Cat Vs. Cat: Keeping Peace When You Have More Than One Cat (Paperback)

by Pam Johnson-Bennett (Author) "You may look at your multicat household as one happy family; you love your cats equally and feel there shouldn't be any reason for fighting..." (more)
Key Phrases: litter aversion, interactive playtime, multicat home, Sticky Paws, The Libber Box, The Complex World (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
In this companion to her successful introduction to cat behavior Think Like a Cat, Pam Johnson-Bennett, the award-winning author and feline behaviorist, shows how adding another cat to your home does not have to be the start of a kitty apocalypse. Although cats are often misunderstood as natural loners, Johnson-Bennett shows how to plan, set up, and maintain a home environment that will help multiple cats—and their owners—live in peace. Cat vs. Cat will help readers understand the importance of territory, the specialized communication cats use to establish relationships and hierarchies, and how to interpret the so-called "bad behavior" that leads so many owners to needless frustration. Offering a wealth of information on how to diffuse tension, prevent squabbles and ambushes, blend two families, or help the elder kitty in your family, Cat vs. Cat is a welcome resource for both seasoned and prospective guardians of cat families large and small.

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

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (July 6, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142004758
• ISBN-13: 978-0142004753
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,696 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

93 of 95 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It really works!, December 2, 2005

By	A Wuulf (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

My cat had taken a serious disliking to my boyfriend: clawing, biting, and hissing at anyone nearby, provoking brawls with his littermate, howling through the night and urinating in all his hiding spots. He'd rub against our legs one moment but lash out violently when we reached for him. I was crushed at the thought of having to give away my beloved pet; then I found this book.

Author Pam Johnson-Bennett knows cats. She offers a complete dictionary of how cats communicate their mood, where problem behavior starts, and simple solutions to ease tension and modify behavior. She offers several strategic checklists for anticipated situations as well as existing problems. Don't be fooled by the title either; Pam offers excellent advice on cat-human interactions, too.

We made three little changes and enjoyed INSTANT success. The urinating stopped immediately. Within a week, the violence decreased to a minimum. A month later, the cat was taking treats from my boyfriend's hand and, two weeks after that, sleeping in his lap. It has been several months now without repeat of a major incident. There is no silver bullet, but with this book, you will be well-armed.

70 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good behavioral book for multicat homes, July 28, 2004

By	Miss Kitty "crazygrrl1369" (Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews

I am struggling with a number of feline behavioral disorders in my own family, but this book truly shed light on methods to correct these issues. From the beginning, Johnson-Bennett takes the standpoint of analyzing cat behaviors in the context of a multicat household. She covers issues such as litterbox use, timidness, aggression and dicipline.

From reading this book, I added many new regimes to my treatment plan for remeding with cat-cat interaction - using catnip, increasing playtime, training methods, etc. Armed with the knowledge from this book, I went forth and began working to help my cat through her behavioral problems, and after only a few short weeks the issues were resolved! I completely credit this book with giving me the knowledge and understanding to better tackle this problem and create a peaceful environment for both my cats and my family.

The book is an easy read and chocked full of information for multi-cat households. I would recommend it to anyone struggling to find resolve to behavioral issues of their feline friends. If you're looking for books specific to single cat families, she has also written "Think like a cat: How to raise a well-adjusted cat, not a sour puss" which contains training information from kittenhood to senior life (also a great read).

58 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars my cats are thanking me, November 7, 2005

By	Omen (Chicago IL) - See all my reviews

we have three cats in our house hold because we just added a new kitten. Since the older one didnt take the last new cat too well. we thought we better look into this. I found out that for the last two cats we indroduced them very well. however there was a lot of insight about hierarchy, toys, and food and litter preferances that we didnt know about. Also the feliway plug in thing is a LIFESAVER!!! Our old grumpy cat has turned into a calm cat who we rarely ever here hiss anymore. He used to hiss when he thought about the other cats. Now he even lets them sniff him and he doesnt mind. He also stopped spaying inside. Now he still gets into fights outside, but while he is inside we know he is happy!