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5 comments about Shakespeare Cats.

1. When I first picked up SHAKESPEARE CATS by the British artist Susan Herbert, I was struck by the cute and colorful illustrations showing cats, my favorite animals, as Shakespearean characters. I bought the book, and as I went through it page by page I found it educational, too. Herbert has accompanied each one of her drawings -- works of art in themselves -- with a short synopsis and the relevant quotation from the play. The trouble with cats, however, is that it is not always possible to do much more than suggest emotions in their faces, which are fairly "blank." This poses a problem with the more extreme emotions in Shakespeare: Herbert's Othello (a black cat) does not look enraged nor her Macbeth (a red-orange tabby) particularly horrified. Additionally, Herbert depicts mostly tabby (striped) cats, which will probably disappoint readers who like other kinds of cats. But if these are drawbacks, they are minor ones; Herbert is a gifted artist. Her scene-composition and her bright color-choices make each illustration a feast for the eyes. There are some subtly clever facial expressions, too, like Malvolio's (TWELFTH NIGHT) self-satisfied grin or Jacques (AS YOU LIKE IT) cynical smirk. And art enthusiasts will see Herbert's drawings of Romeo leaving Juliet's balcony or the sleeping princes from RICHARD III as homages to celebrated paintings by the nineteenth century artists Dicksee and Northcote; her crazed Ophelia (with tongue hanging out) might stand beside the famous depictions of that heroine by Waterhouse or Millais! I am happy to have discovered SHAKESPEARE CATS and Herbert and will seek out more of her books.



2. I hoped this was a story, but I will find a way to use the pretty pictures. The book isn't constructed in a way that I can encourage its use as a picture book for young children. I do like the fact that there is a passage beside each picture. That will be of some use.



3. Susan Herbert is, first and foremost, a truly gifted artist. Her style, talent, color choices, all show a mastery of skill. Aside from that, though, she's also an imaginative woman who tryle appreciates the feline, as evidenced by her series of wonderful illustrated cat books.

   This book, "Shakespeare Cats", functions firstly as simply an enjoyable coffee-table book for frequent perusal. On another level, though, Herbert has cleverly illustrated 32 of Shakespeare's works, and with detail. The setting of each piece, the costumes, the detail of scene-setting -- all of this shows that in addition to being a cat-lover and an artist, Herbert is also not too shabby as a Shakespearean scholar as well.




4. Shakespeare people also tend to be cat people: why is that? In this case, Susan Herbert has created a beautiful book for cat fans and Bard fans alike. I have all of Herbert's books, and "Shakespeare Cats" is definitely my favorite. It depicts famous moments from many of Shakespeare's plays with intricate detail, and the cats look like they're in the most natural settings in the world! It's hard to pick out my favorite illustrations, but the "Midsummer Night's Dream" picture stands out, as does the humorous painting from "The Taming of the Shrew." All of the paintings are wonderful, and this is an adorable book that you will treasure forever.



5. I love this book, it's so adorable and beautiful, Susan Herbert is a great artist, I admire her a lot. You see wonderful pictures of cats playing roles of some of Shakespeare plays. It's a great book for kids and also for adult too.:) If you love cats your going to love this book.

1 comments about Beverley Nichols' Cats' X. Y. Z..

1. The late Beverly Nichols was an eccentric Englishman who wrote mostly about gardening and some other topics. In his gardening books and autobiographies you will often find him digressing about his cats. He finally decided that since the cats kept creeping into anything he wrote that he had better devote a book to them.
   
   This is the second of two books dedicated to his cats and their "lifestyles." In it you will find much information about cats in general that is very useful if you are a new cat owner and much that will have veteran cat people nodding in agreement and laughing out loud. He talks about people as being F or non F (for feline)and draws humorous pictures of the people who wander in and out of the cats' world. He is not a "cat expert" but he gives us all an insight into the private lives of cats. There is obviously more to any cat than meets the eye.
   
   If you love cats, buy this!

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!

5 comments about Tonkinese Cats.

1. Love the book.
   I just got my own two little Tonks and I also own the other guide by Lorraine Shelton (ISBN 0793821924). Both together are a great help as my kittens are my first cats!
   
   Vousden's book does go into great detail about genetics and selective breeding and what it means to breed true to standard. However, there is also tonnes of information for the novice Tonk cat owner, on all areas of healthcare, grooming, feeding and especially what to look out for or beware of when choosing a Tonk kitten.
   If you are actually interested in the breed, this is a great book as not only does it cover the basics in detail, it covers the origins, possible drawbacks of the breed, personality characteristics and shows you examples of how to read your Tonk's papers and pedigree. It also tells you where the cats in the great photos in the book come from, which means you can actually contact the cattery yourself if you like what you see, as these catteries are well established. The appendixes at the back of the book are amazingly detailed and one can tell lots of research work has been invested and into compiling this book together.
   It tells you not only the associations in Britain but also that in America and Europe and what characteristics are accepted or not accepted. The appendix also gives you up to date details on how to contact them and possible legal inquiries one might have when moving with the animals from one continent to another ( I moved with my cats from America to Canada and then to Germany)
   
   Vousden has written a book for almost anyone interested in the breed, prospective Tonk owners, and also any novice who may one day consider breeding or attending cat shows as spectator or shower.
   
