The Total Cat: Understanding Your Cat's Physical and Emotional Behavior from Kitten to Old Age [Paperback]

Carole Wilbourn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 3, 2000

Hailed as "the founding mother of cat psychology," Carole Wilbourn has received international attention for her feline expertise. With her emphasis on treating the total cat, the "Wilbourn Ways" to a healthy cat follow the guiding principles of the ancient Greeks -- a sound mind in a sound body. Wilbourn explains how to talk to your cat -- and how to listen. She provides tools that can help you recognize, understand, and respond to your cat's body language, vocalization, and facial expressions -- the keys to your cat's behavior.

Wilbourn addresses specific situations that may develop with even the best-cared-for feline. You will learn how to detect the underlying causes to your cat's problem behavior -- whether yours is antisocial, self-destructive, or an overly aggressive "attack cat" -- and you'll receive invaluable guidance on everything from your cat's eating disorders and litter box aversion to its phobias and depression.

Whether you're introducing a new cat or person into your feline's environment or caring for an abused refugee, The Total Cat provides the insights necessary for understanding your cat at every stage of its life.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Wilbourn has been a feline behaviorist and therapist for more than 20 years, practicing in partnership with various veterinarians in New York. Here she provides good general information about the care, feeding, and medical needs of cats, but the real strength of the book lies in her discussions of cat behavior. From the selection of a cat by its age and personality type, along with suggestions for finding a good match for the character and lifestyle of the potential owner, to fitting a cat into a household that may include other pets to causes and cures of less desirable feline behavioral traits, the author covers all aspects of cat behavior. How to discriminate between a cat displaying an unusual but normal reaction to stimuli, like drooling when very happy, and a behavioral disorder, such as over-aggression, are clearly defined in easy-to-understand language. Books that base the care of companion animals on an understanding of the basics of their behavior are extremely welcome additions to the cadre of how to books on pets, and Wilbourn's offering will be an excellent addition to any collection. Nancy Bent
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

A cat therapist for more than twenty years, Carole C. Wilbourn has published four books on cat psychotherapy. She co-founded the first cat hospital in New York City in 1973, and she's logged more than 100,000 miles making house calls to patients throughout the world.

She writes a "Cats on the Couch" column for Cat Fancy and sees appointments at Westside Veterinarian Center and the Animal Clinic of New York. Her numerous Magazine and many more. She also serves on the board of the New York Humane Society and resides in New York City.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (October 3, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380790513
• ISBN-13: 978-0380790517
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,564,098 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars OVERSTATED "HELP" BOOK, April 23, 2002

By 

An Ordinary Consumer "Niki" (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Total Cat: Understanding Your Cat's Physical and Emotional Behavior from Kitten to Old Age (Paperback)

Although I am not a veterinarian, I have worked in an animal hospital for two years.

First of all, according to our medical practice, this book gives some bad nurishment advice! Milk (and milk products such as cream and half & half) are NOT a good food for many cats. Their systems are often not equipped to digest the enzymes found in cows' milk.

Having said what was foremost on my mind, I am also very disappointed in the "behavior" advice from this author. I found very little information on kittens.....and almost nothing useful (which is why I purchased this book in the first place!).

In fact, I absolutely disagree with Ms. Wilbourn's suggestions about introducing a new kitten into an adult cat home. From the new kitten arriving via "escort" to you (as the responsible owner) and leaving the new kitten to fend for itself all afternoon, as your adult cat "takes care of himself and his kitten". What dangerous nonsense this is! Stop and think.....what a 10 lb. adult could do to a 2 lb. kitten, if so inclined?

Perhaps the cats in Manhatten are far more anthropomorphisized (as opposed to Ms. Wilbourn's coined word "catsonality") then the felines with which the rest of us are familiar?

For the record, I currently have a terrific 15 year old, as well as a very feisty 4 month old. I should have seen warning signs when this 224 page (LARGE print book) began with a 19 page forward. No doubt this forward is intended to demonstrate Ms. Wilbourn's considerable knowledge. Sorry, it doesn't.

Bottom line? Save your money and try another author....preferably someone with the letters D.V.M after his or her name.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Silly and scary and superficial, February 15, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Total Cat: Understanding Your Cat's Physical and Emotional Behavior from Kitten to Old Age (Paperback)

This may be a good book for someone who has a sudden but mild problem with a cat, and has tried everything else, or a fun read if you're in a silly mood. Perhaps some would be entertained by the thought that it's psychologically damaging to call your spayed cat an "it", that cats relax best to New Age music, and to consider a second cat the first one's pet. However, some of the medical advice is scary, like suggesting you drug your cat with Valium, or even giving her chamomile (cats can be allergic to that, too).

I would hope a new cat owner would look elsewhere for advice, especially introducing a new cat to your other cats. The SPCA as well as others will give free advice, and your own vet, preferably one who treats cats only, should know enough about behavior and modern medical techniques to answer any questions.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, October 11, 2006

By 

Kathleen San Martino (New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Total Cat: Understanding Your Cat's Physical and Emotional Behavior from Kitten to Old Age (Paperback)

I was disappointed with this book because I expected more substance on how to cure cat behavioral problems. Most of what was presented in the book was common sense. The book also doesn't offer any in-depth case histories and therapy plans for cats with particular problems.

I feel this book would be useful for someone who knows little about cats. However, if you are familar with cats and their basic needs, this book doesn't offer much more insight than most people would know. I expected more from a well-known behaviorist.

If you are really looking for an in-depth book on pet behavior that is more useful, read Pam Johnson-Bennett's "Psycho Kitty" book. I found it to be absolutely excellent.