No comments about Name That Cat: Over 1,000 Inventive: and Colorful Names.

4 comments about 99 Lives: Cats in History, Legend, and Literature.

1. I simply cannot keep this pretty volume on my shelf, so lovely are its pages! Adorned throughout with wonderful stories, illustrations, poetry, and photographs- all paying great homage to one of this life's great treasures: Cats - it's indeed a book that's too much an absolute delight for one to help but turn to again and again and again.
   
   Only this morning, long before the sun rose- raving with insomnia, I got up & made a hot cup of tea, fluffed the cushions on the wingback chair by my window, cuddled up with my fat, fluffy cat, Armand, and found myself browsing oncemore through this book --- delving into such chapters as "Cats by Night", "Cats at Sea", "Cats in High Places", and "Church Cats". Armand purred, and nudged my hand with his flat face each time I paused whilst stroking his soft fur. He simply cannot abide having less than my wholehearted attention. Ah, but just how such moments can soothe an old soul is far beyond my own power to describe!
   
   Eloquently, Algernon Swinburne's poem on page 27 grasps that feeling:
   
   "Stately, kindly, lordly friend,
   Condescend
   Here to sit by me, and turn
   Glorious eyes that smile and burn,
   Golden eyes, love's lustrous mead,
   On the golden page I read."
   
   Truly, not unlike any of my beloved feline family members, this is a warm, aesthetic pleasure to keep somewhere nearby me while in my sanctuary~



2. What a great cat book! Features 99 cat lives, terrific color photos, paintings, and drawings, and fine commentary. Features practically every conceivable (domestic) cat throught the ages, and will provide fun, entertainment, and education for years to come!



3. This is a great book for cats lovers. It's beautifully illustrated and got lots of interesting information.



4. I have many, many books in my "cat collection" and this is one of the most beautiful. Not only is the color of the art georgeous, but the essays are thoughtful and informative. This is the one I drag out most often to show off.

3 comments about The Feline Patient: Essentials of Diagnosis and Treatment.

1. If you're serious enough about feline health issues to have clicked on the title of this book, BUY IT. NOW. (Then find out if your vet already has a copy, and if s/he doesn't, invest in another copy for your vet. Seriously.)
   
   If it's absolutely impossible for you to afford the second (2002) edition, pick up a copy of the first (1998, I think) edition. Although it's always important with medical stuff to get current info, even the first edition will leave you FAR more knowledgeable and up-to-date about feline health issues than the vast majority of vets (who are often too busy to keep up with current info and typically more focused on dogs, as well). (No book -- including this one -- can begin to take the place of a good vet; but this book will equip you to tell the difference between a good cat vet who knows his/her stuff, and a mediocre vet with a good bedside manner.)
   
   The Pill Book Guide to Medications for Your Dog and Cat is another very good book for the serious cat lover. (Though it's *desperately* overdue for a new edition. Desperately. But still very useful.)
   
   But, back to the point at hand: BUY THE FELINE PATIENT. Your cat(s) need you to.
   
   -- Michelle (Siamese Rescue Northwest)



2. This book provides excellent insight into feline symptoms. While it uses medical terminology, it's the same terminology you'll see on the your pet's veterinarian visit records, tests, and even in other feline health books. It describes cat symptoms and indicates possible causes. It recommends courses of investigation and explains what to do based upon the results. It also weighs different diagnostic approaches, e.g., x-rays vs. ultrasound.
   
   This information is useful for laypersons who wish to be an even better healthcare advocate for their pet. For example, it explains when and why it's important to pay attention to sneezing: when it occurs in cats aged six or less it is likely due to a viral or bacterial infection, while in cats over 10 years it is likely due to neoplasia (cancer).
   
   I'd like to be a better pet guardian in future, which is why I bought this book. Unfortunately, my vet thought my chronically sneezing 13-year-old cat had simply developed allergies - even after I took her in twice as I was concerned. He was wrong. If I'd had this book to consult, I'd have known to press for additional testing.
   
   All in all, this book is excellent to have on the bookshelves - so that it's there when needed. Cats do not present with the same symptoms as dogs. They often conceal that they are in pain. Once you've been through a cat with illness, I think it will help you to recognize it in other cats.
   
   One other tip that I didn't find in this book - if your cat's vocalization habits change - pay attention. According to material I've seen published by the SPCA, and personal experience, this is a likely indication that the cat is in pain. The SPCA document also indicated that medical attention is likely required most urgently by the time a cat vocalizes about it. In fact, by the time they vocalize, it's likely the disease is significantly advanced. Better to be alert for other symptoms and signs.
   
