Cats on the Counter: Therapy and Training for Your Cat [Paperback]

Larry Lachman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 8, 2002

Cats are wonderful companions, but when they misbehave it can be challenging, if not outright difficult, to successfully treat the behavior problem in order to restore feline harmony to the home once again. In Cats on the Counter Dr. Larry Lachman uses his unique approaches, borrowed from human therapy, to analyze what makes kitty tick, and what happens when his behavior gets out of control. Using a case-by-case format, behaviorist Lachman and journalist Frank Mickadeit deal with common problems such as clawing furniture, refusing to use the litterbox or spray marking in the house, fussy eating, and fighting with other cats. Cats on the Counter is filled with fascinating stories, excellent advice, and empathy for both misbehaving pets and their long-suffering people.

Other topics include:
The Freudian Feline and Family Therapy: cat personality and structural family systems therapy
The Jekyll & Hyde Kitty: cat aggression
Kitty Prozac: preserving your cat's mental health
Ailurophobia: the fear of cats and how to treat it
Kidproofing your Cat: teaching your children how to care for your cat
Lassie Meets Morris/Morris Meets Simba: introducing dogs to cats and cats to cats
The Final Feline Moment: pet loss, grief and how to say goodbye
"Holy Cats Batman!": Kitty ESP, catnip treats, and afterthoughts

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The high percentage of cats returned to animal shelters--or simply abandoned--can be attributed to behavior or soiling issues. With much passion, clinical psychologist and animal behaviorist Lachman and cowriter Mickadeit proclaim that there are no bad felines--and furthermore, that the kinds of solutions often used, from declawing to de-voicing, are truly unnecessary. In addition to specific and practical lessons in behavior modification to cure, say, spraying, they demythify such long-held beliefs as "cats always land on their feet," explain how best to introduce a child to a cat and how to overcome ailurophobia, and gently deal with grief and handling the death of a loved companion animal. Their conviction that drugs such as Prozac and operations such as onyxectomy (declawing) are only part of the program permits a very humanistic approach to a misbehavin' pet. Great advice given with empathy. Barbara Jacobs
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Larry Lachman holds a doctorate in clinical psychology and has been an animal behavior consultant since 1986. He hosts a weekly radio talk show about pet behavior and has been used as an expert by numerous television, radio, newspaper, and magazine reporters.

Frank Mickadeit is an editor at The Orange County Register. They both live in California.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (January 8, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031228893X
• ISBN-13: 978-0312288938
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #534,946 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cats on the Counter taught me a lot about my cat, December 7, 2000

By 

M. McCann, Ph.D (The United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cats on the Counter : Therapy and Training for Your Cat (Hardcover)

Cats on the counter taught me a lot about my cat. Learning that she is scratching the couch to spread her scent, not to create disaray in my living room, went a long way to help me work with her instead of against her. Also learning that she receives stability from her territory being stable helped me make choices that better provide her with that security. As with his last book, Dr. Lachman talks about dealing with the loss of a pet, and I think that is an important aspect of owning a pet. The book contains wonderful true life experiences, and is easy to read and follow. If you have a cat or know a cat, you should read this book.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book of infinite value to assist my canine clients !, September 28, 2000

By 

Allie Babcock (Denver, Colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cats on the Counter : Therapy and Training for Your Cat (Hardcover)

"CATS ON THE COUNTER is an exceptionally clear, well-written, and helpful book that advocates the exemplary whole-family approach to resolving pet behavior problems. On a personal level, Larry Lachman and Frank Mickadeit's book will be of infinite value to me as I assist my canine clients who've been having trouble blending with their feline family members. What's more,this book makes even a total dog-person like myself appreciate the cat psyche!" --Allie Babcock* *(Note: The fictional Ms. Babcock is a dog behaviorist and the main character in a mystery series created by Leslie O'Kane, which includes the books, Play Dead and Ruff Way To Go.)

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Running a clean cat house., December 18, 2001

By 

Samuel Chell (Kenosha,, WI United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cats on the Counter : Therapy and Training for Your Cat (Hardcover)

Finally, a book that acknowledges and addresses the most common of all cat problems, especially in multiple-feline households: Tabitha's (and Sylvester's and Eliot's) "uncivilized" avoidance of the litter box. The author addresses both physical and psychological problems (both the cats' and owners') and gives much helpful advice (put tin foil over the scene of the crime, spray it with citrus scents, put Cleopatra's food dish close by (since's she's far too civilized to want her dining table next to the "men's room"), and address Morris' attacks of anxiety with generous doses of reassuring countermeasures.

Admittedly, much of the information I had sort of intuited. But this is no novelty book about problems that to cat lovers are no laughing matter. It's both eminently readable and practical. I only wish I'd had a copy earlier to give to a friend who brought his adorable little stray to the pound when she began soiling his carpet.