Think Like a Cat: How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat--Not a Sour Puss

By Pam Johnson-Bennett

Book Overview

Think it's impossible to train a cat? Think again! Yes, you can learn to understand your cat. No, cats are not always aloof. No, they don't ruin furniture out of spite. Most often feline "misbehavior" is the result of owners not understanding their cat's needs. In this comprehensive book that takes readers through every step of cat ownership, Pam Johnson-Bennett helps you understand the instincts that determine feline behavior, positive and negative. An authoritative resource for cat owners of all stripes, Think Like a Cat covers everything from where to get a kitten to choosing a vet; from basic health care to treating more serious medical problems; from selecting an irresistible scratching post to avoiding litter box problems. A seasoned therapist and former veterinary technician, Johnson-Bennett offers welcome advice in a straightforward manner that will help cats--and their owners--share a happy, healthy life together.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140288546
• ISBN13: 9780140288544
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 1.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.2" x 0.9" x 7.6"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

A Great Book for Cat Owners

There is so much misinformation about cats that it's a welcome treat to have a book that gives us insight into things that are important to them. Cats love security. They love a familiar setting. They like a routine, but they can become bored if we don't play with them regularly. The author has fine suggestions on effective play. She also has excellent thoughts on how cats try to communicate with us. It took me a long time to figure out what my cat was trying to tell me, but you can get it nicely from this book. The volume has useful information on cat health, but its great value is in helping you think like a cat. Every cat owner would be wise to have a copy.

Excellent Book for Owners of Cats of All Ages

I checked out this book at the library, and I am now buying it. Don't think that this is a book for someone who JUST bought a cat! I have owned a cat for 5 years and I still found all the information in this book helpful. Pam explains everything in clear, concise words, so you don't get caught of in the middle of the book thinking "What the heck is a cytoplamatic inherited gene?" I strongly urge you to buy this book whether you are about to buy your first kitten or if you have been a cat owner for 20 years.

A great resource!

I just got my first cat (she's 6 months old) and have been searching around desperately ever since for a good, solid reference book full of everything I need to know to keep my cat healthy and happy. A kind of "Our Bodies, Our Selves" for my pet, you could say. But most of the books I found were all pictures, no substance.I stumbled across this one when I found it on a sale table. I thought it was just going to be a handbook on cat psychology, but it turns out it's much, much more!This book has information on just about everything you would ever need to know about taking care of your kitty. It's got a chapter on every subject I had a question about, plus informational lists (like, of which houseplants are poisonous), very detailed and easy-to-follow instructions (like, on how to do CPR on your cat), and extremely innovative ideas and solutions to common problems (like, how to keep your cat off your kitchen counters).I heartily recommend this book to everybody who has a cat or is thinking about getting one. It's terrific!

This is the book I've been waiting for

I was amazed at how insightful this book was. I discovered so many things that I'd been doing wrong. Since applying Pam's methods, my cats have become better behaved and appear much happier. The book is written with humor and sensitivity yet packs a gutsy punch with respect to the dos and don'ts of training cats.Now whenever I look into the eyes of my four cats, I feel as if I know what they're thinking. I plan on giving this book to all the cat owners I know.

The best pet book I've read in decades

You could call this book a behavioral first-aid kit. "Think Like A Cat" will save my cat's life. I was contemplating putting her to sleep. When I called my vet, he was the one who suggested this book. After reading it, I realized the things I'd been doing wrong. My cat is much happier now and so am I. There's so much valuable information in this book about every behavioral problem in cats.