3 comments about Cat Culture: The Social World of a Cat Shelter (Animals, Culture, and Society).

1. I am reading this book in college for a book review. Wonderful book i think so anyways. i a cat lover read this book all my friends with a cat child.
   your friend peter



2. As noted in the title, this book deals with a single shelter; it is not clear whether the findings can be generalized to other sites. The author was sometimes intrusive.



3. This book is a wonderful combination of intelligent information and a loving tribute toward our warm, furry companions and intimate friends. The entire book is the sign of personal, cognitive, and emotional experience that leads to the raising questions about cats' existence as sentient beings. The book clearly establishes the fact that our furry friends are capable of emotional expression and their sensitivity is not a matter of mere affect but an aspect of growing awareness. The wonderful point this book makes is that to be appropriately sensitive to other beings' way is to experience them as real, breathing, and living entities. This book ultimately gives a direction by showing that the wonderful bridge of connectedness of human and other beings is possible through direct and deep experience. It is wonderful to realize that compassion is the way to learn and love.

2 comments about Garfield Takes Up Space (Garfield, No 20).

1. "Garfield Takes Up Space" is a cute addition to this book series. Again, with witty lines and one-of-a-kind facial expressions, this book will get you smirking. I recommend.



2. 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!

2 comments about French Cats Don't Get Fat: The Secrets of La Cuisine Feline.

1. When I saw this chic little volume in the bookstore, I admit to being attracted to the R. Nichols type illustration done in pastels on the front cover---so reminiscent of the high-strutting Parisian walking her (yikes) dog on the cover of popular diet book "French Women Don't Get Fat". At first, I thought this was yet another dieting treatise, yet another way to capitalize on America's love/hate relationship with our cheese-loving, wine-scarfing, chocolate-chomping buddies from across the ocean who somehow after all this eating manage to fit into those tight little couture pencil skirts and red and white apache tops. And then I saw the cat featured in the drawing---mais oui, it was a cat. Bien sur, I said, ce livre, ce n'est pas serieux; c'est une blague.
   
   And then I got passed those cute little illustrations and actually read it.
   
   Okay, I'm being a little obnoxious, but believe it or not, Henri de la Barb, in the guise of a parody, has written an even more entertaining and informative book than Mireille Guiliano. Guiliano's book, a sucre-filled memoir containing a French arsenal of vague tips detailing how she was defeated by the battle of the bulge America-style and had to retreat back to France and the methods of a certain Dr. Miracle to re-attain her Gitane-slim physique, contains anecdotes and recipes spread over 200+ pages. De La Barb, offers equally compelling information that can be utilized to actually lose weight with less than half the verbage, Veuve Clicquot-free advertising and ooh-la-las.
   
   Okay, some of the recipes are a bit on the 'cat'astrophic side---our feline amis/amies certainly recommend mice and not mousse---but the idea of eating real food (in this case, for humans) prepared well and partaking of only a small portion seems to eptomize the best of common sense / highly nutritional dieting. Les Chats de la Barb actually eat seasonally, recommend purchasing only enough food for a day, and sum up all their tips in a shameless abbreviated mimicry of Guiliano rather arrogant much ado about nothing.
   
   But his cats are practical too, knowing that they will not be able to run off on a whim to the local Dean & DeLuca's just to buy the best triple cream and Valrona truffle, he makes allowances for those situations where convenience is key.
   
   Consequently, De La Barb's book is much more fun and speaks la verite; we laugh out loud at his prissy little pussies and their over-the-top antics, but we are not quite sure whether or not to laugh at Guiliano's pandering of her nationality and the odd mystique it has over many Americans.
   
   C'est une blague, n'est-ce pas? Mais pas de blagues, buy this book instead, its funny, doesn't take itself seriously and its much faster to read, delivering the same message without the hype. Of course, its a humorous treat for cat-lovers, too.



