No comments about Country House Cats.

5 comments about The Tribe of Tiger.

1. I had this book on my shelf for years before finally getting around to reading it, and now wish I'd done so sooner. The author is one of the tribe of true animal-lovers: people whose love and understanding of animals does not get in the way of their analytic abilites and scientific curiosity. As noted, the book does not particularly flow; some chapters are on the author's observations of house cats and others are on her own and others' studies of wild feline species of many kinds, with emphasis on cougars, tigers and lions. But even though I found some chapters a bit subjective, anecdotal, and tedious, I kept reading because there are some hugely rewarding insights in these pages. The author is an original thinker, a keen observer, and a passionate advocate for the well-being of cats large and small. I would rate this a must-read for anyone who loves and wants to better understand "the tribe of the tiger".



2. This is the SEVENTH copy The Tribe of the Tiger's I have purchased-simply because my friends "borrow" my copy and then pass it along to their other friends who are interested in cats. Needless to say, it is cheaper buying another copy than hiring a "Private Eye" trying to locate another "traveling copy" of TTCTC. "Set my borrowed copy free-and educate the world about felines"-CJC
   
   Normally I would be angry, I am taking the time to order to order copy number 7-but this visit, I took more time by adding a review because this read is worth it. I wonder if I should face the facts, and just start a "give away" book club-for THIS TITLE book only.
   
   Tribe is not only one of the best for information about cats, BUT-is a "hot item" when it is discovered by readers. (Don't lend your copy out if you really intend on keeping it-for rereading.)
   
   This time I ordered 2 copies, so I could "borrow out" one-while holding on to a "house copy". Maybe this way I can refrain from ordering another for a few months. OR MAYBE (wishful thinking) a borrower will actually RETURN any one of my formely lent copies. NAH, that ain't going to happen.
   
   If you are truly interested in more than how to take care of your pet, love to be able to "speak in feline body language" or want to understand life through your cats eyes-THIS is the book.
   
   No magical mystical wonderments-offered inside, just common sense and great thinking. If your set of beliefs include "mystical junk" about your cat-you may want to educate yourself-into the real world by reading this book. I promise you your cat WILL a better life because you have taken the time to learn from this book.



3. This is without doubt one of the best books on animal behavior I have ever read. What Thomas does that others do not (and often cannot) is three-fold:

   First, using her long experience with animals both domestic and wild, she INTERPRETS their behavior from her observations. Most of us do that, but scientists in general do not. They cannot because such interpretations, unless established scientifically, would be labeled "anthropomorphic," and prove dangerous to their careers. You and I interpret the behavior of our animals, but most of us have only a small fraction of the experience that Elizabeth Thomas has. She has spent decades in the wild, especially in Africa, studying animals and their interactions with humans.

   This interaction between humans and their way of seeing the world and that of cats and their way of seeing the world--our differing "cultures" as Thomas rightly uses the term--is the second thing she does so very well. Her stories about how the Ju/wasi people, for example, treat lions and how the lions treat them--with mutual respect--and how that differs from the way non-indigenous people treat lions is just fascinating to read. She describes the Ju/wasi talking to a couple of lions, telling them firmly and politely that a certain fallen wildebeest was theirs and that the lions should leave. After listening, the lions left. (p.118) And how the Ju/wasi behaved if by chance they should come upon a lion in the wild: the person would take an oblique angle away from the lion and walk with purpose, keeping the lion in sight but not staring. Thomas discovered that a lion meeting people sometimes would do the same!

   The third thing that Thomas does extraordinary well is to use her novelist's sense of description and IMAGINE how the cat is feeling. She writes beautifully with love and understanding, but without mawkish intent or any phony sentimentality. Here's an example:

   "Even people with very inconspicuous disabilities are quickly zeroed in on by cats...the entering tigers stopped...to stare...at someone they had spotted deep in the [amphitheater] crowd. Following their gaze I finally found what they had noticed immediately: a child with Down's syndrome sitting quietly and (to me) inconspicuously amid his family." (p. 123)

   If you limp by a caged carnivore, a wolf or a leopard, say, your limping will excite the animal because an injured or disabled animal is its best prey. As Thomas explains, carnivores want to obtain their meals with as little risk of injury to themselves as possible because any injury in the wild can prove fatal.