   Another resource that I'd recommend that is directed to the layperson is "The Cornell Books of Cats: The Comprehensive and Authoritative Medical Reference for Every Cat and Kitten" by Mordecai Siegal. It offers excellent information on how to recognize when an animal is in pain. The signs are subtle, e.g., cats will often simply restrict movement in answer to pain. My criticism of this book is that it glosses over scary subjects such as cancer, and as I see it, encourages readers to think all is well and further investigation isn't necessary.



3. I can't recommend "The Feline Patient" highly enough. The information in this book has saved the lives of two of my cats. Soon after I bought this book, my 15-year-old Maine Coon cat became very ill, was diagnosed with diabetes, yet the ever-increasing doses of insulin that were prescribed didn't seem to improve his condition. The more insulin he was given, the higher his glucose level became. Concerned, I began to research the problem on my own, using this book, and hypothesized that my cat had not only diabetes, but also chronic pancreatitis, and that he was not only unable to produce sufficient insulin, but was also unable to effectively use the insulin he was given. Based upon the information in this book, I requested that several other diagnostic tests be performed. These tests confirmed my hypotheses, my cat's treatment has been revised, and I now look forward to more happy months and years with him.

   While grooming my ten-year-old Cymric, I felt some very small, hard bumps in her back. These were approximately the size of an ordinary matchhead. Although they were very, very small, they were painful, and she cried when I touched them, even lightly. From having read this book, I knew that any unexplained bump or lump beneath the surface of a cat's skin should be evaluated by a veterinarian immediately. My cat has required two surgeries, but thanks to early detection and treatment, her prognosis is far better than it would otherwise have been.

   "The Feline Patient" was written for veterinary practitioners, so the lay person will find the vocabulary challenging, and will probably require a good veterinary dictionary as a companion to this book. Nevertheless, the person who loves and cares for feline family members will find that the benefits greatly outweigh that challenge.

   Thank you, Amazon.com, for making this book available to the general public!

No comments about Vivian's Original Cat Astrology.

3 comments about Small Animal Clinical Oncology.

1. I am currently finishing up an advanced clinical rotation in surgical and medical oncology at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. I bought this book as a main resource, along with Fossum's surgery text, Slatter's, and Nelson/Couto's medical text. Withrow's book has been extremely helpful with the background information required to diagnose, treat, and predict the behavior of most tumors. I would recommend this book to anyone specializing in oncology, surgery, internal medicine, or even the general practicioner.



2. If you want the low-down on small animal oncology - this is where to look! This text is the next-best thing to a consultation with a specialist.



3. Small Animal Clinical Oncology is NOT aimed at "civilian" pet owners like me. I bought this book after getting a cancer diagnosis on my dog, desperate for more detailed information than what I've found so far in books for the general public. I hesitated at the price, but I'm now very glad I bought it. I strongly suggest having Taber's Medical Dictionary handy if you're not in the field, and many of the photos were very tough to look at. Each chapter is written by different authors, it's footnoted to the nth degree which makes it easier if you should want to find further info. The chapters are well laid out and offered lots of basic and not so basic info on different tumors and cancers, progression, treatments, theory, classifications, pathology, etc. The last chapter on Bond Centered Practice is very touching from where I stand, addressing the handling of us owners in a very comforting way.

   This book has most anything pet owners could want to know from a conventional medicine standpoint if they're willing to wade through it. There's info about the not-so-conventional side too, I found that a bonus since I'm interested in both sides. I did get totally lost in a couple of the theory chapters, that's to be expected for the likes of me, but I managed most of it. While a tough read for for a those not in the field, I've really learned a lot from this book, it's the best I've found on the subject so far. I can't rate this 5 full stars since I am not in the target group it's written for. If there are any problems, inaccuracies, or unnoted controversies, I'd probably never know, but none are obvious to me anyway.

1 comments about Skin and Coat Care for Your Cat.

1. If you have ever experienced skin or coat problems with your cat this is the book to get (this includes flees). It not only clearly describes the conditions but contains great pictures as well (very graphic and a bit upsetting (you wonder how some cats got in that condition)). It also has a good section on keeping the cats environment safe and medications. I would like to see an updated version.

5 comments about Cat Who Went Into Clo.

1. I think this was my favorite "The Cat Who.." so far. It is late autumn in Pickax. Qwill and the cats rent a downtown mansion from Mrs. Gage to be closer to civilization in case of blizzards. Qwill has just written a play about a fire long ago in Pickax and begins giving performances.
   
   The town receives word that Mrs. Gage who had sold out and moved to Florida, had committed suicide. Qwill and Koko do not feel all is right with that scenario.
   
   Along the way, Qwill meets a young, beautiful, dog sled racer who had a big part in this mystery. The story takes place over my three favorite holidays; Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. You will love this edition of "The Cat Who..." series.



