Customer Reviews

Cat Be Good : A Commonsense Approach to Training Your Cat

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a an animal advocate and former feline veterinarian, I am thrilled that Ms. Bruce has produced this interesting, readable, thorough, thoughtful book about how to be your cat's best friend. Her experience as a behaviorist lends extra validity to her suggestions. Good info for people new to the world of cats, as well as for hard-core feline enthusiasts. Anyone who's ever had a behavior problem with a cat (a large audience!) will find solid, practical, workable answers here. The unusual format makes this book particularly user-friendly. As the subtitle says, this book is a compendium of common sense advice, a rare blessing in today's world! And for those who are contemplating declaw surgery for their furry pals, read this book first! Annie Bruce tells you what vets don't want you to know!

Yes, this book may be simply written and say nothing that one cannot find addressed more academically in numerous other books on feline behavior. However, unlike the negative reviewer, most people have not read all those other books -- nor are they likely to. They do not have the benefit of that reviewer's expertise and background. Cat Be Good speaks in simple, enjoyable easy to read language which is well laid out and prompts the reader to continue sniffing through it. THAT is why I will be giving it to people who adopt cats from me. I will put this one in their hands as part of the adoption process. Everyone in the household from age 12 up can learn from it. I recently adopted a cat to a White House staff member and another to a decorated Persian Gulf officer who flew 40 missions and whose plane went down 3 times. These people do not want to turn owning a cat into a science project. They want the "Readers Digest condensed version that doesn't give them a headache guide" to assist them and the cat to live together comfortably. Many in this (Washington, DC) area don't need homework assignment-type reading. This book IS simple and beautifully typeset with sidebars and cute stories and just plain fun and entertaining. It addresses serious topics (such as working with declawed cats who bite or have litterbox issues) and does so by offering a couple of tricks which WORK. I know there are many many theories and ideas about what works and what doesn't work when problems arise. I prefer to have cat owners with problems focus on the couple of techniques which are the most viable. --Joanna Harkin/Alliance for Stray Animals and People (yes we help indigent people too encountered as we assist stray, homeless and about to become homeless animals). http:4asap.org

I have recently added a kitten to my life. Wow! I never realized the responsibility. I am so grateful for Annie's new book, "Cat Be Good..." It helped me understand how to appropriately train my kitten in a disciplined yet loving manner. The results were awesome! I learned how to receive the results I wanted without developing bad/negative behavior in my cat, while at the same time maintaining my own resolve and not loosing my temper like I normally would. I know I have done a wonderful service to both myself and my cat by reading this book and utilizing the profound information/advice it offers. I would recommend it to anyone who wishes to train their kitten/cat in the appropriate, loving manner while at the same time receiving the results you desire. Thank You Annie!

I have a non-profit group in Washington DC to help animals and intend to give each new adopter a copy of this book. It is a blueprint for cat care. I am just so impressed with it. The author attacks declawing which so many people try to tell me is not a problem. I'm glad it goes so well for so many, but from my vantage point as a rescuer it doesn't go well for a lot of cats who start biting or develop "litter box issues." Almost no humane group allows it to be done ... and this book (a) tells why and (b) tells how to train your cat so you won't be tempted to risk bone surgery on your cat and open yourself (and the cat!) to a lot of potential grief. There are many more topics than this in the book equally well-addressed by the author. I could have written much of this book myself. It is excellent. Please -- of all the MANY books on cat care -- THIS is the one to visit (and revisit). It is a "manual" for catowners. And will improve the lot of many cats too!

So an old friend of mine who knew I orginally came from Michigan hands me this book. She said "You are always making fun of cats and cat people. After you read this book you will look at both differrently." She was so right that I just had to add comments here. This is a fun, educational, no nonsense and no softie to animals book. There are some sad places, some hilarious. There are some pictures and lovely cartoons. But mostly there is common sense. I will never look at declawed cats the same again. This totally inhumane and unnessary surgery makes a lot of money for so many people and must be stopped. There are also receipes for cat food. No, food to feed TO the cat. But I think Ms. Bruce would see the humor in that.

It took a lot of guts to write this book. Annie "bucks the system" by writing an informative, explotive, and brutally honest book about the realities of declawing and "cat abuse." Declawing has gone on much too long in this country! Thank God someone has the guts to write the truth and stop this barbaric way of controlling cats forever! It's unfortunate that vets aren't as honest. Annie writes in a very straight forward sometimes humorous way. The book is very easy to read with lots of helpful hints. A must read for any cat owner!

Sorry the above reviewer didn't like "Cat Be Good"; I have to disagree. I bought this book thinking there was no way I could get my cats to behave any better...but Annie showed me differently! The tips she gives are very useful, and my cats have been happier for it. Also, it is WONDERFUL to know what to keep kitties away from (chemicals such as BHT), vital info for ANY cat person! And someone who uses a public forum to speak up about declawing has my vote...Let's hear it for Annie Bruce!

This book has many wonderful attributes. It is easy to read, has many ideas that I had not heard, even after having cats for over 40 years! I especially liked the "Helpful Hints" and "True Stories" which added humor and reality to the challenges of raising cats. Most other books are too clinical and seem to be written by "scholars" as opposed to someone who actually OWNS (or is owned by) cats. And, FINALLY, someone who will stand up to be heard about declawing! Probably a hard pill to swallow for those who are more concerned for their furniture or too busy to spend any time in training their cats! Way to go Annie!

Annie Bruce speaks out where others fear to tread. Ms. Bruce is the first to write about the side effects of declawing and processed food. I owned a few cats in my life time and hope before my life time is over declawing is outlawed. Ms. Bruce takes the time to put into simple terms how to raise a cat so that even a first time owner can understand. This book will create controversy but, it will also save lives. Annie Bruce, YOU GO GIRL!

It took a lot of guts to write this book. Annie "bucks the system" by writing an informative, explotive, and brutally honest book about the realities of declawing and "cat abuse." Declawing has gone on much too long in this country! Thank God someone has the guts to write the truth and stop this barbaric way of controlling cats forever! It's unfortunate that vets aren't as honest. Annie writes in a very straight forward sometimes humorous way. The book is very easy to read with lots of helpful hints. A must read for any cat owner!