   Here's Thomas on the roaring of lions: "At about ten o'clock that night a lioness suddenly appeared between the two camps and began to roar. The loudness of lions cannot be described or imagined but must be experienced. My body was so filled with the sound that I couldn't think or breathe, and in the brief silences between the roars my ears rang." (p. 135)

   She goes on to speculate later in the book that lions may use their roars to frighten and flush out their prey.

   On page 161 Thomas describes exchanging yawns with a lioness lying by a water hole. Thomas yawned and then, "To my amazement, without taking her eyes off me she also yawned. Was it coincidence...Was it empathy? Fascinated I deliberately yawned again. She yawned again!"

   I've had similar experiences with cats. A yawn is a signal that they are comfortable with your presence. Domestic cats in the yard will also turn their back on you as they lie on their side to signal that they are comfortable with your presence.

   I always wondered about water holes on the savannas in Africa. How could the various animals come to drink in safety, and how did they manage to avoid one another? Thomas gives a convincing explanation. The lions, who are most active at night, come in the night to drink. During the heat of the day prey animals come when the lions are resting. And of course the humans wait until the sun is fully up before approaching. When the elephants come, the lions leave. Interestingly enough, Thomas claims that lions will not spoil the water hole with their scat.

   Thomas's skill as a novelist shows in this passage. She is describing her friend Katharine Payne's experience with a lion that she had spotted just a few feet away as she lay in her sleeping bag: "He looked and looked at Katy. She looked and looked at him, hearing the wet noises of him swallowing his saliva and settling his tongue. He was thinking of eating. Cats are famous for their patience--the big lion watched Katy while the moon slowly rose behind him...The lion continued to think of eating. Eventually, he drooled." (p. 162)

   One of the points that Thomas makes in this book is that all cats, from four hundred pound lions to our house cats, have much in common. Our domestic little kitties are more social than we think, and their hunting instincts are just as savage as those of a leopard. And yes lions purr.

   She also claims that tigers are better off in circuses than in zoos mainly because they engage in regular activity that stimulates them, and that they enjoy their interactions with their trainers. She makes a convincing argument, and yet we must have zoos because without them most of us could not see these magnificent creatures; and indeed someday sadly zoos will be their only home. Maybe what is needed are zookeepers who know the culture of their animals well enough to provide them with something more than meat and boredom.

   It is wonderful how Thomas becomes, for the purpose of this book, the animals she describes. Here she describes a lioness observing cattle: "One whiff of that dizzying, grassy scent would have set a lion's mouth watering." (pp. 181-182)




4. I spend a lot of time in India and am very knowledgeable about tigers. I was absolutely amazed to read that Ms Thomas thought it perfectly acceptable for tigers to be kept in tiny cages, and dragged around America only to emerge in a circus ring and then be put back in a cage. Ms Thomas seems to think this a wonderful life guaranteed to keep tigers alert and happy, and reccomends the practice continue. She even sings the praises of John Cuneo who breeds tigers for circuses in the US and is currently being prosecuted for animal cruelty.
   On the tiger in a circus: Ôthe owners live in small trailers and tigers live in travellin cages on wheels, each cage about twice the length of the tiger who inhabits it. Sometimes nothing beteter than a large tarp or the edge of a circus tent shelters these little groups of people and tigers just barely protecting them from wind sun & rainÕ

   The tiger is a top predator, it is extremely intelligent and built to hunt. That is its raison d'etre.

   Even when not hunting a tiger will prowl may be 15 miles a night.
   They spend 2 years teaching their cubs to hunt.
   If Ms Thomas seriously think that learning a few miserable tricks to perform in a ring, keep an animal such as this stimulated and happy, she clearly has no knowledge of tigers at all and frankly makes one wonder what if anything else she writes about in the book has any validity.