   It does however take time to pore through the book or to do selective reading so you might want to (especially if you are novice) get a good book on good cat ownership that you could quickly flip through and perhaps also pick up Shelton's Tonk cat guide.
   
   Overall, I think Vousden's book is a great reference for anyone interested in the breed as either pet,show or breeding quality;Tonk owner, propective Tonk owner, breeder or prospective breeder, to have at home!



2. I bought the book via Amazon.com because here in Belgium there are no specific books for this breed.
   Because i'm a beginning breeder i find it very important to have the amount of knowledge necaissary before i start with a first litter...
   This book is a very good guide for me (character, genetics, ...)



3. I recently purchased this book from Amazon as books on Tonkinese cats are not available in Australia. I was not disappointed. I have two Tonks with a litter due in a few weeks. This will be my only litter and I do not have the time to show, however I found that the book gave useful info. on these topics as well as plenty of useful info. for 'pet' owners. Tonks have only just begun to be accepted as a registered breed in Australia and I would have to say that they are a wonderful breed clearly outlined in Linda's book. Well done!



4. Tonkinese Cats by Linda Voudsen is a good reference for Tonk lovers. My only regret is that it was written for English Tonkinese cats and not the ones accepted by the CFA here in the USA. If you are a Brittish Cat Fancier, you will find lots of pictures, descriptions of good tonks, a good treatise on the genetics and coat patterns..., health issues with special attention to problems associated with tonks. Also, there is a good section on what their cat shows look for. I wish they had a book this good for the United States since the recognized coat patterns and some of the criteria are different here.



5. My wife & I have a new Tonkinese kitten - and I searched for the word Tonkinese and found this book. After I got it, I was disappointed with it. While I agree with one of the other reviews here about the author being enthusiastic, I felt way overwhelmed.

   It felt to me that this book was written more for a breeder than a "regular cat owner". It also felt like a "reference" book, more than a book you can just pick up and read.

   It was well put together, but for me, I felt it was way more than I needed. Also, for the size of the book, $31 is a bit steep (which was the price when I wrote this). Shouldn't have been more than $13 or $14, I felt.

5 comments about KISS Guide to Cat Care.

1. I generally like the DK series, so I thought this one would be good. But there were some serious inaccuracies here. The one that bothered me most was the photo of a kitten tangled in string, titled "if you provide your cats with enough stimulation . . ." Many cat books warn against letting cats play with string or thead as it can cause serious damage passing through the intestines if swallowed. After having to cut a cat free from a big tangle of string, I am careful not to leave it around anymore. In general the book had some good information, but not much of it. I'm finding Think Like a Cat by Pam Johnson-Bennett much more useful. It isn't full of cute pictures, just good information.



2. Hi. I wanted to thank the reviewers for taking the time to read my book. Thanks for all those stars!

   Regarding the lone criticism regarding the lack of a section on pregnancy, let me say that both I and the publisher decided not to cover the topic, for one very good reason: we did not want to help add to the already burgeoning cat population. Why would I want to coach people on how to care for the pregnant cat? That amounts to tacit approval of in-home breeding, the main cause of millions of cat euthanasias every year. Millions of pets killed because someone wouldn't spay or neuter, or at least keep the cat indoors. On that note, why would anyone actually have a pregnant cat in the home (besides a professional breeder, that is)? Having an unneutered cat in the home (and presumably wandering the neighborhood) is irresponsible, and cruel. The days of farm ratters are over; to continue to allow cats to mate willy-nilly only serves to increase the misery. Been to a cat shelter lately?

   Before pretending to be an authority on cats (as any competent reviewer should be), one should first have the common sense to spay or neuter, don't you think? How else can we take your sage opinions seriously?




3. I got a little black kitten a few months ago. This being my first cat, I decided to purchase a book that would help me take care of him. I am not sure how I came across this book, but I found it and bought it. I was more than surprised to find that my favorite actor did the forward. This book was very helpful in raising Azrael Walken-Serrine to the healthy cat he is today.



4. I see that other reviewers loved this book, but I have to admit that I was disappointed. My cat recently had kittens, and this book was no help at all. It has no section on pregnancy, only a very small section on breeding your cat for profit. Well, this was purely accidental, but I still wanted some help on caring for her during her pregnancy and labor, as well as some tips on caring for the kittens. It doesn't have anything like a section on kitten developmental stages. When do they eat solid food? When can I separate them from their mother? When should I get her fixed so we don't do this again? It also didn't have much on caring for sick or injured cats. What it did have, and I really didn't need, was a section on teaching your cat tricks. Hello! She's a cat, not a dog. I don't really need to teach her tricks. Of course, if you are interested, then this book may help. But it didn't have what I was looking for at all.



5. I am a new cat owner. I have never had pets before so I have purchased several cat books recently, the Illustrated Cat book and Cats for Dummies. Both were good books but KISS Cat Care offered the best combination of pictures and information, perfect for the new cat owner. The best things about this book were that it included references to websites and offered great tips on training. I definately recommend this book.

1 comments about What Cats Teach Us 2008 Calendar.

1. What Cats Teach Us 2008 Calendar is a unique, humorous, and entertaining calendar. The cat photos and sayings are umorous as well as accurate. This is a great calendar for anyone who has a cat or who likes cats!!