Our feline friends are kind, intelligent - and often misunderstood. But cat lovers have always known that cats do not fit into the stereotypes of society. in my book, Spinning: The science of making your cat happy, I’m looking at what cat science tells us about pet cats and how we can use that to improve their lives. From setting up your house properly to training your cat, there is a surprising amount of new information these days that you can rely on.
The seven books that follow will help you better understand your cat and develop an even better relationship with them than you already have. And if your cat has behavioral problems, you will find a lot of sage and scientifically based advice.
Read more about animal books:
7 best books about cats
Cat’s feeling: a cat’s enigma discovered
John Bradshav
The science of cats can help us see what cats really are, and in this thoughtful and authoritative book, Dr. John Bradshaw takes us on a tour of cat biology and behavior.
We learn about the geographical and historical origin of the domestic cat and how it shapes the behavior of our pets today. The chapters cover how kittens learn to be domestic cats, the social life of cats (with other cats and their people), their thoughts and feelings, and the challenges this species faces today.
Beautiful drawings follow the text, and text boxes provide tips and additional information to help you with your cat. Cat Sense is a must-read to help you see your cat in a new light.
The Inner Life of Cats: The Science and Secrets of Our Mysterious Cat Companions
Thomas McNamee
For a well-researched summary of cat science with a special focus on kittens and cat development, look no further than Thomas McNamee’s book. The inner life of cats. Among science, McNami shares stories about her own cat, Augusta, who was abandoned as a kitten in the snow near her property.
McNami tried to find a psychologist, Dr. Eileen Karsh, whose important work on the development of kittens is now out of print. This interview and his visit to the wild cat colony in Rome are among the highlights of this fascinating book.
The reader is left with a deeper understanding of how cats evolved and how kittens mature into adult cats.
A cat that can be trained: How to make life happier for yourself and your cat
John Bradshaw and Sarah Ellis
This book by Dr. John Bradshaw and Dr. Sarah Ellis starts from the premise that we can improve the lives of our cats by training them to deal with the types of things that are necessary, but cats often do not like.
The opening chapters explain how cats learn, help you assess the type of training that would benefit your cat, and teach you the skills you need to do so. Further chapters take you through training that will help your cat in various aspects of her life, from spending time with children, other cats and other pets, to helping them learn to handle them and of course going to the vet.
The Trainable Cat is a wonderful, insightful and practical book.
Cat: natural history
Sarah Brown
A book of coffee tables that is also based on science, Cat: natural history Dr. Sarah Brown is informative and entertaining.
Starting from the origin of the domestic cat, we go on a tour of the cat’s anatomy and senses, communication and behavior of cats, their relationship with us and some of the problems that cats face.
Later, the directory describes the appearance and personality of different breeds of cats. If you want to choose pedigrees, all the information you need is here.
Beautifully illustrated with photos and drawings of cats on each page, this is a beautiful book.
Cat Personality Test: How well do you know your cat?
Lauren Finka
A lot is packed into this fun little book. Dr. Lauren Finka took what we know from the science of cats and turned it into a set of quizzes that you can answer with your cat in mind. The results will give you advice on your cat’s personalized personality. So, whether your cat is shy or bold, here are some suggestions for you.
The quizzes cover a range of topics, from your relationship with your cat and how cats in a multi-cat home get along with each other, to finding out which type of cat is best for you. Between quizzes, sections of the Science Corner talk about recent research.
Cat personality test is a cute, interesting book that is a great gift.
Decoding your cat: Top experts explain common cat behavior and discover how to prevent or change unwanted
American College of Veterinary Behavior
If you want to know how to prevent or solve problems in cat behavior, this book, edited by Dr. Megan E. Heron, Dr. Debra F. Horwitz and Dr. Carlo Syracuse, with an introduction by Steve Dale, is for you.
The book starts with how to decorate your home for your cat and some tips on cat behavior, before moving on to behavioral problems such as housekeeping, compulsive grooming and aggression. Some things that people think are behavioral problems - such as scratching - are actually normal cat behavior and it is our job to learn how to adjust.
This book tells you when to seek help and how to take your cat to the vet. With real-life examples and helpful tips, your vet will approve Decoding your cat.
CatVise: Your favorite American cat expert answers your questions about cat behavior
Pam Johnson-Bennett
Every cat keeper’s bookshelf certainly includes something from Pam Johnson-Bennett, whose Think like a cat the first thing that prompted us to look at things from the perspective of our cat. Now in CatVise, Johnson-Bennett answers common questions about cats.
This is an authoritative guide that covers all aspects of cat care. Each chapter has a question and answer format, which makes this the perfect book you can dive into whenever you have questions about why your cat does certain things. Whether you want to know what kind of waste bin your cat likes best, or how to spot signs of anxiety or illness in your cat, you can find it here.
The book is clear, easy to understand and written with a good sense of humor.
Spinning: The science of making your cat happy author Zazie Todd is now out (£ 18.99, Greistone Books).
