Product Description
Here is a handsomely illustrated descriptive directory of virtually all major cat breeds available to prospective owners in America--a "must-read" reference source for cat lovers and breeders everywhere. Opening chapters include a survey of feline history and evolution, a detailed description of the qualities that make a purebred, a summary of feline genetics, and a discussion of conformation, color, and coat. Following are alphabetically arranged profiles of 40 different breeds, from Abyssinian through Burmese, Manx, and Scottish Fold, to Turkish Van. Remaining chapters provide detailed discussions of the American domestic cat, experimental breeds, choosing the right breed for the right household, pricing and judging quality when buying a purebred, descriptions of cat associations and shows, and advice on showing purebreds. Supplementary information includes a glossary of terms and a list of helpful books and periodicals. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Great book
I ordered this book for my mother, and she is delighted with it!The book arrived timely and in excellent condition.I would recommend this seller to anyone.

Review
This was exactly what i needed for schol and it even got here before class that week so i was able to show off

Very Easy to Read & Get Quick Info
First I want to make clear I did not read this book from cover to cover. I work with cats and pick up this book every so often to look up a breed or to read a little just for fun.

I really like this book for my purposes because it is so easy to grab quick bits of info. Every breed has a graph in the breed's description that breaks down the strength of different characteristics. The different characteristics include activity level, playfulness, need for attention, affection toward its owners, vocality, docility, intelligence, independence, healthiness & hardiness, need for grooming, compatibility with children, compatibility with other pets. I guess it would be helpful for people trying to decide which breed to adopt (though I think people should really consider adopting a rescue cats - they just seem to appreciate being adopted so much more).

This is a really fun book to pick up and flip through because almost every page has a picture. The pictures are professional and large.

Another Must-have for Cat Lovers
I spent days looking at this book before I was able to send it off to the person I bought it for.I had read similar reviews when I purchased it and thought, "Ya, right."Well, they WERE right.It's hard to part with!So, this is another book I will be purchasing for myself.Sigh.Would make a great coffee table book, too.People who saw it in my home before I shipped really enjoyed it, too.

An Excellent Book!
I own and I've read this book from cover to cover several times -- it's a very well written and accurate book on purebred and mixed breed cats, a bargain for the price. The preface is an excellent intro to a book about purebred cats, and also includes thoughtful and well-balanced coverage of both points of view regarding the overpopulation problem and the role pedigreed cats play (and don't play) in it. When you don't take parts of the preface out of context it makes valid points. People SHOULD think long and hard before embarking on breeding any kind of cat, and even one unplanned or unwanted litter IS too many. Below is the entire preface:

"To us cat lovers, nothing is more natural than loving our feline friends for their grace, beauty, independent personalities, and myriad other attractive qualities. The fascination of cats is hard to define -- if you are a cat lover, you understand, if you are not, no amount of mere words could intrigue you. Since you are reading this, I have to assume that you are acquainted with the charm and joy of having a feline companion.

In the six years that I've been researching and profiling pedigreed breeds, I've developed a real love for these beautiful and intriguing cats. Exploring their histories, personalities, and myriad colors, patterns and fur types have been a personal journey into the mystery and magic that is the feline. In this book I'll try to share that journey with you.

The fascination with purebred cats is easy to understand since these beautifully colored and coated examples of the species seem to legitimize our feelings about felines. It's natural to want others to look at our beloved kitties with as much admiration as we do ourselves. These cats, with their colorful coats, histories, and temperaments, fascinate the novice and experienced cat fancier alike. Still, the cat fancy -- the common term used to describe the people involved with showing or breeding cats -- has become so much more than that. For many of those involved, it's a way of life -- a community of people dedicated to breeding, showing, and loving cats.

We must remember, however, that purebred cats comprise only an approximate five percent of the total cat population in the United States today, and cat lovers are of two minds when it comes to our feline friends. In one camp, cat lovers wish to retain their right to breed the cats they have worked so hard to protect, promote, and perfect. In another, cat lovers watch helplessly as an endless tide of equally beautiful and worthy cats are euthanized because there aren't enough homes for them all. Do purebred breeds contribute to the overpopulation problem? Yes. Would the overpopulation problem go away if all purebred breeding stopped tomorrow? No. Purebreds make up too small a percentage. It will take an effort on the part of all of us cat owners to put an end to what is most certainly a national tragedy. I offer this book as a modest tribute to the lovely purebred and random-bred members of the species Felis catus, and urge that you think long and hard before you decide to breed cats -- pedigreed or otherwise. Even one litter is too many." ... Read more

