Customer Reviews

The Cat Who Couldn't See in the Dark: Veterinary Mysteries and Advice on Feline Care and Behavior

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

 

 

The author of this book was humorous and entertaining. However, he gives information that misleads many people. He firmly believes in de-clawing, which not only is mentaling disturbing for a cat, but can cause back pains and hurt paws. When claws are removed from a cat, the cat must shift his balance from his toes to the heel of his paw. Which in turn will hurt his balance and grace. The vet also lets cats have kittens, even though he knows that there are 45 cats for every human on the planet. In other words, he condems cats to go without homes.

After reading this book, I feel Padwee is a disgrace to the veterinary profession and a disgrace to responsible cat ownership. His advice and comments are totally irresponsible. He recommends declawing among other unbelievably shameful advice.

I find it amazing that this book was even published and I pray that the publisher gets enough negative mail so that this author can never put out another book.

If you want responsible, compassionate, accurate information on cats, there are several good books available. The two best authors on cats are Pam Johnson-Bennett and John Wright.

There were no options to give this book NO stars, so one is recorded. I agree with the other reviewer who addressed the declawing issue. Further, the author then condones permitting both declawed and clawed cats out of doors without supervision, in his neighborhood of practice, Manhattan. He speaks fondly of other "patients" - nondomestic animal kept as pets, a pregnant cat who was a "school project" for a group of private school girls (the girls were being taught that indiscriminant breeding is ok, rather than about responsible pet ownership and spaying/neutering), and another cat that was taken back to the farm where she was found as a kitten, so that she could be mated with a feral male from the barn. No discussion of feline leukemia or other deadly and contagous diseases was included here, let alone cat overpopulation, or any concern for the stress and the fright this young cat must have felt being abandoned on the farm for several days until she was mated. He speaks of the humane care this cat received throughout her pregnancy, yet doesn't address the inhumanity that allowed her to become that way. This book is full of offensive ideas to any responsible pet owner. I have asked my public library to remove it from the shelves. For understanding of cat behavior and needs, please look to Pamela Johnson, Roger Caras, or Anitra Frasier - or many other fine authors, but don't look here.

I hate to say it, but a lot of advice in this book is downright wrong and some of it is actually bad for your cats. If you love your cats, keep away from this book.

This book was an amusing and enjoyable read. The vet clearly likes cats, and it comes across in his narrative. The biggest difference between his stories and the Herriot books is that Dr Padwee couldn't seem to decide whether to write a book of amusing anecdotes, like Herriot, or one of basic veterinary advice. It works better as a book of stories, as the advice has a tendency to get a bit preachy at times.

From what I can see, what the other reviewers seem to be objecting to is that Padwee is pro-declaw and pro-indoor/outdoor for his patients. As a veterinary technician of 15 years, I found nothing wrong with his advice or opinion, just that it differs from mine in some areas. The other reviewers seem to ignore the fact that Padwee began his practice in the late 60s or 70s, and declawing was pretty defacto for indoor pets back then. He wouldn't have much of a practice if he refused to do it. Several also seem to have not paid very good attention--he also recommends spaying and neutering, plus vaccinations for Leukemia and Rabies, even though a vaccine for Leukemia was only developed in the 80s. And indoor-only cats are a particularly American affectation--cats in the the rest of the world, including Europe, are 95% indoor/outdoor.

Several of his clients are determined to have exotic pets, or to breed their cats, despite his recomendation to the contrary--he still treats them with respect and understanding, and still cares for thier pets. Would he be a better veterinarian if he treated them with disdain and condemnation for their decisions? No, he would instead be a vet that *I* would not want to go to, nor work for. Like any MD, his own prejudices or opinions don't matter if that's not want the owners want--he has to treat the pets, not his opinions.

Anyway, I do recommend this book as both an amusing afternoon reading and a good book full a bits of advice. Anyone who loves cats should get anjoyment out of it.

I find books like this usually difficult to read. But this one is different. I couldn't put it down. Padwee shows the concern of a compassionate and lover of cats and people. It is nice to know that a vet like this is out there. The stories are warm and clear. I wish he would write more of his adventures and interactions. His writing is very easy to get in to and become apart of... Thanks!!

This book is a must-read for anyone who loves cats. He tells fun stories about cats and their owners, which serve to illustrate practical information about feline health and behavior. The book is written in such a way that you do not even realize that you are being given advice. Very easy to read, this book is hard to put down. Highly recommended for anyone who has ever owned, or hoped to own, a cat