Cat Body Language Phrasebook: 100 Ways to Read Their Signals

by Trevor Warner

Most humans don’t speak ‘cat,’ so sometimes miscommunication between pets and their people can result in discontented kitties with behavioral problems. At last, help is on hand in the new Cat Body Language Phrasebook.

This small format picture-reference book tackles 100 of the most common types of cat body language.


Divided into categories of cat behavior, including contentment, anger, fear, and playfulness, photos and captions clearly explain common behaviors like licking and purring and what your cat’s tail might be telling you.


Helpful fact boxes include advice on how to determine if your cat is unwell, common traits of certain breeds, and how to solve common problems like furniture scratching, carpet digging, and bringing mice and birds into the house.


This unique guide also addresses cat behavior when there are multiple cats in a household or when your cat doesn’t have outside access.

Genres: Cats, Nonfiction, Reference, Animals

208 pages, Hardcover

First published June 7, 2007

Reviews

[Anna Webster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the cat bodylanguage phrasebook. It was actually very interesting and I learned a thing or two that I didn't know before. I like the way it categorizes it the little pictures are really cute. there is nothing I didn't really like about it.

[E.H. Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love cats. I’ve had cats as pets all my life, and I know everything about them. So, I didn’t get that much out of this book. In this pocketbook, there are 100 photographs of kitties in silly and darling poses, a corresponding quote, and a paragraph or two explaining basic feline behavior.

For example, there’s a photograph of an older kitty licking the top of a young kitten’s head. The quote is, “You keep missing this spot!” The paragraph underneath explains that cats are sensitive to smells and like to keep clean. Also, the book mentions that Mama Cats teach their young by bathing them when they’re little, and in time, the youngsters learn how to bathe themselves. See, pretty basic stuff.

If you like cats but don’t know absolutely everything about them, you might find this pocketbook cute and entertaining. Personally, I think the book is best for young readers. What ten-year-old doesn’t love pictures of kitties and funny quotations as if the cats were talking? If your niece or granddaughter has just got her first kitty, or if she really wants one, it’s a great gift.

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[Lucy Morton-smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

After pet sitting my friends cats, one of them started exhibiting a behaviour that puzzled me, and I figured I'd get this book to find out that the signals she was sending meant. The book didn't answer my question in the slightest - however it was very informative (on other signals) and easy to read. The body signals are shown with beautiful, clear photographs. It's not for those looking to go into body language deeply, but is more than enough for those curious or those who want to learn to understand more about their feline friend. Helps to avoid a few scratches on the way when seeminly inviting behaviours aren't so inviting after all. Great to have on any shelf.

[Charise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of it was kind of redundant, and a lot of it wasn't really "body language" so much as "why cats do what they do."

[Shelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really about body language, more about behaviors and why. So if you were looking for 100 ways to read their signals, you'll be coming up short. Most of the pictures apply only marginally to the text on the page. Mostly this book is just one big gimmick, but if you want cat pictures (many of them are of the same cats, so there are not anywhere near 100 cats featured) and some interesting factoids, this book will suffice.

[Marcus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really informative and good book about cats. I would recommend it to every cat owner or folk that is thinking about getting cat/cats. I already knew most of the information in the book, but some of the things was a suprise to me.

Great book to have for a cat owner.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was too good. I couldn't put it down. A lot of information on cats. Now i understand the things they do & why they do it.

[Aisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

a great guide to understand cats

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can anyone ever truly be said to speak cat?

[Gretchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recently added a new cat to my household, and I was curious about what the interactions between him and my current cat meant. So I picked this book up at Petco for about $11, hoping it would offer some insight.

Cat Body Language Phrasebook: 100 Ways to Read Their Signals contains many colorful photographs that illustrate cats in different positions and interacting with other cats or animals in different ways. The pictures are actually pretty good. Each photo is accompanied by a quotation that is supposed to be "what the cat means" when he or she assumes this particular position. Then there is a 1-2 paragraph description. Other random cat facts are sprinkled here and there throughout the book.

There is some useful information in this book, but I was kind of disappointed. I don't feel like it really gave me any more insight into my cats' body language. But I do spend a lot of time researching cats, so maybe for someone who is new to the topic it would be more useful. Also, I felt like the author sort of rehashed some things, and also provided random information that really had nothing to do with body language. For instance, the last three photographs are of three different cat breeds -- the Siamese, the Turkish Van, and the Burmese. Interesting information, but does it really have to do with cat body language? Hmm... maybe not. It sort of seems like the author realized he couldn't actually come up with 100 ways to read cat signals, so he just threw some stuff in randomly.

[Viima · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kirjan nimen mukaan kirjassa kuuluisi olla sata kissojen elettä. Kirjassa kerrotaan lähinnä kissojen toimintatapoja ja kaikkia niitä käsitellään useamman "luvun" ajan.

Osa kirjassa totena esitetyistä jutuista ei edes ole mitään totuuksia. Yhtenä esimerkkinä "Villikissa on villiintynyt kesykissa". Vaikka toki usein villiintyneistä kissoista puhutaan villikissoina, niin tosiasiassa villikissat ovat ihan oma lajinsa, joka eroaa kesykissoista suuresti.

Kirjassa myös kannustetaan luovuttamaan kissa jo ennen 12 viikon ikää; mainitaan kyllä, että viikot 8-12 ovat kehitykselle tärkeitä. Myymisen lykkäämistä 12 viikkoon kehoitetaan tehtäväksi harkiten, koska "söpön, palleroisen pennun viehätysvoima hiipuu iän myötä" ja näinollen myös mainitaan "rakastavan" kodin saamisen vaikeutuminen. Sivuhuomautuksena on pakko todeta, että oikeasti rakastava koti kyllä tietää, että kissasta katoaa hyvinkin äkkiä ulkoinen pentumaisuus.

Kirja on suomennettu törkeän huonosti ja tönkösti, esimerkkinä "kissan kaula", kun puhe on niskasta. Käännetty siis helpoimman kautta sanasta neck, joka voi tarkoittaa kumpaa tahansa.

Tämä kirja ei ansaitsisi edes yhtä tähteä, niin törkeän huono se on. En odottanutkaan kirjan olevan mikään mestariteos, mutta kirjan huono taso yllätti silti. En voi suositella tätä kirjaa kenellekään. Olen itse suuri kissaihminen ja siinä mielessä odotin hyvää.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the pictures in this book. They are beautiful, and let the reader see exactly what the author is describing. In fact there is more space for the pictures than text, but even still I found there was lots of good information and facts to read over. I think this book would be fun and interesting for both kids and adults.

[Kirby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy-to-read and understand, nice to browse through book on cat behavior. This is a book I would give to someone considering getting their first feline.

[Viv · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book au surprisingly useful tips. The staring tips were useful

[Danie Tanaka · Rating 5 out of 5]

adorably informative

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 2 year old son likes this for the pics

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute, little book. Loved the pictures and the brief descriptions. Even though I've had cats most of my life, there's always something new to learn about their behavior.