Think Like a Cat: How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat--Not a Sour Puss [Paperback]

Pam Johnson-Bennett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2000

Think it's impossible to train a cat? Think again! Yes, you can learn to understand your cat. No, cats are not always aloof. No, they don't ruin furniture out of spite. Most often feline "misbehavior" is the result of owners not understanding their cat's needs. In this comprehensive book that takes readers through every step of cat ownership, Pam Johnson-Bennett helps you understand the instincts that determine feline behavior, positive and negative. An authoritative resource for cat owners of all stripes, Think Like a Cat covers everything from where to get a kitten to choosing a vet; from basic health care to treating more serious medical problems; from selecting an irresistible scratching post to avoiding litter box problems. A seasoned therapist and former veterinary technician, Johnson-Bennett offers welcome advice in a straightforward manner that will help cats--and their owners--share a happy, healthy life together.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Feline behaviorist Johnson-Bennett (Twisted Whiskers: Solving Your Cat's Behavioral Problems) suggests that if cat owners learn how to think like a cat, they can better understand their pets and build a more positive relationship. One way is to view the world not from the vantage point of a 5'7" human but from the cat's level, ten inches off the ground. If you needed to scratch your claws and saw only drapes and furniture and no scratching post, what would you use? The author gives helpful tips for stopping destructive chewing, aggression, furniture scratching, and litter-box difficulties. Her advice on grooming, pests, traveling, and first aid are clear and straightforward. She also recommends types and brands of toys, equipment, food, and other feline products. A similar guide is Brian Kilcommon's Good Owners, Great Cats (LJ 10/1/95), which has a more attractive layout and is easier to use. Still, this volume is more comprehensive than Johnson-Bennett's earlier works, with excellent insight into feline behavior, humor, and common sense. Recommended for most pet collections.
-Eva Lautemann, Georgia Perimeter Coll. Lib., Clarkston
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Pam Johnson-Bennett, author of five other award-winning books on cat behavior, is resident cat expert on iVillage.com and the behavior columnist for the Internet magazine The Daily Cat. She has written numerous articles for national magazines and frequently appears on national TV and radio, as well as veterinary and animal welfare conferences. She lives near Nashville, Tennessee.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics); 1 edition (February 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140288546
• ISBN-13: 978-0965013017
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #308,539 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #18 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Animal Care & Pets > Cats > Care & Health

More About the Author

Pam Johnson-Bennett, CABC, PCBC is a Certified Animal Behavior Consultant and author of 8 books and countless articles. Pam is a pioneer in the field of cat behavior consulting and is the highest selling cat book author in the world. Many have tried to copy her "think like a cat" behavior approach without success.

She is a former vice president of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and currently heads up that organization's Cat Division. She is a Professional Member of the Association of Animal Behavior Professionals. Pam is a member of the American Humane Association's Advisory Board on Animal Behavior and Training and a member of the Advisory Board for Tree House Humane Society. Pam is the behavior expert for Friskies where she writes a weekly blog on their website. You can also find numerous behavior articles on her website http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com.

Pam speaks on behavior at veterinary conferences and animal welfare organizations around the country. She is also a frequent guest on national TV and radio, including Fox News Network and CNN. Previously, she was the behavior expert at Yahoo, ivillage, and the Cat Channel. She was the behavior columnist for Cats magazine and the Daily Cat. She has been profiled in countless publications including Newsweek, USA Weekend, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, Cats, PetLife, Enquirer, Prevention, Complete Woman, Newsday, Seattle Times, Woman's World, The Tennessean, and many more.

In addition to her work with cats, Pam is the co-author of Cookies for Dinner. This book chronicles the funny and often embarrassing side of motherhood. Cookies for Dinner is available at amazon. You can also read her blog on motherhood at http://www.twoloonsandabook.com

Pam owns Cat Behavior Associates, LLC, a private veterinarian-referred behavior practice. Visit her website at http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

89 of 90 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great resource!, March 13, 2000

By 

Meg Brunner (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Think Like a Cat: How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat--Not a Sour Puss (Paperback)

I just got my first cat (she's 6 months old) and have been searching around desperately ever since for a good, solid reference book full of everything I need to know to keep my cat healthy and happy. A kind of "Our Bodies, Our Selves" for my pet, you could say. But most of the books I found were all pictures, no substance.

I stumbled across this one when I found it on a sale table. I thought it was just going to be a handbook on cat psychology, but it turns out it's much, much more!

This book has information on just about everything you would ever need to know about taking care of your kitty. It's got a chapter on every subject I had a question about, plus informational lists (like, of which houseplants are poisonous), very detailed and easy-to-follow instructions (like, on how to do CPR on your cat), and extremely innovative ideas and solutions to common problems (like, how to keep your cat off your kitchen counters).

I heartily recommend this book to everybody who has a cat or is thinking about getting one. It's terrific!

65 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book for Cat Owners, July 31, 2001

By 

George Webster, Ph.D., (Orlando, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Think Like a Cat: How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat--Not a Sour Puss (Paperback)

There is so much misinformation about cats that it's a welcome treat to have a book that gives us insight into things that are important to them. Cats love security. They love a familiar setting. They like a routine, but they can become bored if we don't play with them regularly. The author has fine suggestions on effective play. She also has excellent thoughts on how cats try to communicate with us. It took me a long time to figure out what my cat was trying to tell me, but you can get it nicely from this book. The volume has useful information on cat health, but its great value is in helping you think like a cat. Every cat owner would be wise to have a copy.

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book for Owners of Cats of All Ages, May 13, 2000

By 

Casey Greenfield (Villas, New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Think Like a Cat: How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat--Not a Sour Puss (Paperback)

I checked out this book at the library, and I am now buying it. Don't think that this is a book for someone who JUST bought a cat! I have owned a cat for 5 years and I still found all the information in this book helpful. Pam explains everything in clear, concise words, so you don't get caught of in the middle of the book thinking "What the heck is a cytoplamatic inherited gene?" I strongly urge you to buy this book whether you are about to buy your first kitten or if you have been a cat owner for 20 years.