Customer Reviews

Kiss Guide to Cat Care

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

 

 

I am a new cat owner. I have never had pets before so I have purchased several cat books recently, the Illustrated Cat book and Cats for Dummies. Both were good books but KISS Cat Care offered the best combination of pictures and information, perfect for the new cat owner. The best things about this book were that it included references to websites and offered great tips on training. I definately recommend this book.

While the contents of this book are not bad for the most part, I returned it. Throughout the text the author refers to cats as "it" as if they were inanimate objects!

Cats are abused throughout the world, largely because people see them as objects rather than living creatures with emotions and needs much like our own. I would have thought that a book aimed at people who have adopted a cat would have been a little more sensitive in this respect.

Another problem is that, while the book does, admirably, suggest that its readers might consider adopting a cat from a rescue centre, it focuses primarily on buying a cat from a breeder. There are millions of cats which desperately need homes and who may well be killed if they are not adopted. The very last thing we need is a book advising people to go to breeders.

The author's attitude towards cats is summed up in Chapter One when he says "Your time as a cat *owner* [sic] has come".

Dorling Kindersley is a reputable publisher, and would do well to steer clear of authors who think that cats are merely pieces of property. Perhaps the next edition of this book will have slightly more up-to-date attitudes towards animals.

Except for Dr. Bruce Fogle's book: The New Encyclopedia of the Cat, I can't think of a better guide to cat care. As I embark on the delightful journey of purchasing a new kitten, my interests have become rather obsessive in the "which cat do I want to bring home" department. Do I want a pedigree, mixed breed, cute kitten or mature cat. I think I decided on the beautiful, new kitten option!

So, how do I keep a new cat healthy, happy and welcome a new "baby" into the family with another cat's approval. How can I understand problems and overcome any potential problems. One idea is to put vanilla extract on each cats nose, that seemed to work very well the last time.

Steve Duno has authored 11 books and is an animal behaviorist and freelance writer. He has also written: No Kitty! and Show Biz Tricks for Cats. He is well qualified to write about "The Fabulous Feline," "Cat Basics," "Problems in Paradise" and "The Wilder World of Cats."

Part One discusses why cats are so popular and gives the fundamentals of feline physiology and psychology, breed information, how to choose a cat and how to establish a good feline perspective and know what cat aficionados are talking about.

Part Two shows you how to feed, groom and keep your new kitty happy and well adjusted. The "Cat Basics" section was especially of interest to me as I learned how to bring a new cat home and keep things calm.

"A good way to help ease the cat or kitten into the home is to offer it a treat or two. Doing so will make a great first impression." -pg. 99

"Cat Meets Cat" on pg. 105 tells how to keep the cat in a separate room with the door closed for at least a day or two. That way, the resident cat will know a new animal is in the house, but will not be able to confront it directly. Giving the new cat items with the old cats scent on them was also an excellent idea!

Part Three introduced you to preventive care and gives a complete primer on the most common cat maladies and their treatments. There is a short discussion on how to deal with the passing of a beloved pet which was very helpful for me as I lost my older cat on Friday the 13th. I have since been rather worried about our "little" cat who seems to be grieving and seemed to be a bit depressed. Their advice was not to immediately go out and get a new cat. They advise taking some time off. That is very good advice.

Part Four delves into Cat Breeding and the Wider World of Cats. You will be intrigued with how you can teach your cat new tricks. Our cat learned to fetch like a dog. Really! The top of a milk bottle (the jug variety) is very entertaining for a cat. You can throw it and teach them to bring it back to you. This takes a bit of time, but once they learn...it is very amusing. The section on "teaching your cat to come when called" can really be true. You can develop a bond between you and your pet and also train a cat to act a bit like a dog. This book will teach you how.

One of the unique features (that I adore) is the Web site address information blocks throughout the book. You will also see icons and trivia or definition boxes to give you fun facts or the definition of an unfamiliar word. The colorful headings, cartoons and adorable cat pictures make this book a joy to read.

An Essential Guide to Cat Care, I would not want to be without.

~The Rebecca Review

I generally like the DK series, so I thought this one would be good. But there were some serious inaccuracies here. The one that bothered me most was the photo of a kitten tangled in string, titled "if you provide your cats with enough stimulation . . ." Many cat books warn against letting cats play with string or thead as it can cause serious damage passing through the intestines if swallowed. After having to cut a cat free from a big tangle of string, I am careful not to leave it around anymore. In general the book had some good information, but not much of it. I'm finding Think Like a Cat by Pam Johnson-Bennett much more useful. It isn't full of cute pictures, just good information.

Hi. I wanted to thank the reviewers for taking the time to read my book. Thanks for all those stars!

Regarding the lone criticism regarding the lack of a section on pregnancy, let me say that both I and the publisher decided not to cover the topic, for one very good reason: we did not want to help add to the already burgeoning cat population. Why would I want to coach people on how to care for the pregnant cat? That amounts to tacit approval of in-home breeding, the main cause of millions of cat euthanasias every year. Millions of pets killed because someone wouldn't spay or neuter, or at least keep the cat indoors. On that note, why would anyone actually have a pregnant cat in the home (besides a professional breeder, that is)? Having an unneutered cat in the home (and presumably wandering the neighborhood) is irresponsible, and cruel. The days of farm ratters are over; to continue to allow cats to mate willy-nilly only serves to increase the misery. Been to a cat shelter lately?

Before pretending to be an authority on cats (as any competent reviewer should be), one should first have the common sense to spay or neuter, don't you think? How else can we take your sage opinions seriously?

This book covers all the important areas of cat selection, feeding, care, health, supplies, toys, etc. and is a great book for anyone who is about to be, or has become, a new cat owner. I appreciated that more often than not, the book got to the point at hand very quickly.

I see that other reviewers loved this book, but I have to admit that I was disappointed. My cat recently had kittens, and this book was no help at all. It has no section on pregnancy, only a very small section on breeding your cat for profit. Well, this was purely accidental, but I still wanted some help on caring for her during her pregnancy and labor, as well as some tips on caring for the kittens. It doesn't have anything like a section on kitten developmental stages. When do they eat solid food? When can I separate them from their mother? When should I get her fixed so we don't do this again? It also didn't have much on caring for sick or injured cats. What it did have, and I really didn't need, was a section on teaching your cat tricks. Hello! She's a cat, not a dog. I don't really need to teach her tricks. Of course, if you are interested, then this book may help. But it didn't have what I was looking for at all.

I got a little black kitten a few months ago. This being my first cat, I decided to purchase a book that would help me take care of him. I am not sure how I came across this book, but I found it and bought it. I was more than surprised to find that my favorite actor did the forward. This book was very helpful in raising Azrael Walken-Serrine to the healthy cat he is today.