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Cats for Dummies

 (Google eBook)
Front Cover
12 Reviews
John Wiley & Sons, Apr 18, 2011 - Pets - 408 pages
The most essential information for both potential cat owners and feline fanatics. Find out how to choose, housebreak, groom, and even travel with your feline friend.
  

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Review: Cats for Dummies

User Review  - Heather - Goodreads

Loved it! I want to actually buy a copy to keep for reference. it was very useful info Read full review

Review: Cats for Dummies

User Review  - Lucas - Goodreads

CATS Read full review

All 12 reviews »

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Contents

Living Happily with Your Cat
Icons Used in This Book
Some Final Words
How to Reach Us
Part I
Chapter 1
How Cats Became So Popular
Some Common Misconceptions about Cats and the Facts
All cats are cold fish
Cats love places not people
Cats can take care of themselves
Can You Have a Cat If You Have Allergies?
The Indoor versus Outdoor Controversy
Chapter 2
Which Is a Better Choice for You?
Adult cat considerations
Which Ones Better?
Let the Fur Fly
Should You Consider a Pedigreed Cat?
Characteristics by Breed
The gogo group
A touch of the wild
Longhaired beauties
The big cats
Something different
The unCATegorizables
Chapter 3
What You Need to Know about Shelters
Animalcontrol shelters
Private nonprofit shelters
Volunteer RescueandPlacement Groups
The Reputable the IllInformed and the AvoidatAllCosts
Finding the elusive good breeder
Spotting the lessthanideal breeders
What about Those Kittens in the Window?
Your Neighbors Or Coworkers Kittens
Chapter 4
Help for the Wild Ones
Finding the solution that isnt
But arent these cats pests?
How to Help
Helping the helpers
Help or harm?
Learning to Care for Feral Cats
Setting up a routine
Lining up help
Trapping cats
Neutering cats
Releasing cats
Part II
Chapter 5
Evaluating the Environment
Getting a read on a kittys history
Making special considerations
Choosing a Kitten
Adopting at the ideal age
Looking at a litter
Personality testing your kitten
Considering the SecondChance Kitty
Recognizing Good Health in Kittens and Cats
The outer cat
The inner cat
Taking a Leap of Faith with Your Eyes Open
Chapter 6
PreCat Preparations
Eliminating household hazards
Organizing a safe room
Bringing Your New Pet Home
Hello Kitty
Children
Other cats
Dogs
Other pets
Chapter 7
Making Sense of Cat Senses
Smell
Hearing
Vision
Taste
Speaking Cat
Eyes
Ears
Voice
Hair and whiskers
Posture
Chapter 8
Finding the Best for Your Cat
A Place to Go
Getting the poop on litterbox choices
Litterbox accessories
The scoop on litter
Collars Tags and Microchips
Microchips
A Place to Scratch
Beds
Bowls and Waterers
The Carrier
The Ins and Outs of Cat Doors
Cool Toys for Your Cat
The best you can buy
Freebies cats love
More Fun Stuff
Part III
Chapter 9
Fur the Purrfect Complement
Why Cats Groom
Whats in It for You?
Tools of the Trade
Coatcare tools
Nailtrim aids
The Importance of Patience
Keeping Kitty Coats in Shape
Combing and brushing
Cat + water + soap Oh my
Keeping external parasites under control
Clipping Your Cats Claws
Chapter 10
Convenience at a Price?
Maintaining the Perfect Cat Diet
Fulfilling Basic Nutritional Needs
Carbohydrates
Fats
Vitamins
Minerals
Water
Choosing Foods
What type?
When to feed?
What about veterinarianprescribed foods?
Treat your cat
Curbing Eating Problems
The toomuch cat
Chapter 11
Recognizing Signs of Good Health and Bad
Vital signs
The emotional cat
Choosing a Veterinarian
Understanding Your Veterinarians Role in Preventing Illness
The notsoroutine exam
Vaccinations
Dental care
Parasite control
Chapter 12
A Cooperative Approach to Cat Health
When Does My Cat Need a Specialist?
Giving Your Cat Medication
Liquid medication
Ear medication
Eye medication
Chapter 13
How Old Is Old?
Normal Signs of Aging
Decline of the senses
Changes in appearance
Behavior changes
Special Care for Kitty Teeth
Common Problems
Diabetes
Hyperthyroidism
Obstipation
Knowing When Its Time
Euthanasia options
Dealing with loss
Part IV
Chapter 14
Understanding Bad Behavior
Looking at the Root of Unwanted Behavior
Strategies for Changing Behavior
Yes kitty
Calm kitty
Fairness
Attacking Behavior Problems
Aggression
Countercruising
Noisiness
Chapter 15
Defining the Problem
Whats being done and where?
Which cat is the culprit?
Is Your Cat Sick?
Use the Box Kitty
Cleanliness is next to catliness
Offering alternatives
Discouraging misbehavior
Stopping Sprayers in Their Tracks
Retraining through isolation
Chapter 16
The Case Against Breeding
Whats Involved?
The Birds and the Bees KittyStyle
Choosing a mate
The oops pairing
Caring for a Pregnant Cat
Happy Birth Day Babies
Special delivery
After the birth
Kitten Development
Birth to two weeks
Eight weeks to fourteen weeks
The adolescent kitten
Chapter 17
Youre in Good Company
Another cat for your cat
Another cat for you
Adding to the Family
Understanding territoriality
Choosing compatible cats
Caring for More than One Cat
Cat trees cubbies and hiding places
Feeding time at the cat ranch
Multicat Medical Concerns
Parasite problems
Infectious viral diseases
Chapter 18
Is Your Cat Up to Travel?
Health considerations
Temperament considerations
Leaving Your Pet Behind
Prepare for emergencies
Petsitters
Boarding facilities
Taking Your Pet with You
Air travel
Car travel
Moving Your Cat to a New Home
Using a safe room for moving
Anticipating problems
Allowing time for readjustment
Part V
Chapter 19
Cats Have Nine Lives
Cats Need to Drink Milk
Cats Purr Whenever Theyre Happy
Cats Eat Plants if Theyre Sick
Cats Are Dangerous around Babies
Cats Can Be Kept from Using Their Claws
A WellFed Cat Doesnt Hunt
Cat Fur Causes Allergies
Black Cats Are Bad Luck
All Calicoes Are Female
Chapter 20
Have a Plan
Corral Your Cat
Keep Preventive Care Measures and Health Records Current
Have Restraints Ready
Rotate the Supplies Your Cat Needs
Keep FirstAid Supplies on Hand with Directions
Know the Locations of Nearby Veterinary Hospitals and Other Animal Services
Keep a Lost Kitty Kit Ready
Be Prepared to Help Others
Chapter 21
A Link for Everyone
Pictures Get Your Cat Pictures Here
Little Cat Laughs and Big Ones Too
A Place for Pedigrees
Help for the Homeless
Where Tradition Lives On
For Serious Lovers of Cats and Books
Veterinary Resources
Shopping for Kitty
A Memorial Space
Chapter 22
Strings and Similar Things
A Shocking Experience
The Warm and Deadly Dryer
Pain Medicines That Kill
Attack of the Killer Plants
Garage Dangers
Antifreeze? AntiCat
FourWheeled Menace
Towering Danger
Dont Do Doggie Dips
Chapter 23
A Cat Cant Have Enough Toys
Scratch Climb Stretch Ahhhhh
A Constant Supply of Nibblies
Hide and Go Seek
Cat TV? Why Not?
A Room with a View
Higher and Higher Baby
A Whiff of Fresh Air
Someone to Play With
The You Factor
Chapter 24
The cat as inspiration
The cat as the Boss
The cat as wild
The cat as honest
Copyright

