Rex Cats (Barron's Complete Pet Owner's Manuals) [Paperback]

J. Anne Helgren (Author)

Book Description

Series: Barron's Complete Pet Owner's Manuals | Publication Date: January 1, 2001

These distinctive looking felines make fine household pets, but are also favorites among cat fanciers, and frequent winners at shows. Books in the Complete Pet Owner's Manuals series present basic information about pets for new or soon-to-be owners. Advice and instruction covers feeding, housing, health care, training, grooming, protection against hazards, and more. Texts emphasize pet care basics and are easy for all readers to understand, but most titles also present facts that even experienced pet owners and breeders will find new and useful. All books in this series are filled with high quality full-color photos and instructive line art.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

J. Anne Helgren has written six books on cats for Barron's and is a monthly contributor to CATS MAGAZINE. She has written the breed profile features for CATS since 1992, for which she won the Cat Writer's Association Muse Medallion in 1997 and 1999 and received Certificates of Excellence in 1994, 1996, 1997, and 1999. She is a professional member of the Cat Writers' Association and the Dog Writers' Association. She has written more than 200 articles on cats and other companion animals for national and regional publications.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Barron's Educational Series (January 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764115685
• ISBN-13: 978-0764115684
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 6.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,445,495 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thin on data, but what's there is good, March 21, 2004

By 

Esther Schindler (Scottsdale, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rex Cats (Barron's Complete Pet Owner's Manuals) (Paperback)

When we got our new Selkirk Rex kitten, I was anxious to find out more about the breed. I knew how much it had helped us, when our mostly-Maine Coon cat grew old, to know that the breed suffered from lower back problems. We made adjustments in his lifestyle, which must have worked; the Maine Coon lived to nearly 19.

This was the only book I found that offered more than a couple of paragraphs about the Selkirk Rex (like the LaPerm, it's a relatively new breed); even so, most of the information here is about the Cornish Rex and the Devon Rex. That is, when it's about the Rex at all. Fully half the 100-page-or-so book is generic information about taking care of your cat, such as choosing a vet, feeding, and the declawing question. That's not necessarily bad, for those who haven't owned a cat before, and the book is cheap enough that I don't resent the "extra" information.

On the other hand, the information specific to the Rex (and to the Selkirk in particular) is good enough to shoot the review up to 4 stars.

First, it has incredibly pretty pictures of each of the Rex breeds, lots of them. If you want to compare your new (or proposed) kitty the best-of-the-breed, you'll have plenty of opportunity to do so. That might make it worth the money right there.

The authors trace the history of each breed, but more importantly they give plenty of information about the cats' temperment (these are all extremely social cats, and now I know that our kitten's insatiable curiousity will outlast kittenhood) and unique needs. For example, I'm strongly advised to pat-dry Meriwether after a bath (which is recommended once a month), rather than rub his fur dry, because that'll develop mats. It doesn't answer everything (is it just Meri, or are Selkirks all not-jumpers?) but that would be too much to ask for.

I've found some of this information on my Internet searches, but not all of it. If for no other reason than the collection of "ooh, isn't she pretty!" photos, I'm glad I got this book.

4.0 out of 5 stars Rex Cats, March 25, 2010

By 

Marilyn Rivera "mmr145" (brooklyn, new york) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rex Cats (Barron's Complete Pet Owner's Manuals) (Paperback)

The book is informative and simple enough to follow. Has a wonderful section on how to select a breeder and what questions to ask. Unfortunately the book was ordered on 2/1 and received on 3/22. Other than the shipping, satisfied with the book.

4.0 out of 5 stars A pleasant overview of Rex cats, May 25, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Rex Cats (Barron's Complete Pet Owner's Manuals) (Paperback)

A pleasant book that is well written with many wonderful photos. However, I got the impression reading it that Helgren was only personally familiar with the Cornish Rex and researched all the others. I found some factual errors and editing mistakes that were distracting to me. Still, a nice overview of all the Rex cats. I highly recommend "The Guide to Owning a Cornish Rex Cat" by Greta Huls for those wanting more detailed information about that breed.