Product Description
This comprehensive book brings together in one indispensable volume the very latest veterinary-approved advice on cat care and the most up-to-date coverage of the world's cat breeds. There is advice on choosing and buying a cat, inoculations for kittens, and providing a safe environment indoors and out. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

fun read
Thiscats, cat breeds and cat care,has every breed imagineable in it. We now know what kinds of cat's we like and how to take care of them. Some have special needs. Wenow know what to expect about the cat's personality and if they are good around kids or not. Some do not take kindly to children. We wanted to find out about all the different breeds of cats, and we did!! Now we just need to narrow down to the one's we like the most, to just one cat! Not going to be easy! This is a fun book, just looking and discussing the cats and breeds with my children was and is fun. Good quality time together! We spent hours of fun just on this one book.

Quite informative guide for any cat owner
What makes this book useful is the plethora of information it gives on cats as well as the way it is organized. The encyclopedia is quite thorough in detailing not only the various subjects of cats, but types of cats and other areas concerning care and behavior.

There are many topics covered. One of the first main sections focuses on what a person should look for and know ahead of time before choosing a cat for adoption. It gives some tips on what to look for in a healthy cat, and how to care for a sick cat, as well as how to maintain a healthy lifestyle for your pet. This section is followed by advice on how to create the right environment for your cat: how you can help your cat "settle" into its new home, what to do if it does not adjust well, access to litter boxes, toys for cats, etc. This is followed by a section on how to care for cats home and away. If you happen to be leaving town for a time, there are some helpful bits of advice on how to make it less stressful on your feline friends. Explored in this section are such things on dangers to cats within the home and outside and ideas about access to the outside, such as how often you should let your cat out. There is also a section on nutrition and feeding, which goes over how much and what you should feed your cat based on its age or weight. Perhaps the biggest section is the one which goes over the many types of cats--these are broken into shorthair and longhair. There are many pictures of the various types, as well as information on their personalities and temperaments. The final section is about sickness and diseases, from minor to serious, and how to go about treating each one.

What I found most helpful about the book is the broad range of topics about cats. You can think of a common question about your cat, and it is probably answered in this book. There are tons of pictures of cats and their many predicaments included in the book, but this isn't just a "pretty" encyclopedia meant to grab you with its big, cute pictures. There is a ton of information for someone who has never had a cat, and information for someone who has grown up with cats all their life. The cat novice and the cat veteran will probably agree this is an excellent book! A must for any cat lover!

cat book review
a good start to introducing most of the cat breeds. many omitted. the book itself was a bit outdated, b
ut still enjoyable.

Beautiful pictorial reference book on cats
This beautiful reference book on cat care and the world's cat breeds makes a lovely coffee table book. It has over 700 photos of cats. It's printed on semi-glossy, flexible and thick paperstock.

The book is separated into two parts. Part One is "Caring for your Cat" and it starts with history of the cat. Then it goes on to many topics that any cat owner should be aware of. A few of the topics covered in part one are:Creating the right enviroment, selecting the right cat, care at home & away, nutrition & feeding, grooming, behavior, health and injuries & ailments of cats.

In part two,"The Breeds", there's a complete pictorial encyclopedia of all the main cat breeds. Each breed and the breed's many color combinations are fully described. It also has information on any important characteristics, such as temperment, grooming needs and average sizes. Non-pedigreed cats are also covered on a limited basis.

This full color, British authored book would make a great guidebook for any new cat owner. It would also make a lovely gift for a cat lover.

Cat Information Galore
I just love cats. If it weren't for this book I wouldn't of found any of our kittens' breeds. This lists down probably every breed of cat there is, except wild and extinct cats that is. I would say this is the best cat encyclopedia I've read. I would recomend this book to any cat breeder out there. ... Read more

Product Description
An ultimate cat breeds encyclopedia provides complete, accurate, and authoritative information on hundreds of pictured breeds and discusses origins, personality, habits, and special concerns. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

My Review on The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Cat Breeds
This book was very interesting and I found much more information than I expected. I'm a student in the Veterinary Technology program, and found this book to be a very helpful tool!

Great book for any cat lover
This British authored book has over 100 breeds featured. The intro section covers the history of cats. The other sections include cat anatomy, physiology, cat psycology, training, showing and cat jargon. Other features are the great photos, maps and drawings that show how certain cat conformations and cat characteristics have grown into the different cat groupings that are recognized today.