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About the author (2011)

Gina Spadafori Gina is the author of the best-selling Dogs For Dummies, which was given the President's Award for the best writing on dogs and the Maxwell Medallion for the best general reference work, both by the Dog Writers Association of America. With top avian specialist Dr. Brian L. Speer, she has also written Birds For Dummies.

Along with Dr. Paul D. Pion, she was given the CWA's awards for the best work on feline nutrition, best work on feline behavior, and best work on responsible cat care for the first edition of Cats For Dummies. She and her pets divide their time between Northern California and South Georgia/North Florida.

Paul D. Pion , DVM, Diplomate, ACVIM (Cardiology):Paul is co-founder, president, and CEO of the Veterinary Information Network, Inc., and a boardcertified veterinary cardiologist. Paul has been awarded a Physician's Science Award by the National Institutes of Health, a Small Animal Research Award by Purina, the National Phi Zeta Award for one of the two most outstanding manuscripts in 1989, and a Special Recognition Award by the American Animal Hospital Association for innovations in the field of veterinary medicine.

Paul graduated from the veterinary college at Cornell University and has taught in the veterinary school at the Univesity of California, Davis. While at UCD, he made an important research discovery that has touched the lives of every cat in the world: He proved that deficiency of a single amino acid, taurine, was casuing heart disease in cats. His discovery was published as a cover article in SCIENCE, one of the most competitive and respected research journals and, more important, led to the reformulation of the world's cat foods and the virtual eradication of a heart disease that afflicted tens of thousands of cats annually in the late 80's.

Paul lived in Davis, California, with his wife, veterinarian Dr. Carla Weinberg, sons Luca and Joel, and a house full of pets.

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