Cats And All About Them Book

This book was a bit more general that I imagined it would be, but I'm still leaving it on my e-reader to deal with any problems or questions that my crop up.

The author tosses in quite a bit of basic cat- and dog- care information, which may be of help to first-time owners of either species. As a life-long cat person, I will say that the first puppy comes with a lot of unexpected changes from the feline way of doing things.

I was pleased to see that the author talks about puppy mills, specifically warning about purchasing dogs from pet stores. She suggests animal shelters and rescue groups and tips for finding a more humane breeder.

And while the author wisely advises readers on what dog breeds to choose for maximum chances for success in a cat family, she undercuts herself by giving space to quotes from random dog owners, which include potentially dangerous claims such as, "Every single dog can be taught to get along with a cat." and "Breeds that are normally seen to be aggressive are only aggressive because they are trained that way." One doesn't have to be an expert in canine behavior to recognize how silly these statements are. There is a small minority of dogs who can't even be trusted to be safe with human beings--let alone cats. And a dog's prey drive is influenced by not only training, but also breed, genetics, and history--and dogs who have been bred for thousands of years to chase down and kill other animals aren't simply going to change because you want them to play nice with Kitty. Smart cat owners will research dog breeds before choosing one to bring into their home.