5 comments about Why Cats Paint: A Theory of Feline Aesthetics.

1. My husband and I are cat people and were thrilled when we received this interesting book as a gift. At first, we were amazed as we looked over the cat's paintings and read about the "artists" histories. However, as we paid more attention to the fine details in the book (i.e. the index and footnotes, etc.), we realized that this book is purely tongue-in-cheek. For example, on the page with the cat mummies, check out the "Egyptian" names listed. One is something like "Fakt Kat." Get it? Faked cat. My husband and I also went and checked out some of the books listed in the bibliography and surprise, none exist. Go through the book and there are other examples, proving that it's meant to be a humorous read.
   
   That said, we enjoyed this book immensely and found it to be pure genuis -- but not for the reasons we initially thought. I highly recommend it.



2. This is a wonderful book, with very nice photos. The art world jargon is very believable. The cats are presented the way typically artists are shown and described by the art establishment.Abstract expressionsim is covered mostly, also you will have examples of installation art. Deliciuos and heart warming!I trully recommend this book, if you are an aillurophile yourself, or want it as a gift for a cat person, or an artist.



3. Several theories of feline art have been put forward over the years, and this volume may serve as an excellent introduction to the uninitiated. Influential feline artists are discussed and their work reprinted in glorious detail. There is, however, a strong bias towards the mainstream of cat art. Important, indeed vital, underground movements are completely ignored. The street art of alley cats is sadly overlooked, perhaps reflecting the authors deference to the curators of that ivory tower, the Museum of Non Primate Art.
   Also lacking is any serious discussion of Queer Theory, so vital in the deconstruction of any mammalian artistic representations.
   Yet in spite of these flaws, Why Cats Paint remains an important and influential volume that no connaisseur of feline aesthetics can afford to ignore.



4. I thought this was a joke at first, but it does look like the evidence is there to suggest the pussies have a sense of aesthetics. These paintings are certainly more than merely territorial markings. I've had several cats myself but never had a cat who made any attempt to paint or create other forms of art. However, that doesn't necessarily mean it isn't possible. Just as some humans are artists, perhaps some cats are inclined that way too? It makes me wonder if there might be cat musicians and cat writers.



5. Some of the most amusing and artistic photos ever (all in color), highlighted by snappy commentary. Here is a Tabby playing Picasso, or a White Ball of Fire doing his take on Pollack (Check the cover)! No Rembrandts or Vermeers here, but plenty of Abstract Modernists. In short, the perfect gift for artistically inclined feline followers..Please note the cover which also shows the origin of the word "Southpaw".

5 comments about Cats for Dummies.

1. This book is actually for both advanced and beginners. New ideas and has pictures to illustrate those ideas. Would recommend.



2. I've gone from zero knowledge about cats to a wealth of information in a matter of hours. It's given me the confidence to be a first time cat owner soon. Highly recommended.



3. This is a valuable source of information for first time cat owners as well as long time lovers of the furry ones! We knew practically nothing about caring for kitties and now feel that we are enlightened and well informed.



4. Item was in good condition with a crease in the cover that was not noted in its description. Otherwise, the book was great.



5. I'm not a cat lover - I just love our cats. We went to the shelter to pick up one (selected a female kitten), and upon noticing a "two-for-one" weekend, decided to get a second (male kitten - turned out to be the more affectionate and venturesome one). That was an incredibly correct major act - the two keep each other entertained far better than my wife and/or I could. "Cats for Dummies" also recommends having two cats, but buried in the middle of the book it doesn't communicate the importance of this decision.
   
   As for toys, "Cats for Dummies" is absolutely right - their favorite toys are the plastic rings from milk bottles and baby food jars; further, they never tire of a new set of rabbit-fur-covered brightly colored "mice."
   
   However, early in our indoor cats' lives it became apparent that they were getting a bit bored, looking more than a bit longingly outside, and wanting to climb the $600 drapes. So, under the guise of "enrichment," we let them out. It took awhile, but now it is by far their favorite activity, and they no longer threaten the drapes, etc. However, one has to be very careful - a hawk and three coyotes have taken an interest in our house (and cats), so we have to be on the look-out and spend much time outside with them. Getting them back in, of course, is a bit of a challenge - this is impossible with less than an hour outside, and only accomplished (with some difficulty) after that by immediately feeding them baby food. Night-time outside play is an absolute no-no! (None of this good information is in "Cats for Dummies.")
   
   Finally, while both cats love tree-climbing, neither knows that the best way to come down is tail-first. This has led to a few crashes - anyone know how to teach them this? And as for "wildness," the neighbor's Bengal cat is beyond belief - much more athletic and adventuresome than regular cats (contrary to what "Cats for Dummies" seems to say) - unfortunately, the coyotes got it.

5 comments about The Catswold Portal.