There are wonderful illustrations, as well as photos, in the 256 semi-glossy pages. The illustrations are separated by the basic cat groups. The included groups are foreign breeds, orientials, semi-longhairs, shorthairs and longhairs. Also pictured are the varieties and any show variations with the breed featured. The breed standards are also given, along with the points assigned, as well as, at-a-glance care tips within that breed.

This book would be well-suited for someone who is a cat lover or someone who is interested in breeding or showing cats. The book is British authored, so there will be some differences in the breed references. All the cat breeds are not covered, but over 100 are. Overall, not a complete encyclopedia, but it doesn't claim to be.

A pretty book to add to any cat collection.

Good, but not great
This book met most of my expectations for a general cat breed book, that said, my standards were not set that high...

1.General information-This book has a good section on coat colors and patterns, eye shape, body type, etc. at the front of the book.It also lists some colors that are specific to certain breeds in the front section.

There is a section on general cat history, care, and other points.

2.Photographs-The photographs are in color, and of average/good quality...Not steller, but not badly done either.They are not large, most taking up less than a quarter page in size.

3.Breed specific information-Some breeds have more photographs and information than others, particularly the popular breeds.For example, the persian section (called long haired) is from page 58 - 85).If you are a rare breed fan, you may only get one page with a couple of photographs.The information, although not very indepth, is formated in an interesting way... They give the standard, faults, and some general history of the breed, along with some details about appearance (with photographs) in an in-set box.If you are looking for specific information about the particular aspects of personality or genetics of a breed, this book is not for you.

4.Which standards?
Although this book gives the points allocated for each breed in the US, Most of the breed photos and the groupings/naming of the breeds seem to be British in origin...i.e. "longhair" instead of "persian", having the less extremely short-faced persians favored in the UK, having a more "oriental" looking havanah brown, etc.The photograph captions are also not any help in determining which "style" a cat is.

The good?The bad?Who should buy this book?

Good points:
-A good amount of photographs showing color and pattern variations within some of the more popular breeds.
-Good introductory section on behavior, color/markings, health issues, etc.
-Covers some breeds that other books leave out.

Bad points:
- Not much detail on breed characteristics and behavior.
-Sad lack of info and photos on rarer and less popular breeds.
- Funky combination of american standards with british pictures and groupings.

Who should buy this book?
-If you want a general reference with many breeds in it.
-If you want some basic information on coat color and pattern.
-If you want photographs of color variations within the more popular breeds (persian, siamese, burmese, british short hair, american shorthair, etc.)

Movie Star Cats
If you want your cat to become famous then this is the book for you to read. This book explains all of the areas that cat judges are looking for when they are searching for the winners, i.e., movie stars in a cat show. Photos are in color and classic.

This book was a real disappointment
The write-up and history sections of each breed in this book are very shallow, not detailed, and in some cases inaccurate.For example, the Chantilly Tiffany breed was NOT listed or discussed.Instead, this book lumps the Chantilly/Tiffany breed together with the British Tiffanie breed (p. 206), which as accurately stated in other books, "British Tiffanies have nothing to do with the American Chantilly/Tiffany breed." The write-up in this book is just plain wrong.

Furthemore, most of the information in this book is of the level of detail about what you would expect from a middle-school or high-school book report.I was very disappointed."The new Encylopedia of the Cat", by Dr. Fogle (DK Publishing) which we ordered from Amazon.com at the same time, is much better and has a lot more accurate and informative details. If you want one book, get Dr. Fogle's. "The Illustrated Encylopedia of Cat Breeds" is shallow and inaccurate.It was a disappointment and a waste of money. ... Read more

Product Description
The definitive cat encyclopedia!This comprehensive reference brings together in one volume the latest veterinary-approved advice on cat care and the most up-to-date coverage of the world’s cat breeds.In over 250 full-color pages, you’ll find:

- Fascinating descriptions of each breed
- Step-by-step photographic demonstrations and expert advice on cat care
- Guidelines on choosing the right cat for your environment
- Over 700 specially commissioned photographs
- Advice for choosing all the necessary equipment for caring for cats
- Essential information on grooming, nutrition, training, health care, and more
- And much more!