2. If you are familiar with French For Cats, Advanced French for Exceptional Cats, and Poetry for Cats (as all of my feline friends have been) you know what to expect. And Beard delivers. This man truly loves his cats and French language and culture, and remains the master at spoofing recent trends. His target this time is French Women Don't Get Fat, and you will laugh out loud at the clever way in which Beard transfers this dietary wisdom to cats. As always, the cats are laughing at humans...

No comments about Talk to Your Cat: How to Communicate with Your Pet.

1 comments about My Purrfect Friend: I Could Live 9 Lives and Not Find a Better Friend Than You.

1. I have a friend that really enjoys the art work of Wysocki and did not know the book existed. She was thrilled with the gift. I would have liked more pages, but it still made a great gift.

3 comments about Dr. Kidd's Guide to Herbal Cat Care.

1. This book is well written! Dr. Kidd gives great stories from his own experience. I have used a few of his remedies for my cats and they worked. I always consult my vet before using a remedy though. I like to make sure my cat's problem isn't so serious it's life threatening. As long as you are careful about that, then this book is a MUST HAVE. I only wish he went into more detail on some things and had more "concoctions". Also wish he would come out w/ a book on Aromatherapy for pets or have included it in this book.



2. I am very impressed with this book (and the one about Dog care too). I have lots of herb books but this is the first one I've bought about pet care. It's well written, easy to understand, and full of great information. Of course it's not extremely in depth, but gives a great start for anyone just beginning to learn about holistic health for pets. I wish this guy could be our vet!!!



3. I think herbal care is a wonderful way to help heal our furry loved ones. I use herbs to treat some of my problems, why wouldn't I want to do the same for my cats! That is why I feel this is a wondeful book! This book lists all the types of herbs you can use on your cats. I also appreciate how easy the author layed out the different remedies for different conditions. Dr. Kidd also gives us an easy way to figure out doses. I feel good knowing I can turn to this book for help when my cats have any problems.

4 comments about Vaccine Guide for Dogs and Cats: What Every Pet Lover Should Know.

1. This book opened my eyes big time! I recomend it for anyone who owns pets or has kids. It can be a bit technical at times - I had to read some sections twice to really get it, but well worth the effort. I strongly recomend you read this and follow or start with "The nature of animal healing."
   This book will also get you to questions vaccines used in humans...autism for your young daughter anyone??
   
   Read it but don't let the quest for knowledge on this subject stop at this book!



2. Every animal lover should read this in order to truly make the best decisions for your animal.



3. It is about time someone brings to light the dangers of over- vaccination! This book explores the many dangerous side effects of vaccination, the obscurity of diseases such as Coronavirus, the inadequacies in vaccines such as Leptospirosis, and the lack of science behind annual rabies mandates. The text given is thourough, and thought provoking! Many vaccines are mandated based on fear, and not science. It is refreshing to see an author admit the inadequacies of vaccinations and the laws surrounding them. Vaccines can become dangerous, and cannot be considered harmless, as demostrated in this book.
   
   This book provides a solid outline of data that rubs against the grain! A great mind-opener! It is great for those questioning current vaccination standards, yet will easily rub wrong with those who strongly advoate vaccine usage. The main down-fall to the book is that it focuses on the negative, and gives little alternative beyond not vaccinating. I would use this book as a resource for the negatives of vaccination, yet would do further research to determine if or how you will choose to vaccinate. The book would serve well coupled with Don Hamiltons book Homeopathy for Cats and Dogs: Small doses for small animals, which also gives some interesting insight into vaccinations, and more alternative on how to administer them, if at all.



4. This book is not a guide as it doesn't guide you to answer the obvious question "if you don't vaccinate, what DO you do??" It discusses all the bad things vaccines do, but gives no solution for protecting your dog against the deadly Distemoer, Parvo and Rabies. Ridiculous.

5 comments about An Unlikely Cat Lady: Feral Adventures in the Backyard Jungle.