1. i love this odd and wonderful fantasy.
   I bought this book used and when it was a rare find, that makes it much for sweeter.
   I recommend this for anyone that loves fantasy and felines.



2. I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. It is a real page turner. If you are a cat person you will really enjoy the parts of the book where the girl turns into a cat. Highly recommended.



3. I needed a break from research reading one day and found this book at the local store before heading to the mountains to read it outdoors. It was the perfect book to sit in a lounge chair in the shade. As a cat person, I was drawn to the cover and the plot was, for the most part, enjoyable. A good, easy read for those looking for something light. Some of the sub-plots meandered a bit, but I figured it was a bit like a cat walking around a garden -- here and there. In the end, though, it was a nice break from the daily grind to read at one sitting.



4. Many Joe Grey books hint at the world portrayed in the Catswold Portal - this provides excellent background information and is an entertaining novel in its own right.



5. This is a great read. It is well paced and easy to get into the story.
   I have most of her other mystery stories with Joe Grey.

5 comments about One at a Time: A Week in an American Animal Shelter.

1. It is rare that I find a book that I cannot put down - and I read this book in one sitting. It teaches the reader about life in an animal shelter through the short stories written about the animals the writers came to know during a week at a shelter. It gives you pause, describing shelters from the animals' perspective, as well as from the perspective of the humans that interact with the shelter (volunteers, shelter staff, adoptive pet parents, and pet owners who resign ownership). It gives interesting and surprising statistics. It talks about foster parenting shelter dogs, and it touches on visiting pet programs (for nursing homes, etc.). It gave me ideas that I might use the improve my local shelter as a volunteer. I thought I knew everything there was to know until I read this book. It is so well written, and it opens your heart and your mind to the realities of life and death for shelter animals.



2. I purchased this book as I have done many other books about shelter dogs,abandoned dogs etc. I love animals-all animals,but especially dogs.There were some wonderful stories in this book, there were also stories that totally broke my heart, seeing two large bins full with little bodies that the sanctuary found it necessary to euthanzise. ,I didn't expect to see a photo like that,but as much as it broke my heart,people need to be made aware. Animals are precious, they are like children, I have a daughter and I have three dogs, I love them all equally,my dogs are part of my family and are treated as such. People seem to think they can pick animals up and toss them out when they get fed up with them- it makes my blood boil.There was one story in particular that really got to me where a dog named Kelly had been so let down, she just gave up, she wouldn't even lift her head, the sanctuary- rightly or wrongly-decided that she could not be re-homed so they put her to sleep,there is a photo of them doing so, with a young guy holding up the her beautiful head and she is looking straight into the camera, the sadness in her eyes will haunt me forever, I just wish I had known about her, I would have given her a home and worked with her to help her to trust again.,and to show her boundless love.
   There are many atrocities in this world, to me, cruelty to animals is one of them.
   If anyone reading this is thinking about getting a dog, please think carefully before you do- they take a lot of your time and commitment but the love they give you in return is immeasurable.If only people were more responsible,these poor animals ,who only ever wanted love from someone, would never end up in this situation.
   I hope that particular little dog is in Rainbow Bridge, and is healed now.
   God Bless her, and all the other animals that have suffered and are suffering the same fate through no fault of their own.
   It just isn't right.



3. This is a must read for everyone who has had a pet, has a pet, or is thinking of getting a pet. The authors do a wonderful job of revealing the plight of animals in shelters today. I bawled the whole way through the book, but it's because it's the truth. And something needs to be done.



4. It's such a good book. Many stories are sad, but it also offers real hope as to what we as individuals can do. Highly recommended. You'll go back to it when you find you need inspiration.



5. As someone who has adopted 3 animals from a shelter, I appreciated this book thoroughly. This book puts names and faces together while also educating the reader about the importance of adopting from your local animal shelter. The theme of this book is you can actually save a life. There are heartwarming stories alongside tragic ones. If you want to learn more about the animals at the shelter and their stories this book is for you.

5 comments about Stop the Shots!: Are Vaccinations Killing Our Pets?.

1. Most pet owners don't know the harm they are doing by vaccinating their pets yearly. They are putting their pets in danger rather than helping them stay healthy. Read this book before giving your dog another vaccine! And find a vet that supports your decision not to vaccinate and a vet who will do titers.



2. Despite its title, Stop the Shots!: Are Vaccinations Killing Our Pets? does not advocate stopping all pet vaccinations, and especially does not recommend stopping all vaccinations that protect from the most widespread and deadly infections like rabies, parvovirus and canine distemper for dogs, and panleukopenia and rhinotracheitis/calcivirus for cats. Yet award-finalist author and pet lover John Clifton logically and rationally argues against so-called conventional wisdom, such as vaccinating against diseases that pets will never be exposed to (like Lyme disease for a pet that does not live in or won't travel to an area infested with it) or the use of annual booster shots. Chapters discuss how vaccines work, the health detriments to over-vaccination such as increased risk of pet cancer or curtailment of the pet's immune system's ability to naturally fight off diseases, factors to keep in mind when deciding when the proper time is for a booster shot, and much more. Enthusiastically recommended for animal owners and would-be owners as an informative aid to decide the right amount of vaccines to protect one's pet and keep it as healthy as possible.