It’s the perfect resource to help give your feline friends the most loving, thorough care possible.Essential for cat lovers everywhere! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Cats and More Cats
Why Do Cats Always Land on Their Feet?: 101 of the Most Perplexing Questions Answered About Feline Unfathomables, Medical Mysteries and Befuddling BehaviorsFURminator deShedding Tool with 1-3/4-Inch Edge for Cats

Great! Nicely written byAlan Edwards. Lots of information.
This is a great book about cats. It tells you everything about them, how to take care of them, and how to treat them. If you want to know everything about cats, this is the book to turn to. I bought this book for my cat loving daughter for her birthday. Sheloved it! She has a black domestic long hair whom she adores. She tried all the things that she learned in the book. She even taught her kitty a few tricks. This is definetly a great book and I also reccomend 'Totally Fun Things To Do With Your Cat' By Maxine Rock and 'Cat Body Language Phrasebook' By Trevor Warner. 'Totally Fun Things To Do With Your Cat' is a very fun book because it shows you how to bring out the activeness and curiousity in a cat, and different fun activities you can do with it. The 'Cat Body Language Phrasebook' is a good book to learn about why your cat does what it does. All three of the books are very good books and I reccomend them all. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

WHAT A GREAT COFFEE TABLE PIECE
I FIND MYSELF LOOKING AT THIS BOOK AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK.WHAT A WONDERFUL READ!!! NOT ONLY DOES IT OUTLINE ALL CAT BREEDS AND HOW THEY CAME ABOUT...IT GIVES YOU TIPS ON WHAT THE CHARACTERISTICS OF EACH BREED ARE AND HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR ANIMALS.A COMPLETE BOOK WITH GORGEOUS FULL COLOR PHOTOS, AND MANY EXAMPLES OF EACH BREED.

Several cat breeds missing.
Nice photos of the breeds. Not enough pics of the varieties within the breeds they did have.

Best in Breeds
This is by far the best and most comprehensive book I have ever seen for Cat Breed Identification. Very helpful when there are so many cross breeds.

Great Cat Book
This book is an excellent book of cat breeds and their standards.Wonderful pics and explanations of different breeds and characteristics. ... Read more

Product Description
Fully illustrated throughout, The Cat Encyclopedia provides invaluable advice on the process of selecting a pedigree cat. With a classification system based on physical characteristics, this book contains specific information on each breeds:- history- genetic background- physical appearance- temperament- grooming requirements

This easy-to-follow resource will ensure that potential owners have a clear idea of the different breeds in all their various guises. ... Read more

Product Description
Simple text and photographs present an introduction to the Ragdoll breed, its growth from kitten to adult, and pet care information. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Children's book
This book is intended for preschool to grade 2 children. The reading level is for Kindergarten to grade 1. It is an easy-reader book with very simple text and bright color photographs.

VERY simple book for young chlidren only
VERY elementary. It's for a young child and it's short and small. I guess what I'm saying is I"m un-recommending it unless you intend it for a child around age 5. It does say ages 9-12 but I was still surprised at it's simplicity. A whole page may say "Ragdolls need food and water every day". Some nice full color pictures.

ragdoll honeys
This is a great introductory book about Ragdoll cats.It is a good book for small children with a beginning interest in animals and especially cats.

Great for Children
Unfortunately all my children are grown so I had to return this book but I think it is an excellent book for young children who may want a Ragdoll.I have two Ragdolls and a child would love these cats. ... Read more

Product Description
Cat Breeds of the World is an indispensable comprehensive reference to the world's major recognized cat breeds.It begins with a brief history of the cat, from wild predator to domestic friend, and proceeds to a comprehensive visual encyclopedia of all the main cat breeds, from ever popular Persians and Shorthairs, Burmese and Siamese, to rarer breeds such as Main Coon, Ocicat and Rag Doll.Each breed's color variations are fully described, with information on how and when the breed developed and important characteristics such as temperament, grooming needs, and average size.Non-pedigree cats are also given their space on the honor roll, as popular and often equally beautiful pets.Wonderful full-color images of the breeds accompany the expert text, making this the perfect guide for those wishing to choose and care for a specific breed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Field Guide to Cats!!!
You know those handy little field guides to birds, insects, flowers, and so forth, by Peterson, by the Smithsonian, and by National Geographic? Well, this is the same sort of thing, only the subject is cats! There are a couple of hundred color photos, some large, and many small. They illustrate not just every breed, but most color and pattern variants of every breed. There are short descriptions of each breed and checklists of the pros and cons of each breed. You can use it to quickly nail down the identity of any cat, similarly to identifying a bird from a field guide. Due to the superb layout and organization, it's a lot quicker than using some bird field guides. More importantly, you can pick out a cat that you might like to own by very quickly comparing the looks and characteristics of many different cats.

The only drawback to this book is that it was written in England and the named and accepted breeds are different there. A careful reading of the text will tell you what the differences are, but there are some gaps in their knowledge of American breeds and norms.