1. In her sassy, humorous memoir, Nina Malkin describes life as an accidental cat lady. She and her husband noticed feral cats in their Brooklyn neighborhood, had their hearts stolen away, and then educated themselves about proper handling of feral colonies. Nina and Jason quickly became Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) advocates. TNR is a grassroots effort to trap feral cats (a humane trap will run you $50), have them neutered and vaccinated, and return them to the wild. A true cat lover can not just feed feral colonies, encouraging continued breeding, so TNR is a true way to show humane support for animals.
   
   Nina lovingly names her cat-neighbors after rock stars Axl Rose and Sid Vicious, and throughout the course of the book, she teaches the reader to appreciate these lost and wild cats on their own terms.



2. The book was informative in general, but I became a little weary of the author's sarcasm. I was also greatly disturbed when they disposed of one of the dead ferals in the trash can. That was surprising to me given their level of emotional and financial investment in the cats. I would have expected that a proper cremation would be in order.



3. I read up to page 32 where the author complains about some bad tenants
   who are white and says "They are textbook examples of what black people
   mean when they say white children get no home training."
   I've lived in Chicago all my life (57 years) and have
   never heard that black people say white children get no home training.
   It was a racist slur against white people and since it accused blacks of
   a racist belief which I don't believe they even have, it was also anti-
   black. Her bigotry disgusted me. I threw the book in the garbage where
   all racist trash belongs. I do not recommend this book.



4. This is the first published book i've seen that describes someone's experience with TNR, (trap, neuter, return) which is what everyone should do if you have a feral cat in your backyard. You look up your local cat rescue or SPCA groups to find who is supporting TNR in your neighborhood, you get a vet appt or find out when the next TNR vet day is for feral cats (many vets won't work on ferals hence a good idea to hook up with an existing TNR group, or just start your own), you buy or borrow a cat sized humane animal trap (20-40$), trap the cat, take it in to be vaccinated and neutered, and then if feral, release it back in the same location. And then, ideally, feed and monitor your TNR'd cats (their ears will be tipped so you can tell who you've done and who is unneutered). No more kittens or cat explosions, and you have the security of knowing the ferals in the area are protected against rabies.
   
   More and more people are getting on the TNR bandwagon. It's pretty easy to do, and you know you've done some good for the animals in your neighborhood. Feeding of course is not enough, because the animals continue to breed. Feral cats aren't easily adoptable, and many shelters will just euthanize them. They're in that middle ground between wild and pet animals, but with a little effort they can be given a niche to survive in the environment, and TNR is what they need, plus a bowl of kibble and some water.
   
   This is a light and amusing book that describes one woman's first venture into TNR. The only cautionary note was that I didn't like it when she let one cat out of the trap and didn't TNR him because she didn't find him attractive. It's a sorry thing when such care is only available to cute kittens. And if she didn't like him, why leave him unneutered to sire more just like him? And I wondered if she had gotten him vet care, if he would have made it, since he seemed ill. At least he could have been humanely euthanized rather than being let out, ill and still unneutered. But other than that one diappointing occurance, it was a reasonably good tale.



5. I enjoyed this book more than I had expected. It was not only a delight to read,but informative as well. Being a cat lover and having adopted my share of "outside cats", I certainly could relate to the author's experiences. I read parts of the book to my husband who agreed that she captured the essence of many of our own experiences.
   If you are a cat lover or interested in animal welfare, you will find this a worthwhile and quick read.

5 comments about Lost and Found: Dogs, Cats, and Everyday Heroes at a Country Animal Shelter.

1. The best place to get a pet is from a shelter, and if you read this book, you will learn why. I have always gotten my pets from shelters, but did not know the behind-the-scenes story until I read this (and a few others). Ms. Hess writes for the general reader, and is a bit less introspective than I would have liked, but her information is sound. In fact, I would recommend this book to teenagers, precisely because it is not too high-brow. Today's kids are tomorrow's pet owners, and it is important to educate them in the realities of pet overpopulation, puppy mills, and the fact that pets are not designer accessories, but living beings who require more than some kibble and water.



