The New Natural Cat: A Complete Guide for Finicky Owners (Plume) [Paperback]

Anitra Frazier (Author), Norma Eckroate (Author)

Book Description

Series: Plume | Publication Date: November 1, 1990

Here is the definitive handbook for concerned cat lovers everywhere, now thoroughly revised and updated with an all-new health encyclopedia. Offers basic tips on choosing a vet, dealing with litter box problems, selecting a scratching post, proper grooming and diet, caring for sick cats, and much more. 20 line drawings.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Frazier, a professional cat groomer and behaviorist, and writer Eckroate here update the manual they first published 10 years ago, because "owners want to know about visualization, Bach flower remedies a form of homeopathy, interspecies communication and all manner of new and expanded home nursing techniques that can be applied to those wonderful cats and those who cherish them." While the authors' views on cat nutrition and tips on how to become a savvy visitor of the veterinarian are persuasive, readers who cherish cats for their inscrutability and independent spirit--or who don't subscribe to what is probably best described as the authors' New Age outlook--will be better off choosing another handbook. Frazier and Eckroate strain both credibility and prose. Since "the human mind is better equipped than the cat's for learning other languages," they suggest that owners make a concerted effort to imagine how their cats feel being left at home for long periods. They urge us to tell ailing pets, "I know how you're feeling . . . (Describe in detail how his body is feeling)." Blinking is recommended as communications tool. Whether truth or foolery, such advice seems likely to inspire a skeptical feline yawn.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

This new and revised edition of The Natural Cat ( LJ 6/15/81) covers all aspects of caring for a cat. Drawing on her experience as a nutritionist and groomer to develop her holistic method of raising cats, Frazier advocates natural foods and gives recipes for maximum nutrition. She advises against flea collars and deplores declawing. Her simple cleaning routine solves litter box problems. Anecdotes show how and why her advice is effective, and both owners and cats will benefit from her grooming and handling suggestions. New is "A Guide to Common Feline Health Problems," a list of physical disorders with symptoms and possible solutions. Recommended as a first purchase or an update.
- Helen Sondrol, Lincoln Univ. Lib., Pa.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Plume; Revised edition (November 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452265177
• ISBN-13: 978-0452265172
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #233,273 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this book saved my cat's life, February 8, 2002

By 

Tracy Graham (toronto, canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The New Natural Cat: A Complete Guide for Finicky Owners (Plume) (Paperback)

i cannot say enough about this book and i urge everyone who loves their cat to purchase it. this book will educate and empower you; whether you just need some basic tips for general cat health and well being or if your cat has a serious disease.

i originally bought this book when one of my cats developed hyper-trophic cardiomyopathy and was given only one week to live. by following the traditional medical advice of my veterinarian as well as anitra frazier's naturopathic advice i was able to extend my cat's life 6 more healthy years. that alone made this small purchase worth it's weight in gold, 1000 times over.

a few years later another of my cats was diagnosed with liver disease and again i was told that she would not recover. i followed the same method; combining our vet's traditional medical therapy with the naturopathy outlined in this book and 4 years later that cat is very much alive and healthy.

as a responsible cat "owner" i can honestly say this book has been the single most important purchase i've ever made.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Real Definition of a Cat Lover, February 1, 2002

By 

Jena Ball "Jena Ball" (North Carolina, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The New Natural Cat: A Complete Guide for Finicky Owners (Plume) (Paperback)

Now this is a woman who truly knows and loves cats. Frazier's interest in their care and handling began when she was working for a vet who sent her out to homes to groom cats. While grooming, she was confronted with a wide assortment of perplexing issues from dull coats and eating disorders to allergies and communication problems. By working with the vet, paying attention to the cats, and enlisting the help of the owners, she gradually found solutions to most of the problems and accumulated a gold mine of information.

Frazier's approach to writing is direct, simple and concise. Her suggestions are always presented with compassion, and keep the larger, holistic view in mind. I have found the sections on diet and nutrition particularly helpful, but Frazier waxes eloquent on a wide assortment of physical ailments, grooming, training, spiritual health and behavioral issues as well. If you're a cat owner don't miss this chance to get to know your furry friend in a whole new way. This book is both an invaluable resource and a wonderful contribution to interspecies communication. Five stars!

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful "natural cat book": well worth the money, February 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The New Natural Cat: A Complete Guide for Finicky Owners (Plume) (Paperback)

I have used this book for about seven years. It has been a wonderful resource for me and my multi-cat household, not to mention my various foster (feral) cats. This book is my feline textbook. Those who wish to go beyond the narrow Western view of veterinary care will absolutely love this book! It has endless suggestions on inexpensive and innovative home care that involve herbs, flower remedies, vitamins, broths, diet, home nursing, grooming, behavior, litter box, scratching post, neutering/spaying, common feline health problems, etc. Anitra Frazier's expertise goes on and on in many categories - she knows an incredible amount about cats. Even though this book was published in 1990, but it is definitely NOT out-of-date. It is well worth the money!