Barron's Encyclopedia of Cat Breeds has much more detailed and precise descriptive text. The Ultimate Guide to Cats has much more beautiful cat photography. Neither one can match the ease and speed with which you can compare the looks and characteristics of different cats and neither one has as comprehensive a set of photos of the different colors and patterns as Cat Breeds of the World. ... Read more

Product Description
These "Eyewitness Handbooks" are pocket-sized reference books. This particular guide looks at the world of cats, with distinguishing features highlighted to aid the recognition of individual species of cats. For easier reference, at-a-glance information panels, illustrations and photographs are provided for each entry. Text provides information on key characteristics of each family or group of cats. Master charts, maps,fact boxes and colour-coded panels make correct identification foolproof. Each individual specimen is annotated and captioned. Other books in the series are "Rocks & Minerals", "Shells", "Butterflies & Moths". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Just what you'd expect!
A good book for a general overview of cat breeds. Great pictures.

I'd have liked a bit more infromation on each breed though, the info given is only very basic.

Great book
This is a really good book. My daughter 10 years old loves it. She kept checking it out of the library. I found it on line and purchased it. She keeps it in a safe place. A must for all cat lovers.

CATS
I read the book "cats" by: David Alderton and this book tells everything from kittens being born to the ancestry of these felines. This book has facts about every cat just about and their body weight and lots more. This book has everything on them, whether it's just for your pleasure or for the facts this books got it. I loved this book I thought it was very good, it has a lot of very good information and facts, it also has over 700 colorful pictures.
This book tells you anything and everything about cats. It's a great book for children to learn about both domestic and exotic cats and kittens. This book helps you with your decision on buying or adopting a cat and picking out which one's right for you. It talks about how to groom them this book even tells you which breeds of cats always win shows and awards and how to win one with your feline. It tells you how many months it takes before a kitten is fully weaned off its mother's milk and doesn't need its mother anymore.
"BUY THIS BOOK "this is a very good and interesting and factual book. This book is great for children or cat lovers of any age. It is very unique and could tell you just about anything you need and want to know about cats and kittens.

Still the best guide to cat breeds
I've owned this book (the eyewitness edition, actually) for years, and it's still the best and most comprehensive photographic guide to cat breeds that I've seen. Great, clear photographs featuring both common and some rarer breeds in all the major color variations for each breed, as well as lots of good, interesting info on each breed and its history.

A must have for cat lovers!

Nice!
Ideal for people who like cats, or for people who hate cats but want to know their enemy. ... Read more

Product Description
LAPPING IT UP The complete Quick & Easy Guide to Making Healthy Cat Food At Home. Learn how cats with chronic illness improved after being fed a healthy homemade diet of fresh foods. Dispel the myths that may be sabotaging your cat's health. Learn what foods you should never feed your cat. Find out what is in processed commercial cat foods, which may be making your feline sick. Learn practical cost effective solutions to feeding your cat with fresh homemade foods, using a more holistic approach for a longer, happier, and healthier life. This book contains many Quick, Easy & Healthy vet approved recipes to cook for your cat, including meals, healthy treats, cakes and even ice cream. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

The only guide on how to make homemade cat food
An excellent book about making meals for cats at home by someone who demonstrates that she knows everything about cats.The best part of the book is that it teaches what is good for the cat and what is not in an easy to understand format. This really proves that she has practical experience in dealing with them. The instructions given in the book are clear, interesting and fun to read. Take my word, if you love your cats and want to see them healthy and active then this book is a must for you because it provides that piece of information that is hard to find somewhere else.

Great ideas for cat lovers
I am owed to Patricia who has added to my library one of the finest additions to my favorite topic. It is always nice to get a book on cat foods written by someone who has practical experience in nurturing the cats, who loves them and understands them. This is kind of book I have been looking for and I have finally found it.I've learned a lot of new information which I didn't know about making cat foods from this book, and it has added to my feline knowledge.I really appreciate your effort Patricia.Very nice job and excellent book.

How to Give Extra Special Love to Your Cat
Writing such a book on cat foods can only be task of someone who knows all about cats, their diets, ailments, interests etc. The writer has proved that it is written by someone who actually loves and understands them.This book has helped me learn many things about cats of which I didn't have any prior knowledge.Now I have many ideas of how to make food for my kittens and cats simply by following the recipes mentioned in the book. Thank you so much Patricia. Highly Recommended.

