Purina Encyclopedia of Cat Care (Hardcover)

~ Amy Shojai (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Usually they just sleep, eat, and chase crumpled wads of paper around like they're possessed, but when your kitty starts vomiting or biting her skin till she bleeds, it's helpful to get some answers. Amy Shojai, a veterinary technician for 20 years, has compiled an encyclopedia that provides A-to-Z guidance to cat care and cat behavior. From Abscess to Zoonosis, Shojai discusses diseases and abnormal conditions as well as perfectly healthy behaviors like play-fighting, kneading, and the Flehman reaction. Shojai explains cat-grooming needs, provides information on the neutering process, describes why cats navigate so well, and explores the situations likely to cause your cat stress, the symptoms associated with stress, and how best to address said stress, once you've identified it. There's also a useful appendix introducing cat breeds and associations, and another appendix of symptoms with their associated diseases and conditions, so you can read up on the physical and character traits of the Abyssinian, Bengal, and Maine Coon, or determine that coughing could be a sign of heartworms, lungworms, or pneumonia. With extra pages listing animal welfare foundations, pet services, and veterinary resources, plus 41 color photographs illustrating popular cat breeds, Shojai's encyclopedia is accurate, easy to use, and a great resource on all things feline. --Stephanie Gold

From Library Journal

Former veterinary technician Shojai, currently a contributing editor at Cats magazine and author of its monthly "Health Handbook" column, has written a thorough encyclopedia of cat care, behavior, and health. Arranged alphabetically and written for the lay reader, the clear, concise, browsable entries range in length from a paragraph to several pages. Entries on diseases also include a box highlighting symptoms, home care, vet care, and prevention. Capitalized words in an article indicate that there are also entries under those words, and numerous See references direct readers to selected terms or other articles of interest. While providing home-care techniques, Shojai stresses the importance of consulting a veterinarian and clearly marks medical emergency situations. She also gives information about what to do if you can't get to a vet immediately. Appendixes list cat associations, cat breeds with descriptions and photos (not seen), a section of symptoms and associated diseases, animal welfare and information sources, pet services, veterinary resources, and feline research foundations. Recommended for reference and/or circulating collections in public libraries along with the excellent, recently updated The Cornell Book of Cats (Villard, 1997. 2d ed.), a more comprehensive but slightly more technical treatment. (Index not seen.)?Sue O'Brien, Downers Grove P.L., Ill.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 463 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1st edition (May 26, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345412877
• ISBN-13: 978-0345412874
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.8 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #332,603 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #55 in	Books > Home & Garden > Animal Care & Pets > Cats > Care & Health
  #73 in	Books > Reference > Encyclopedias > Veterinary

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best cat book I own! And I own a lot of 'em!, January 15, 1999

By A Customer

I want to go to University and become a vet, but until then I am using this excellent book as a guide! So far it's helped me to save my kitten from LUTD (Lower Urinary Tract Disease) which can be fatal if not caught. The pictures and sympton charts are absolutely phenominal, I don't know what I would do without this book. I've learned so much, I consider this book my cat Bible! If you have a cat or are interested in animal care, you must have this book.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Help at your fingertips, May 7, 1999

By A Customer

Responsible cat owners know that understanding and caring are essential to owning a healthy, happy animal. The Purina Encyclopedia of Cat Care is a reference book featuring information about behavior, care, breed characterists and health concerns. The book fetures an A to Z format making information easily accessible with a detailed index.

----Kathryn Gallagher, Cat Fancy Magazine, June 1999 reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Award-Winning Book!, January 16, 1999

By A Customer

The Purina Encyclopedia of Cat Care won the 1998 Muse Medallion from the Cat Writers Association for being "Best Care & Health Cat Book of the Year."