2. I'm a great fan of Koko and YumYum, so I enjoy having them along with me while I'm on the road. Somehow the narrator's voice sounds like Jim Qwilleran's would if he was a real person. The only problem is that it's not always easy to tell when we've reached the end of a disc, but then that's true of virtually all audio discs.



3. Liked the book, took me a while to get into, but enjoyed it once I made all the connections; arrived in timely fashion and good condition.



4. I think that the book was really bad. It seemed to me like someone else had written the book. I have enjoyed all the other books tremendously, but this one just left me hanging with a lot of unanswered questions.



5. Not one of the better ones. Really shallowly written. Sounds like a ghost writer (the ghost writer's first book in the series) to me.

1 comments about The World of Cats: A Fully Illustrated Guide to the Fascinating Feline.

1. This book has good, clear, comprehensive information for anyone who likes cats. I thought it covered a lot of information and was easy to understand.

3 comments about 101 Questions Your Cat Would Ask Its Vet (If Your Cat Could Talk).

1. This is the only cat book I have seen that combines simplicity, entertainment and common sense. It should be required reading for every cat owner; you can dip into it anywhere and draw up useful information. I have been giving copies of this book to the new cat owners among my relatives and friends for years.
   
   Beware! There is another, larger, very glossy imitation of this book, published in 1999, that also has "101 Questions" in the title. The people who created it, whom I suspect of trying to capitalize on the success of Fogle's simple, modest, and beautiful book, should be left in a cage without food, water, or a clean catbox for an extended period of time.



2. Great book, mainly for those who didn't have ever had a cat. Serious but simple with lots of good advices and things everyone having a cat should know! I have loved it! Maria Manuel (Portugal)



3. This is a great book for cat lovers. Brought many smiles..

3 comments about Is Your Cat Too Fat?.

1. As another reviewer has pointed out, this book really looks like a humor book at first glance, and I picked it up thinking that was the case. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it's actually informative as well as entertaining.

   The whimsically illustrated book discusses a brief history of cats and goes a bit into why commercially prepared cat foods are not a healthy staple for your cat. There is some information, for the most part based on observation, about how to tell if your cat is too fat. The correct ratios of protein to fat to carbohydrates are discussed, as well as some actual recipes to cook for your cat.

   This book really convinced me that feeding dry kibble just doesn't cut it and may explain why my cat has always been overly plump and yet still (always!) clamoring for MORE FOOD. The only drawback is that it just didn't give me all the information I needed to make the switch. Aside from some recipes for vitamin and mineral supplements, there were no specific mixes for basic foods. While the recipes are cute and, I'm sure, tasty for cats, they seem too labor-intensive to prepare day after day. I would have liked to see a few basic recipes that would make a larger quantity which could be frozen in meal-size portions and used for daily meals.

   Overall, I think the book was a good purchase, but it left me starving for more.




2. I am a cat lover (currently between cats) and, while I intend to try the interesting recipes and naturopathic advice with my next cat, I have to admit to buying the book purely because I'm a fan of the illustrator. Readers of Graham Oakley's "Church Mice" series will recognise Sampson the ginger tomcat on the cover and endpapers - which show a before and after picture of him having a very good dinner. Almost every spread in the book features an apt (and usually funny) colour illustration of cat behaviour, and he captures cat expressions/body language beautifully.



3. Is your cat too fat? is a straightforward diet and fitness book for cats, dispite its cover illustration, which might lead would-be readers to conclude that it is a humor book.

   It begins by telling us some interesting cat history. For example, did you know that cats were persecuted during the Middle Ages? Next, the author explains what it is that cats really like to eat -- NOT BIRDS! Bird are way down on the cat's list of favorite things because the feathers must be plucked before eating. Yuck. Cats like mice of course, but according to a study the author cited, cats prefer canned or prepared food, if it's available. Also, cats can tell when food is beginning "to turn." They prefer it fresh.

   The book contains ways to figure out if your cat is too fat, including a weight chart for different breeds. (Mine weighs 12 lbs which is okay for an American short-hair, but she feels fat to me.)

   Then comes the part we all know will follow -- the inevitable diet suggestions which we've all heard before. Ta Da: diet and exercise. The author has included lots of clever ways to engage our cats in playful games designed to trim them down a little. And the exciting thing is that we ourselves must become the primary entertainer.

   But the most interesting part of the book is the recipe section. Yes, indeed. How about whipping up a batch of chicken liver mousse for your kitten? Or scrambled eggs with haddock for a Sunday morning brunch (for the cat, of course). The recipe section is divided into categories: Sauces, Savories, Sandwiches, Eggs, Game, Meat, Poultry, Fish, and Pasta. (What, no dessert?)

   The illustrations are charming, it's easy to read, and full of interesting facts, with a small dose of guilt designed to help us keep our cats healthy and happy. This book belongs on the bookshelf of every cat-lover.