   If you are interested in tigers, don't buy this ridiculous book buy anything by Valmik Thapar, a man who really does know about this majestic predator.




5. I think her dog book was good cuz she's a dog person. She's not a cat person, and it shows.

1 comments about Epilepsy (The Essential Guide to Natural Pet Care).

1. For anyone who has endured the experience of watching a dog or cat have a seizure this book can be a godsend. Not only does it provide helpful holistic strategies that really work--it's a one of a kind book. Pet owners who have pets prone to seizures are often left helpless. They don't know who to turn to. In result, they end up scared, frustrated and believe conventional medicine is the only solution. It's not. My book which provides wonderful strategies from top holistic vets nationwide offers aid to any pet owner who wants help and is willing to try a healthful, alternative route to lower the risk of seizures. I believe that my research and doctors' words of wisdom and expertise can and will help their beloved pets. For those who have an open mind and are willing to explore the vast world of alternative medicine this book may be the solution you're looking for.

1 comments about Cats (Cube Books).

1. This is one of the best cat books I have ever seen. It has tons of adorable bright colored pictures of all different kinds of cats and kittens . My daughter is 8 and she is a cat lover like me and we both enjoyed this book. I know we will look at it over and over again. It is a perfect size cube so it is not bulky and doesn't take up alot of space. I give this book 5 stars !

2 comments about Why We Love Cats.

1. Not sure I agree with the previous review. This book is definitely a great companion piece to Kim's dog work. Like she does with dogs, Kim Levin has definitely been able to capture a cat's personality on film (not an easy feat!). And the black & white photography really gives the book a timeless feel to it. I give these out as gifts all the time, and have had nothing but compliments.

   She'll even sign one for you if you buy it from her website.




2. Indifferent text and lackluster black-and-white photos make for an overall boring book. Very disappointing.

5 comments about Mindspeaker's Call (Ghatti's Tale).

1. A lot of second books in a trilogy lack the initial burst of energy from the first, but this one is just as good if not better than the first! I thought it was great, and some new characters are introduced. I particularly like Hru'rul! This book is great and I strongly recommend having book 3 on hand to start once you finish this one!



2. Vesey is gone, but Doyce and the Seekers face new threats as they begin to realize that the ghatti aren't the only Mindspeakers on the planet....and the future may lie with the Gleaners who have been persecuted as evil! Highly recommend for fans of this series, cat lovers, and those who also like Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series (horses as bondmates)



3. It's been six months since Doyce's stepson Vesey and the renegade "Gleaners" (telepaths) he led were destroyed, though not without cost to Doyce herself: ever since that battle she has closed herself off mentally from everyone, including her would-be lover Jenret (whose presence she wasn't even aware of) and her beloved Bond, the ghatta Khar'pren. So Khar is delighted when the chief of the Seeker corps asks Doyce to join a diplomatic mission. The chief (only?) continent of the ghattis' world was long ago divided by its human colonists into two countries: the Seekers' Canderis, which is a republic, and Marchmont, a monarchy. Recently Marchmont's aged queen died without obvious heirs, and border incidents have been multiplying ever since, endangering the freedom of trade between the two nations and, thereby, Canderis's prosperity. Accompanied by several other Seekers and their ghatti, plus Nakum, the forester, and his ghatt Saam as guides, she sets out for the border. When Chak, the Bond of the senior Seeker, unexpectedly dies and his human walks off a cliff with his body, Doyce is promoted to head the party, much to her dismay, and they continue on their way.
   
   In Marchmont, intrigue is afoot, and questions are everywhere. Who is the heir, and why can't he or she be found? Who is the mysterious Steward who guides Marchmont while the search continues? Who is trying to disrupt the Seekers' mission? Where does the D'Artagnan-esque guardsman Arras Muscadeine stand? Can the Canderisians stop a palace coup from placing the power-hungry Lord Maurice on the throne? As they struggle to carry out their mandate, they learn, to their astonishment, that Marchmont is overrun with telepaths--but these are not the meddling Gleaners of Canderis; their society acknowledges them and they function openly and, for the most part, ethically. Their powers will prove crucial to the resolution of the situation--but so will the Seekers: the late Queen on her deathbed urged her people to "wait for the ghatt" who would lead them to their next ruler, and so one does.
   