Every Cat Owner Should Read this Book
I think this author makes some very good points. Many of us have forgotten the pet food recalls (there have been many more than I ever realized before reading this book), and have just kept feeding our cats toxic, low grade store bought pet foods, is it any wonder that our pets are getting diabetes, cancer, and living shorter lives? I wanted to really wait before leaving this review, to see if these recipes made any difference, and they have.

Great recipes for a cat owner
I purchased this book for my sister (a cat lover and owner), and she said the recipes are wonderful, and her kitty loves them, and her cat is super picky about eating. ... Read more

Product Description
You know much joy your furry friend adds to your life and in this stunning new collection you'll find fifty more cats that will steal your heart-one meow at a time.

From a wayward Calico that rescues his family from a deadly snake to a sophisticated Siamese that helps to heal her ailing owner, A Cup of Comfort for Cat Lovers celebrates the courage, healing, and affection of these mysterious and loyal companions. So snuggle in with your favorite feline and bask in the love that only a cat can give.Because a life without cats is no life worth purring about.

Colleen Sell has compiled twenty volumes of the Cup of Comfortbook series. She has authored, ghostwritten, or edited more than one hundred books and published scores of magazine articles and essays. Colleen has served as editor-in-chief of two award-winning magazines, associate editor of a national business magazine, and home and garden columnist of a regional newsmagazine. She lives in Eugene, OR. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Cat Lovers books
This is an excellent book for cat lovers, filled with short stories both happy and sad.

The PURR-FECT 10 minute vacation
This book is simply wonderful for any animal lover, but purr-fect for cat lovers. Each story, there are 50, is enjoyable and there is not one among them that won't touch you in some way. Each tale is unique but carries a common heart-warming thread. You could reasonably read a complete story in small snatches of stolen time, or you may find you must keep reading. :-)

You will laugh and cry and you will FEEL. The stories in this book are short in duration but long on feeling.The reader comes away with a better understanding of just how much they will never wholly understand the depth of soul held by our feline friends. I have 2 kitties myself and have always had cats in my life.I have long held the belief that cats have personalities and spirits and a greater intelligence and sense of empathy they are usually given credit for.This book proves the point many times over.

I loved reading this medley from the first story to the last.What a fantastic collection.

A Wonderful Read!
I bought this book from the recommendation of my mother who is also the mommy to two Tonkinese cats.My kids adore her cats, and although we have a dog in our household, after reading this book, I can see why so many are touched by cats, and how individual they really are.This book definitely had a warm and wonderful touch that brought smiles and tears to my eyes!

A Cup of Comfort for cat lovers
The best book I have ever read about our feline friends.Each author shows its love of cats.I highly recommen this book to anybody who has or does not have a cat."The Power of the Purr"was one of the best of the short stories.The compasson showen by both the author and our animal friends makes you feel good inside. Thanks Gail.

Purrrfect Gift for Feline Fanatics
You can't meet the mysterious eyes of a cat and not think about what she's been up to.Now we know.

Cup of Comfort for Cat Lovers is a delightful anthology that includes 50 kitty-inspired tales guaranteed to charm any feline fan. Whether you're in the mood for a laugh or a tug of the heartstrings, this satisfying volume delivers. ... Read more

Product Description
Here is the bible of pure cat breeds--spanning eight millennia and the entire globe--from one of the world's best known authorities.

From neolithic farm cats to ancient Egypt's feline deities to modern house pets, and from the first cat show in 1598 (with prizes for the best ratter and the best mouser) to the high-tone competitive exhibitions that began in the Victorian era, the domestication of the African wild cat has produced a superb, intriguing spectrum of creatures. With the wit, style, and erudition that made international bestsellers of his Catwatching and Catlore, Desmond Morris here details all 100 breeds: both the long-established and the exotic newcomers, from tough European shorthairs to delicate, slender, hot-country Orientals. Cat Breeds of the World brims with authoritative and entertaining information on each breed's history, myths, and legends (who knew there were nine possible explanations of the Persian Cat's origins?); its appearance, special features, and personality; and lists of color forms and breed clubs. Supplementary chapters cover experimental--often controversial--breeds, coat colors and patterns, feline anatomy, terminology, and cat societies.Illustrated with full-color photographs by leading cat photographers, this is the definitive reference for cat professionals and owners of pedigree felines, and a magnificent gift for every last cat addict. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great info, but lacking some extras.
This book has good background information on the history of several breeds of cats.It also has an informative section on coat colors and patterns and types of cats and why they are classafied as they are in the cat show world.The breed photographs are also stunning, as a whole.

