving it.

This is a book for all cat lovers, at any stage of your or your cat's life. - Clea Simon, author "The Feline Mystique: On the Mysterious Connection Between Women and Cats"

Hardly for dummies, this well-written book is ideal for the intelligent and discriminating reader who just happens to know nothing about cats. The text is never condescending or self-consciously witty. The authors respect the reader's time and attention, keeping the presentation simple and to the point, but never dry; clear organization and structure make it easy to skip past sections that don't apply.

This book's greatest virtue is that it neither overwhelms with detail nor speaks in vague generalities. For example, instead of detailing 50+ breeds, the authors explain the chief differences between them and proper criteria for choosing among them. Likewise, you won't find a list of breeders, but you'll find out what makes a good breeder and how to recognize one. From choosing a kitten to understanding body language, "Cats for Dummies" gives you well-reasoned and well-justified principles--knowledge you'll be able to remember and apply.

I recommend "Cats for Dummies" to the first-time cat owner; it will definitely help make the experience smoother and happier, for both you and your cat.

This book is recommended to anyone who is already a cat owner or is thinking about adopting a cat. The book is easy to read and follow. In this book, some of the things discussed about cats includes: deciding between a kitten and a cat, considering sources where you can adopt a cat such as at a shelter, looking for signs of good health in kittens and adult cats, making your house safe for your cat, introducing a new cat to other pets, understanding your cat's five senses, choosing and using grooming tools, discovering your cat's nutritional requirememnts, choosing and working with the right veterinarian, visiting your vet for an annual exam and vaccinations, giving pills & medication and caring for your cat's teeth. A chapter is devoted is to solving behavior problems, getting your cat to have good litter box behavior. Find out if your cat needs a companion or easing your cat if you need to move to a different location. A chapter is devoted to 10 cat related attractions on the infomation superhighway, 10 common household dangers to your cat(gives a list of toxic plants), 10 ways to make your indoor cat happier and 10 of the best things ever said about cats. In the appendix, it includes addresses and websites of breed registeries & show governing, organizations, veterinary groups, magazines & newsletters, pet supply sources and animal charaties.

This book covers everything. As a brand new cat owner, it answered all my questions and made me feel informed before adopting my kittens. If you're looking for a great one-stop book on cats, this is for you.

This is an excellent information book about cats. It is informative, fun, and I think well written. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to have a reference guide to help understand your felines.

I also recommend Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook for anyone wanting more detailed medical info. relating to diseases, treatment options, pictures, etc. I found it to be easy to understand and well written.