   Although by no means a quick read, this second in the Ghatti's Tale series is equally rich in texture and insight, and author Greeno displays a keen understanding of how governments and economies work and how people react to psychological stress. (Some reviewers take Doyce to task for her "whining," but I understand her feelings: she thinks there should have been something she could have done, as Vesey's stepmother, to prevent him from growing up so twisted, and she believes she should have nurtured rather than destroyed him, which naturally makes for guilt.) The climactic scenes may be difficult for some readers to bear, as two ghatti and their Seekers die gallant but violent deaths for a country that isn't even theirs; but in the end the right triumphs and Doyce and Jenret appear to be on their way to healing.



4. For some reason, Greeno chose to destroy MOST of the main characters -- almost as if she was worried any book without a lot of senseless deaths would be unprintable...The Ghatti are also relatively absent for much of the book, which I found a great disappointment.

   The plot and characterization are otherwise brilliant... It was nice to see Greeno decide to treat the "Gleaners" a little more rationally in this volume than she did in the first. The only problems really occur where Greeno evidently "needed" to inject elements that didn't fit in with reality. Still, it's worth the extended read, if only for a historical set-up for the next novels.




5. I couldn't put it down until I hit the end and I couldn't wait for my next visit to this world! This was a great read, if you love cats, telepathy or the interaction of just people and animals you'll love this book!

5 comments about Garfield Says a Mouthful (Garfield (Numbered Paperback)).

1. The Garfield comic strip about a male loser who owns a fat cat and an ignorant, slobbery dog strikes a responsive chord in cat owners everywhere. It is not because they identify with a man who cannot do anything right or recognize their pet dog. It is because Garfield is the exaggerated epitome of a cat whose life revolves around eating, sleeping and getting into things. I have owned approximately ten cats in my life and I recognized a bit of Garfield in every one of them. I enjoyed this book, even though the actions of his owner reach beyond the absurd.



2. Unfortunatly, this was actually when Garfield books were starting to fall a bit flat on ideas and the 1990's books weren't as good compared to the mid to late 1980's books but this book is still very funny, but overall if you're a Garfield fan, this book is highly recommended.



3. "Garfield Says a Mouthful, No 21" wasn't the funniest Garfield book I've read, but it's still entertaining. I nice addition to a collection and a must for Garfield fans. I recommend.



4. Everybody out there keep buying Garfield books! They can be worth a lot of money someday and can become collector's items! I'm always going to keep all of mine so when I have kids they can read them!



5. Out of all the Garfield books I think I liked this one the most. But still I give all of them 5 big gold stars! -Kacey 5th grade

No comments about Complete Catcare: The Essential Guide to Looking After Your Pet.

4 comments about Cats with Attitude.

1. I ordered this book for my son, who is a cat lover. We own "101 uses for a Dead Cat," by Simon Bond and it is hilarious. I was hoping Nicole Hollander's humor would be similar to Simon Bond's, but was disappointed. The illustrations were great, but the jokes were not so funny. Plus, many of the comics were not proper for a young child to read. I am sadly disappointed. The illustrations really had me fooled into thinking this would be a winner! Would not recommend to family and friends.



2. From Marisa Katana D'Vari of a Library Cat Dot Com
   
   "Cats always like what you're eating better than what they're eating," says Nicole Hollander in her hilarious cat humor book, Cats With Attitude. This book is actually two books in one, as Hollander's publisher decided to combine Everything Here is Mine and My Cat's Not Fat, He's Just Big-Boned in one edition.
   
   What's best about Hollander's work is that it's impossible to turn a page without bursting out in laughter. Cat owners can recognize many of the behaviors Hollander describes in their own cats. For example, Hollander describes how she tried to train her cat to use the toilet, instead of a litter box. It brought back memories of the time I purchased a kit designed for this purpose, a sort of seat one was instructed to line with plastic wrap and sprinkle with cat litter.
   