That said, there are four reasons that I did not give this book 5 stars.
1. The breed information, other than history, reads pretty much like a written standard or description.There was not much information at all on individual breed personalities, etc.
2.There were not that many photos of each breed 1-2 on average.
3.There were no photographs to illustrate the different coat colors and patterns (in the back of the book).
4.Some of the breed photographs and a good bit of the classification information pertained primarilly to british-style cats.i.e. the "asian" grouping and the phtographs of the havanah brown and russian blue were definately British.I do not have a problem with that alone, but I think that it would have been quite informative to have photographs of British and American style cats from the same breeds.

Some things this book did have that I was surprised to find:
1.Information on grouping of cats in cat shows.
2.Listing of clubs that recognize each breed and color variations each club recognizes.
3.Information on breed-specific cat clubs.
4.Alternate breed history myths/stories.

All in all, a good reference book that could do double duty as a coffee-table book.However, I would not reccommend it as a resource when picking a breed of cat due to the lack of temperment information and number of breed photos, etc.It would, however, make an excellent addition to your collection if you want to learn more about the history of your particular breed.

IF THE AUTHOR IS DESMOND MORRIS, ITS A GREAT BOOK!
I have almost all books by Desmond Morris in regard to cats and dogs in my library and would not part with any of them.This one is no exception and makes a great coffee table book.The information found here is just as implied - info on a vast variety of cats from around the world.There are many other similar books available but few as complete.For those contemplating the purchase of a cat and not sure what type is right for you, this book is a terrific place to start. The book provides a history of various breeds of cats and the characteristics of each individual breed.Any lover of the feline world will not want to miss this beautiful, informative book.

Cat Breeds of the World : A Complete Illustrated Encyclopedi
A wonderful and resourseful book with absolutely glorious pictures. Desmond Morris has given the most detailed history of our rare breed, the Turkish Van cat, that I have found anywhere. A joy to curl up with. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the third edition of The Encyclopedia of the Cat, the definitive guide to the history, anatomy, and behavior of the feline species. Chronicling the history of the cat, world-renowned veterinarian and author, Dr. Bruce Fogle, explains how one subspecies of the wildcat developed a tolerance for living near humans and became the domestic cat we know today. The Encyclopedia of the Cat explores many aspects of the cat's role in human culture, including cat worship and cats in folklore, literature, and art. The instincts, hunting, socializing, and mating habits unique to cats are explained in full. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

very pleased
My 10 year old son purchased this book after a little research on different cat encyclopedias.He is really enjoying it.Many, many different breeds described and he is particularly enjoying the history of the cat and how they are related to wild cats.Beautiful pictures too.

Very Good!
I really enjoy this book, as a lover of cats and all animals, it is hard not to be drawn into the various aspects of the book, from the pictures, to the cat breed profiles, to the explantion of the domestic cat's ancestry. This book has quite a few breeds that it profiles, and it does it's job well at celebrating the cat in general. The photographs were good, and I enjoyed the author's profiling of the different breeds...especially the blurbs on the differing tempraments of the cat. I know some reviewers wanted to see more of that, and, if it were possible, I would have agreed with them. However, I think the cat is a bit more difficult to define in terms of personality then some animals...even breeds with certain temperment tendancies can't promise that is what the cat will be like when you get it home...and I think that is the point the author is trying to make. Humans love to understand completely (we have buckets of websites and books devoted to personalities, after all)...but isn't that partly why we love our kitties so much? Because it is so hard to pin them down?

Anyway, Fogle does a very good job, gives plenty of information on cats, from giving them the best care you can to mythology involving them. I really do suggest it for cat lovers and for those looking for a pure-bred cat...but I didn't give it a 5 for a couple of reasons.

First of all, in reading through the text I noted that on at least three different occasions, the author seems to have 'cut-and-pasted' text. Meaning that you could read one paragraph word for word in one part of the book, and read the exact same (or at least almost exact) paragraph in another. (An example of this can be found on pages 71 and pages 68-69) I know it's a challange to write a book, but that kind of 'writing' makes one wonder if the author thinks people are a little slow on the uptake. Then too,while some of the pictures are great, most can only be considered good. Other then these issues, I really think this is a worthwhile book, one that any cat-lover, child, or just curious human being will find interesting.

received the wrong book
This is strange that I am getting an email to write an review on this book"The New Encyclopedia of the Cat"... this is the book that I ordered. But not the book that I received in the mail.It was named encyclopedia of the cat and different pictures of cats on the cover, but not "New" in the title and no pic of this pretty grey cat.I was disappointed for it was for a Christmas gift. But didn't have time to send it back and get another one.So of course can't review this book if I didn't get it.