3. An easy to read,informative book that should be compulsory reading for all pet owners.



4. A must read!!! This book doesn't take sides, it just presents the facts. I recommend it to any pet owners wanting to make informed decisions concerning the health and well-being of their pets. I've already passed it on.



5. This book is a MUST read!
   I had the pleasure of being a vet tech for seven years under an "old school" veternarian who NEVER PUSHED UNNEEDED VACCINES. Unfortunatley, when he retired I was left to work for his two "new school" collegues who pushed vaccines, experimental medications/anesthetics, used brute force instead of psychology.
   I was in the front line when injection-site sarcomas were being tracked by the AAHA (right rear rabies!)...I've seen animals "crash" after vaccines (especially cats and ferrets). I've also seen how "old" vets treated vaccines (prevention) and how "new" vets now treat vaccines ($$- it's a business). Sad. Very Sad.
   READ THIS BOOK...while it's not a pedagogical text on immunology and vaccines, it is an easy read for the non-technical that has a great reference section and will provide the caring pet owner with food for thought.

1 comments about Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia.

1. I had an opportunity to look through this book when a fellow vet tech student borrowed it to use for our Surgery class. It has ALOT of helpful information and was particularly beneficial for me in regards to monitoring during surgery and how to handle surgical emergencies (hypoxemia, hypovolemia, etc.). I would definitely recommend getting this book!

3 comments about Small Animal Internal Medicine (National Veterinary Medical Series).

1. I used this book while studying for the NAVLE and I felt it was a good concise review. I am keeping it for review of topics while I am on internship. It is very good at reviewing the important stuff and not going into alot of fluff. The content is divided by system and that is nice. Then for each system, the first part is background info (like general anatomy and physiology you need to know about that system) and then the second part is the specific diseases of that system.



2. The appearance of this book is rather uninspiring and with its emphasis on National Boards and Clinical Competency Tests it may seem irrelevant for students in the UK. However there are a few clues on the cover which hint at something very useful contained within; e.g. quick, accessible, reference.

   There are two main parts to the book. The first provides a source of approaches to over 38 different presenting signs in order to assist in diagnosis. Each of these chapters is clearly set out with definitions, causes, clinical findings, diagnostic approaches to help you eliminate and select from lists of differential diagnoses. It is a great provider of easily understood tables of differential lists and possible tests to distinguish between the diseases. The second part works through the main conditions of each organ system and the diagnosis and treatments for each disease. This is done in somewhat more detail than the first part but there are still sufficient diagrams and tables to make the essential information readily available. Throughout the book there are sections of questions to help you revise the previous topics.

   Although you may not believe that such a large topic can be anything but superficially covered in a book of this size, there is an amazing amount of information here. It's a bit like Mary Poppins' magic carpetbag, it is hard to believe how much is contained within these pages. The authors have been concise not brief. No space is wasted with in depth discussions of pathophysiology or various treatment regimes but relevant preclinical information is covered. OK so you couldn't use it for writing an essay or as a sole provider of information for internal medicine but to help prompt your memory during revision and as a speedy reference this book is far superior to any of the completely comprehensive texts. Don't forget you should never judge a book by its cover.




3. I am familiar with most comprehensive books on Small Animal Internal Medicine but I did not know the National Veterinary Medical Series (intended as a preparation for the National Board Examination). This book is an excellent compendium of all you should know on the subject but does not spoon-feed you what yo should know before hand (anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, semiology, etc.). If you are willing to brush-up these areas on your own, this book is excellent: it gives you all he information you need to diagnose and treat most internal diseases of dogs and cats in the shortest space. Read slowly, thought, it is packed with information and every line counts! At $ 35, is a GREAT deal!

5 comments about Ragdoll Cats (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. This is a very good reference book for anyone who is buying their first purebred kitten. There is some background information on Ragdolls, advice on finding reputable breeders, care instructions etc. I have found that most cat books are full of fluff and outdated information, but this book I found actually practical and useful. I loved the color photos. Yes, it is a short book and does not give every bit of information about the breed, and if that is what you are looking for then you will not like this book. But what can you expect from a book of this price and size?
   
   BTW, a reviewer below is a bit mistaken. Not nearly all breeders insist upon killed virus for innoculations, only some do.



2. This is an attractive small soft covered book with many beautiful color photo's of Ragdolls and cute illustrations by Tana Monsalve. Unfortunatly, as a previous reviewer wrote, most of the information here could pertain to any kind of cat. It's generally a domestic cat care book; however,there's a short but interesting "how to" chapter on Cat Shows.