   When my then-kitten didn't quite respond, I placed calls to the technical support number listed in the instructions. At first, whoever answered the phone told me that the person I needed to speak to was out of the office. Many calls later they finally broke the news that the kit was a sort of gag gift, not to be taken seriously.
   
   Hollander, apparently, had better luck. Yet she discounts this sort of training for one key reason: cats don't flush. Worse, once trained they expect their own bathroom. Of course, all cat owners - especially owners lucky enough to have marble bathroom floors - know that cats are quick to appropriate this room as their own.
   
   In my new apartment, I decided to take the master bathroom and designated a guest bath for the cat. Of course, the cat decided she liked the cool marble floor and elegant fixtures of the master bath, so we sort of had to tough it out. Hollander also has a chapter on cats and the law.
   
   The fact that cats love luxury is a recurring (re-purring?) theme in this book - which every cat owner knows. Hollander states that in California, if one leaves a cat alone in a car that is neither a convertible nor a BMW, the owner may be liable for a heavy fine. How true!
   
   A very funny section concerns the astrological signs of cats. A Gemini cat, for example, is "easily bored" and must be kept amused with toys or games else they get edgy and look for a new home. A Virgo cat is meticulous and critical. "Keep their litter ox clean or they'll get even."
   
   All in all, Cats with Attitude is the perfect gift for a cat-loving friend, or a book to read whenever you feel down. Just one caveat! Don't let your cat catch you reading this! They prefer to think that no one, least of all humor writers, are onto their secrets.



3. As someone who has lived with cats since childhood, I can say that Nicole Hollander has truly nailed the personalities of these comical and sometimes exasperating creatures. This book is actually a compilation of two earlier books, so some of the material may be familiar to you, but the book is a bargain and can't help but make anyone who lives with cats laugh. I recommend this book to anyone who loves (or merely lives tolerantly with) these quirky animals.



4. Nicole Hollander has here written the funniest book I've ever read in my life. Of course, to be fair, I do suppose you have to be something of a cat lover (or at least, live with cats) to understand her wit and humor -- in other words, the concept of two cats holding their owner's 1040 hostage for food might be lost on the uninitiated.

   The only thing I will say is that this particular edition contains two books, "Everything Here Is Mine" and "My Cat's Not Fat, He's Just Big Boned". The latter contains much of the same material that was in the former. Still, the price for both is the same as the price for one, so why not?

3 comments about Cats Do the Cutest Things.

1. We gave this book to my daughter for her 9th birthday. She loves cats and had seen this book and asked for it. It has great photography and quotes to go along with them (the one about cats being born with their eyes closed and spending most of their life that way is a personal favorite and a definite truism).
   
   The book is small but well worth the price for your cat lover.



2. A small picture book that is sure to bring a smile to your face, Cats Do the Cutest Things has pictures of cats on one page and an appropriate quote on the opposite one. You will recognize the habits that make a cat a cat over and over again as you leaf through the pages. The pictures are well done and do an excellent job of capturing the true nature of cats. Cats Do the Cutest Things is a recommended diversion from life into the world of cats.



3. "Cats Do The Cutest Things: is a book about one of my FAVORITE subjects - CATS! Alexandra Ortolja-Baird has created a wonderful compilation of cat photos and simple sayings. The photos are of those definitely cat-like moves or posses that anyone who has ever owned a cat has seen his/her own bundle of fur do. The quotes, some from famous authors such as Mark Twain or James Herriot, that go with each picture provide a laugh or reminds one of when they saw a cat do what the words were talking about.
   
   This is a great book for a coffee table or even better as a gift for the cat-lover on your list. It is small enough in size so that it makes the perfect shelf decoration and anyone looking through your bookcase will notice it right away. The cover photo - a cat snuggled in a blue boa - makes me think of the warm and cuddly times I have had with my own cats.
   
   This is a book I will look at again and again and one I will buy to give to the cat-lovers I know the next time I need a gift for them. I LOVE it!