A Must-have For All Cat Lovers!
I purchased this book for a cat-loving friend.However, I nearly kept it for myself once I pursued through it.It's now one of the books I will eventually get for myself.Can't think of one of my cat friends that wouldn't love this book.

Customer Review on New Encyclopedia of the Cat
I thought the book was very good.It was filled with great photographs
of many breeds of cats, most never heard of, and lots of illustrations on
the anatomy of the cat.There is a section on health, nutrition, care and behavior.There is so much more to this book.My only disappointment
was in the lack of material on the Big Cats.There are some beautiful photographs of them though.I ordered The Last of the Big Cats and that took care of my inquisitive mind.If you are a cat lover, this New Encyclopedia for the Cat is just what you need. ... Read more

Product Description
800+ full-color and b&w photos and illus. 9 x 11 1/2. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Complete Cat Book
This is a wonderful book--full of great advice, ideas, history of cats, treatment and handling of felines--and wonderful photos--full color! Excellent book just for looking at great felines! I loved it!

Wonderful book for cat lovers
This is a really nice book, very informative and with beautifulphotos ofcats of all types.Wonderful gift for your favorite cat lover. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a comprehensive encyclopedia of the main cat breeds of the world today, a perfect introduction to learning about and selecting a breed to keep, or even to start on your own. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Love this book
I have piles of books on cats, but this is the one I grab most of the time.Well Done!!

I have to agree with the last review....
Great book.A good amount of information.I bought the book after adopting a Maine Coon mix kitten and was a little confused by the statement that she wasn't meant for indoor living!

Quite a Good Guide
Cat books are far less common than dog guidebooks, and this is quite a good example of the genre.Each breed is shown in one or more pictures (usually showing different color variations), described in fairly detailed text, and summarized in a table describing physical attributes, coat care, and temperment.
The book is divided into sections by coat length; long hair, semi-long hair, and short hair.A brief section at the end discussing breeding and raising kittens.

A few minor quibbles: the book was originally published in England, so while it does talk about American CFA standards,the emphasis is on British standards -- and more coverage is given to breeds common in England, with less given to American breeds.
They also note that some breeds (Maine Coons, for example) are 'freedom loving' and not suited to be kept indoors. Most responsible breeders/owners would argue that ALL cats, regardless of breed, are better off indoors, or if permitted out, still kept under control with fence or leash. ... Read more

Product Description
These sleek, handsome shorthaired cats are among the most sociable of all feline breeds. Barron's comprehensive series of Pet Owner's Manuals advise both current and prospective owners on the care of virtually every kind of pet, including a wide variety of dog and cat breeds, hamsters and other small caged animals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and even scorpions and tarantulas. The author of each book is a specialist in his or her field, which guarantees readers solid advice and instruction that helps them know what to look for when acquiring a pet, feeding, housing, maintaining health care, and where applicable, grooming and training. All Pet Owner's Manuals are filled with high-quality color photos and informative line art. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

siamese book
Nice book with all the information I needed to adopt a siamese cat from a shelter.

Siamese Cat Manual
This manual was written several years ago but the information is still relevant. It was recommended to me by a breeder as I am getting ready to get a new kitten. Actually even though I had a Siamese cat previously, I still found this book very helpful

Excellent for the beginning or advanced cat owner
This was an excellent book for a new or inexperienced cat owner.It was written in an easy but understandable style and was organized as to be accessible to the average reader.Good work.

IF YOU ONLY HAD ONE SIAMESE CAT BOOK (GOD FORBID!)
A MODERN KNOWLEDGIBLE CONCISE RESOURCE FOR HUMANS OWNED BY SIAMESE CATS. BEAUTIFULLY DONE PHOTOS MAKE LEARNING ABOUT YOUR CAT AN ESTHETIC EXPERIENCE.

THE "COVER CAT" IS A HIT, AS WE ARE OWNED BY A LILAC POINT MALE. FROM OUR EXPERIENCE, IT IS TRUE THAT THE LILACS ARE THE MOST QUIET AND AFFECTIONATE OF THE SIAMESE BREED.

Nice Book
The book 'Siamese Cats (Complete Pet Owner's Manual)' is a good basic book on Siamese Cats. I was pleased with the quality of paperback edition and love the photo illustrations. ... Read more

Product Description
For every cat owner this is information on all aspects of choosing and caring for pets, from weaning to breeding, showing and looking after the elderly cat. ... Read more