The Cat Owner's Manual: Operating Instructions, Troubleshooting Tips, and Advice on Lifetime Maintenance (Quirk Books) (Paperback)

by Sam Stall (Author), Dr. David Brunner (Author) "The modern domestic feline is a classic example of successful niche marketing..." (more)
Key Phrases: Best Features, Special Programming, Ideal Owner (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Scratch marks on your furniture. Dead mice on your doorstep. Stray hairs all over your clothes and pillowcases. It's enough to make you cry out, "Why doesn t my cat come with an owner s manual?!?" And now -- thank God! -- she does.
Through step-by-step instructions and helpful schematic diagrams, The Cat Owner's Manual explores hundreds of frequently asked questions: Which breeds interface best with dogs? How can I maintain a quality exterior finish? And why does my model always drink from the bathtub? Whatever your concerns, you'll find the answers here -- courtesy of celebrated veterinarian Dr. David Brunner and acclaimed author Sam Stall. Together, they provide plenty of useful advice for both new and experienced cat owners.

About the Author
Sam Stall is a freelance writer and the co-author of several books, including Dirty Words of Wisdom and As Seen on TV .

Dr. David Brunner has owned and operated the Broad Ripple Animal Clinic in Indianapolis, Indiana, for more than twenty years. His clinic has received the highest level of accreditation from the ASPCA.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Quirk Books (September 2, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931686874
• ISBN-13: 978-1931686877
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 5.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #24,368 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully written, December 10, 2004

By	Irena A. Svidovsky (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

"The Cat Owner's Manual" combines two of my favorite things: cats and great design. It takes the dreaded "owner's manual" we encounter with just about every consumer product out there and turns it into a humorous, easy-to-read guide for taking care of your beloved kitty. The information is well organized, practical, and covers everything you might want to know. Kudos to the design team for the ease of use and the fabulous illustrations. The subtle humour throughout makes "The Cat Owner's Manual" a joy to read, whether you're looking to be informed or entertained.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cat mysteries explained!, January 10, 2005

By	Pit'r (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

Finally one of the world's greatest mysteries explained! Why does your cat behave the way it does? This an excellent book for cat novices and experts alike; it's as entertaining as it is informative. The combination of the illustrations and icon driven format keeps the book current with our high tech gadget fixated society. Even if you can't program your VCR, with the help of this book, you'll soon begin to understand all your cat's little idiosyncrasies.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Tech Manual for a Sophisticated Device - a Cat, January 5, 2006

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

We have operating manuals for our computers, digital cameras, sound systems, television, and all manner of other devices. This entertaining book provides an operating manual for a much more complex assembly, a cat. Cats are amazing creatures. Their ability to hear, to detect odors, and to operate in darkness is far beyond that of humans. They solve problems. They open doors. My cat recognizes, and acts upon, a surprising number of words, and I assume that is typical for cats. Research shows that cats have highly-developed brains. The portion of the brain devoted to speech is unfortunately not developed, but my cat goes to elaborate lengths to communicate her wishes and feelings.
Brunner and Stall give us a manual of "operating instructions, troubleshooting, and lifetime maintenance" of these remarkable creatures. Filled with the same type of diagrams as a computer manual, the book gives us: an overview of makes and models, home installation, basic programming, fuel requirements, exterior, interior, and emergency maintenance, and advanced functions. Numerous, well-drawn diagrams and cartoons accompany the text, which contains valuable information on cats (Dr. Brunner is a veterinarian). The manual is a sparkling exposition on cats, from their optical sensors to their waste ejection port.