   I also thought that there should have been diagrams or pictures displayed along with the description of Colors and Patterns. I'm just discovering Ragdolls myself and the myriad of colors and patterns in this particular breed of cat can be confusing to a novice.




3. This is a generic cat book. Substitute Siamese,American Curl,Domestic Shorthair, or the name of any other breed of cat for the word "Ragdoll" wherever it appears and you've got a "handbook" for that breed. And not a particularly good one,either! Some information is missing or incorrect. For example, there is no explanation concerning the use of killed virus for innoculations-something that every Ragdoll breeder I know insists upon. Missing is information on the slower physical maturation of Ragdolls,that they often do not attain their adult size until three or four years of age and that they remain kittens much longer than some other breeds. The Ragdoll is a unique breed (yes,yes,I know- all cats are unique;however, this book is supposed to be about Ragdolls.),but nowhere in this book do I find any references to the special personality,behaviors,and quirks of the Ragdoll. (As I write this my year old Ragdoll male,AJ,is sitting on the table next to the computer,wondering why I use the word quirks. It's meant in a loving way,my "little" boy.)Actually, this book would be a great deal more interesting,informative, and helpful if the author had consulted AJ before writing. I bought this book hoping to gain insights into the Ragdoll cat-a breed I adore.And I certainly did learn something--how to return a book that was not terribly useful or complete.



4. Ragdoll Cats Everything about Purchase and the "Guide to owning a Ragdoll Cat are both highly recommended reading if you own or want to own a ragdoll cat. Most complete books I have found anywhere. Thank you Amazon.com..



5. I thoroughly enjoyed Ragdoll Cats : Everything About Purchase, Care, Nutrition, Health Care, Behavior, and Showing (Complete Pet Owner's Manual). The pictures are wonderful! It was terrific to see so many pictures of traditional Ragdolls. I have hoped for a Ragdoll book that wasn't so focused on the breed's history and breeding but on the pleasure of having a Ragdoll. Readers will find the manual very helpful. I especially enjoyed the author's opinion on non-professional breeding. This is a must-have for every Ragdoll fan!P.S. On page 84 is my Ragdoll--Supreme Grand Champion Dixiedolls China.

5 comments about Veterinarians Guide to Natural Remedies for Cats : Safe and Effective Alternative Treatments and Healing Techniques from the Nations Top Holistic Veterinarians.

1. I am very glad to have purchased this book. It's clear, easy to get into and it's good to have a book like this around, especially if your cat is a good, good friend and you want to do the best by your cat.



2. Veterinarians Guide to Natural Remedies for Cats : Safe and Effective Alternative Treatments and Healing Techniques from the Nations Top Holistic Veterinarians
   This is an excellent book...very informative...easily read...easily understood by the layman...would be an excellent book for veterinarians, who are not knowledgable about natural remedies, to have on hand when they are treating animals with infections that will not respond to antibiotics



3. This book is a valuable resource filled with alternatives to conventional treatment for your cat(s). I found this book to be very well written, informative and honestly presented. If you are looking for natural alternatives and real answers to your cat's care and longevity...you have come to the right place.



4. I own many natural/alternative healing books for cats, and this is the ONLY one that has post-its sticking out everywhere that I've saved reference points to return to. Also, after cross-referencing with other books, it is almost always this book whose advice I follow with 99% success. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for anyone's pet library.



5. My vet recommended this book to me to help aid the diet of my adopted old diabetic/kidney diseased cat. It's an eye opener... some of the information about pet food is shocking! This book has been so helpful laying out your basic health care, lists healthy food recommendations, food recipies. and great holitistic help with ailments. My youngsters are getting a much healthier start with me just being better informed. Highly recommended!

5 comments about Bengal Cats (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. I found this book to be not only visually attractive but very helpful.
   
   I recently got a bengal kitten, Lena, and found this book filled in the gaps for the things I missed out or didn't know.
   
   While some things were a little state the obvious, I believe it to be a first time cat book as well as a Bengal book.
   
   Enjoyed throughly by a first time bengal owner =)



2. A lot of information that hepls new bengal owners, I would also recomend Guide to Owning a Bengal Cat by Jean S. Mill.



3. The book has some good pictures and some good information, but some is contradictory. For example, if you buy premium cat food your paying for advertising, etc., but the next sentence reads that when buying cat food, you get what you pay for. Confusing. Otherwise the book tells the positives of owning a Bengal, not the drawbacks.



4. I found this book to be full of basic cat information and less Bengal specific information than I would have liked. It did help to describe the breed standards on a basic level. If you are looking for a quality Bengal and want all the details, more research is absolutely necessary.



5. This is a very informative book on the Bengal cat breed. Many wonderful photos too. Very helpful to a new Bengal owner -- highly recommended.