Customer Reviews

202 Pets' Peeves: Cats and Dogs Speak Out on Pesky Human Behavior

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Ask not what your pets can do for you; ask what you can do for your pets! If our cats and dogs could talk, you can bet they'd have more than a few complaints about us to get off their chests.

Veteran magazine writer and "self-proclaimed pet expert" Cal Orey has channeled her dog Dylan's and cat Kerouac's biggest issues into a briskly readable, amusingly useful catalog of all the things they wish we knew. Researched with animal behaviorists, trainers, and veterinarians, 202 Pets' Peeves is a refresher course for knowledgeable pet lovers and a checklist for humans just starting out with their very first "fur child."

When it comes to pet nutrition, Orey thinks outside the can. Chuck that yucky generic budget kibble and share a little of that raw hamburger you're cooking for dinner with your cat. Give your dog an occasional slice of your whole-wheat crust veggie pizza. Dylan begs, "As a pack animal, I would share my prey with you." You take vitamin supplements. Don't your pets deserve their own?

Orey's sage warnings might help prevent a world of woe. With vet bills skyrocketing, pet medical insurance is becoming vital to avoid a possible heart-wrenching conflict between an unbearable financial burden and your pet's survival. Cats should be kept indoors during the Fourth of July and Halloween when they're most subject to malicious cruelty. You should have a disaster plan in place in case your pet needs to be evacuated when you aren't home.

Empathy and communication are two areas where humans need work. Dylan requires "quality hugging time" and gets depressed when he's scolded, suffering "bad dog day afternoons." Kerouac urges humans to respond when he has invited interaction, but to respect his privacy when he's busy doing his own thing.

Some of Orey's recommendations are debatable. Kerouac craves a hooded litter box for privacy, but some vets warn that enclosed boxes concentrate the dust that cats kick up around their mouths and noses. And it's hard not to raise an eyebrow at: "To experience an after-life dog reunion, contact a pet psychic who specializes in contacting deceased pets."

But 202 Pets' Peeves' strength lies in its rich diversity of pet-related topics, its provocative get-you-thinking style, and its creative solutions. How bout fitting your dog with a pair of kids' swimming goggles to protect its eyes during head-out-the-window car rides? Or, rather than declawing, fitting your cat with Soft Paws nail caps? Or installing a fish-tank screensaver for kittie's diversion? (Oddly, Kerouac fails to demand the greatest cat toy around: the laser pointer, which allows humans to run their felines all over the house while reclining in a strategically located easy chair.) Copious resource references help you find everything from animal behaviorists to doggie daycare to the Alley Cat Rescue website.

So listen to Dylan and Kerouac, two of the savviest "spokespets" around, and they'll help you make everybody's life smoother, safer, and more satisfying.

Discover what your pet really thinks of you!

Sure, your pet loves you, but even the cuddliest cat or most delightful dog has issues. Written from the perspective of the one who matters most--your pet--this fun, fascinating, and revealing book gives the dog's eye and cat's eye views on life. Now you can find out why they look at you adoringly, and what sends them scurrying under the bed in fear or disgust. Cal Orey consulted top animal shrinks, trainers, and vets, getting the most up-to-date advice on everything from grooming gaffes to the right and wrong kinds of exercise, the long and short of leashes, and dealing with personality problems--yours and theirs. Also included are amusing anecdotes, along with a generous list of animal-friendly activities and other pet-related resources. Written in a warm and witty style, and packed with timeless tips to keep tails wagging happily, 202 Pets' Peeves is a must-read for every animal lover!

You'll more than scratch the surface on 101 Feline Peeves, including:
* Food--the boring, the bad, and the dangerous
* The real scoop on litter boxes
* Giving your kitty the wrong cat toy
* Romancing an anti-cat mate-hiss!
* Treating your cat like a dog, or, "What the heck do you mean, 'Come!'"
* And more information that every cat lover should know!

And put a leash on 101 Canine Peeves, including:
* The skinny on overfeeding
* The fast track to training
* Taking a bite out of fleas
* Visiting the vet and other necessary evils
* And more information that every dog lover should know!

The book is great...I am having a hard time getting it away from my 12 year old who insists on reading it first. Last night she stayed up late finishing the cat peeves...and called me into her room to read several to me.

My 9 year old has claimed second read! They love reading it to me though so I might just get the book read by listening to them read it to me!

For anyone who owns a pet-our beloved friends-this book is a must have!

Pet owners are unlikely to continue to take their furry family members for granted after they've finished reading Cal Orey's delightful new book. In a lighthearted, often humorous manner, it offers illuminating information about exactly why our dogs and cats tend to behave as they do. This book is a PURR-fect gift for any pet owner.

Cal's book, "Pets' Peeves" is a delight to read, and her love of animals shines through every page! If you really love your cat(s) as I do, buy this book and get a real education from your cat's point of view!

What a great book!
When I first heard about it I thought that the author may have padded the numbers by making up a lot of bogus pet peeves. The fact of the matter is that every one of these peeves is legitimate, and in some cases eye-opening.
And although much of the book is written in a light and humorous tone, there are also some items in it, (giving them cheap food, neglecting vet visits, dental health, etc.) that are quite serious.
If you've had pets all your life and you're looking for an insight into their little minds, then you really should not only get this book, but refer to it often.
If you're thinking about getting your first dog or cat, then you should get this book first, and avoid all the little mistakes first before turning your pet into a neurotic basket case.