2. I highly recommend this book to anyone considering a pet. It makes you think about what repercussions are possible if you obtain a pet on a whim and do not dedicate yourself to training and caring for it. It shows the results of our society's "throwaway" mentality, the lack of education on the effects of pet overpopulation and the way our declining economy has added to the problem by not allowing many citizens the money to afford proper pet care and sterilization.
   
   This books shows a cross section of a typical animal shelter and the fact that there are many not so happy endings, mostly because of humans and their failure to do right by their pets.



3. I've volunteered at the animal shelter in my town for a few years now, but have never had quite as much insight as this book provided. I get the feeling the shelter in the book has a smaller volunteer base than the shelter I have dealt with based on the details they were willing to share with her. This was a very uplifting book that explained a lot about why shelters work the way they do (ie rules about who can adopt, what happens when they get lost pets, etc.). Unfortunately, it is most likely to be read by the people that already understand these rules and why they exist.



4. Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. I'm among those who do know what kind of responsibility it takes to own a dog. I'm the happy 'Mom' of 2 terriers, one of which is a rescue dog. It is true about rescued animals - they know they've been given another chance and will give you their love many times over.

   Elizabeth Hess was down to earth in showing the trials and successes an animal shelter goes through. If you know someone who's not sure about getting a pet, I highly suggest they read this book. It'll make them think twice. If you know someone with misconceptions that all shelter animals get homes, give them this book as a wakeup call! A pet can take up as much or more of your time than a human baby, but the human race has made dogs, cats and other animals disposeable. There are happy endings as well as sad in the book, but it's worth buying. As the kids would say, we give it a 2 paws up!




5. This book was so good I could not put it down. A realistic yet compassionate look at shelters today. A must read!

5 comments about The Perfect Kitten: How to Raise a Problem Free Cat.

1. A wonderfully thoughtful and comprehensive book. This one goes beyond the usual healthcare descriptions and pictures of breeds that fill the pages of most such books. The most compelling part is the research presented into a kitten's early environment and the effects on its future personality. Great insight into cat behavior for breeders and cat lovers alike.



2. I bought this book expecting it to be about kitten care and it told entirely too much about breed and the 'evolution' of cats. It didn't explain how to care for and raise a kitten. I was not impressed with the content.



3. This book is wonderfully written and definitely will give many people a better understanding of their pets. It can teach you the basics of identifying behavior, training, life stages, as well as food and litter information. However, due to the vast topics covered the book is unable to spend a great deal of time on details. Consider this book a great read for someone just starting off with a cat, or who wants to understand them better, then grab something more in depth for whatever section you really wanted more in.



4. This book has helped me to understand the stages of development my new kitten, Princess Elizabeth Talker Mischief Wafer Fritter Gremlin Peekaboo, has just gone through, is going through and has yet to face. The author details everything from the various kinds of cat foods and litters to the minutiae of grooming (a soft toothbrush is helpful for the face and around the eyes) as well as body posture meanings and socialization requirements. There is a lot of good information, and I am sure I will refer to it again. Though I think some of the information, on dental care for example, could have been more in depth.



5. Chapter 1: The Raw Material
   Chapter 2: Cat Breeds
   Chapter 3 Finding the Right Kitten
   Chapter 4 Your Kitten's Development
   Chapter 5 Preparing For Your New Kitten
   Chapter 6: Bringing Your Kitten Home
   Chapter 7: Your Kitten's Lifestyle
   Chapter 8: Feeding and Litter Training
   Chapter 9: Health Care
   Chapter 10: Going on Vacation
   Chapter 11: Cat Behaviotr
   Chapter 12: Learning and Training
   Chapter 13: Preventing Behavioral Problems
   Chapter 14: Growing Up

   This book is easy to read and understand. The book is also packed with infomation on how to care for your new kitten. Some of the many topics covered in this book includes:

   How kittens learn
   Toys and games kittens like to play
   Introducing your kitten to a new baby or pet
   Preventing behavioral problems
   Basic equipment your kitten will need
   Giving your kitten medicine
   Feline communication