1 comments about P.J., my friend.

1. I can't believe that nobody seems to have discovered this humorous and yet tender account of the life of P. J., the cat.

   The book's author who was first a journalist and then a novel writer decides that his pre-school daughter needs a pet, and decides that a cat would be less nuisance than a dog. Stopping by a pet shop, he spends the princely sum of ninety-eight cents for a straggly waif of a kitten. It's instant love for his daughter, Twink, and the book covers their life together over the cat's lifespan.

   The very core of this true story is in the almost mystical rapport between Twink and "Prince Julius", who quickly becomes P. J. Twink soon considers P. J. as her best friend, and so it is. Other members of the family are friends, but only Twink and P. J. are best friends to each other.

   Through the various chapters, we learn first how the author somewhat reluctantly started considering P. J. a friend, and then P. J.'s encountering various changes including moving from a New York City apartment to a rural Connecticut area, wildlife, a growing feline population, and the author's second wife, a self-proclaimed cat hater. Always, though, there is the relationship with Twink, P. J.'s best friend.

   The events are all told with a cat person's sense of humor, until the very touching final chapter.

   The book has definite appeal for parents as well as cat lovers. However, younger readers from 12, or maybe even 9 up, should also enjoy it.

4 comments about Cat on the Couch: Memoirs of a Cat's Journey into Psychotherapy.

1. This fictional book is about a cat, nicked named Callie, in session with a human therapist. Callie is there to get over her mother abandoning her and many other idiosyncrasies common to a cat, such as excessive hairball production, peeing inappropriately, etc. Although the author captured a cat's behavior well (except for the human aspects such as the Internet gambling addiction), I wish I could say that I found this book funny; but I didn't. I was hoping I'd at least laugh once at Callie's antics, but I just didn't find the story funny and I'm a cat owner for over 20 years. However, I'm glad others were able to. Remember that laughter is subjective and unfortunately my experience differs from what the other reviewers encountered.
   
   On another note, the publishing of the book was substandard. For example, the font type printed in the book sometimes varied in size on the same page. Pages 16 and 42 (and almost every other page) provide good examples of what I'm talking about. These changes were distracting. I'm not referring to the italic font used to indicate the author's private thinking, but the apparent use of a font size 12 one paragraph and then a font size 10 in another paragraph and halfway through the sentence back to another font size 12. In addition, some incorrect wording was left in the text. For instance, "abandoned" instead of "abandonment" should have been used on Page 43; "tone down" instead of "tone done" should have been used on Page 48. There were other proofreading errors throughout the text, such as on Page 49 where one sentence picks up several blank lines down. Nevertheless, this did not cause me to lower my rating as the shoddy publishing is the publisher's responsibility. Most people probably wouldn't notice or even care, but as someone heavily into documentation, all these publishing mistakes broke my focus from the narrative a little bit. I read many books and a few errors are only normal; however, it is unusual to find a book so messy with proofreading errors.
   
   In summary, I found the book to be just okay. The story was cute, silly, and a lighthearted read but not the comedy I was expecting and this is why I rated it a 3.



2. Calico Nicole is one hot cat! Sex, drugs, gambling--it had all the elements of real life from a cat's perspective. Funny, funny book! Cathy Parker must be a cat lover from way back. She has the inside scoop on how cats must really think and feel. She was able to "humanize" Calico to the point you forget she's a cat. When you suddenly remember, it's hilarious. And those outfits were a riot. Cathy Parker is on target. Her descriptions of Calico's numerous disorders were written in easy to follow layman's terms so everyone could feel for Calico and for Cathy. Calico has real issues, issues true to so many of us. As I was reading I could relate to her problems...and I'm not a cat! Cathy must be a excellent therapist. Her insight was terrific! I can't wait for the sequel!



3. If you've ever been in therapy, thought about therapy or are just a cat lover, you'll find Cat on the Couch: A Cat's Journey into Psychotherapy hilarious. Callie the cat drives her therapist crazy with her "issues" which include addictive relationships, fear of heights, infertility, and addiction to internet pornography and internet gambling. Who would ever thought a talking cat could be so much like we are. Read it. You won't be disappointed.



4. Cat on the Couch is fun reading! You'll love hearing the escapades of Calico Nicole Ford, a cat with issues. Cathy brings this feisty fantasy feline to life for us in a way that creates very enjoyable and fun reading! I *highly* recommend this book for those who enjoy laughing out loud. As a licensed clinical social worker, Cathy gives us a healthy dose of laughter, realizing its importance in our lives. Her gift of humor is Cat on the Couch. Thank you so much for writing this very entertaining book!

No comments about An Illustrated Guide to Cats (Salamander Book).

No comments about Cat Magic: Cat Stories and Fables throughout History.

No comments about Cats Are.

No comments about 101 Questions Your Cat Would Ask Its Vet (If Your Cat Could Talk).

No comments about Caring for Your Cat.

3 comments about Guide to Owning a Dachshund (Re Dog Series).

1. Even though the front and back cover both show "housebreaking" as part of what is included in the book, it is not mentioned even once in the book. The book mostly provides a historical perspective and physical description of the breed. There is very little practical information on how to properly take care of a dachshund or how to train one.



2. I thought it gave me a very good idea of the breed help me decide what kind of dachshund I wanted. Now that I adopted one I'm looking for more indept information than this book can provide.



3. The photography in this book is a plus. It covers the different breeds of dachshunds. Helpful hints on toys also.

No comments about Dachshunds.

3 comments about Your New Cat: An Expert Answers Your Every Question (Capital Ideas).

1. This book was given to me as a gift and I really enjoyed it. The author clearly has excellent knowledge on cats and a plus is when the author shares personal experiences too. (that was my favorite part) Since my cat is no longer with me, this book really got me excited to plan another adoption in the future. Will look for more from this author.



2. Knowledgeably written by Kim Campbell Thornton (a past president of Cat Writers Association of America), Your New Cat is a straightforward guide to caring for, feeding, grooming, and protecting a beloved new feline pet, whether a kitten or an adult cat. Especially important are the warnings of common household poisons (antifreeze is lethal to animals, yet they will consume it if it is left out due its sweet taste!), hazards, and poisonous plants, and other things to watch out for to keep one's animal safe. Your New Cat is a superb primer and an absolute "must-have" reference and resource for any new cat owner.



3. As a "mother" to two cats, I didn't think I had a lot to learn about how to care for cats, but Thornton's "Your New Cat" proved me wrong.
   
   Whether you are a cat pro who's had cats for years or are a complete novice thinking about adopting your first cat, "Your New Cat" provides a great deal of useful information presented in an easy to read format. Topics include whether you should adopt a kitten or an older cat, is dry food better than wet food, what kind of cat to get if you have children, getting a cat from a breeder versus an animal shelter, how to give cats medication, signs of illness to look out for, and characteristics of the different breeds, among many other topics.
   
   "Your New Cat" is a must read for any cat parent!