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The Book Your Cat Wishes You Would Read

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Have you ever wanted to know what your cat was thinking?

In The Book Your Cat Wishes You Would Read, feline behaviourist Lucy Hoile gives you all the information you could ever need to build an even better, happier relationship with your cat. Lucy is speaking directly to you, the carer, and is here to support you on this amazing journey.

Cats are an enigmatic species and their behaviour is subtle and difficult to read. Because of this, it's not always easy to understand what they need from us and our relationship with them can suffer as a result.

Included in this book is information on how cats communicate through body language, vocalisations and their secret language of scent. Deciphering this information helps us understand what they are trying to tell us, including when they are feeling unwell, when they are stressed or when they are feeling perfectly content.

Armed with Lucy's invaluable advice you will feel excited and empowered to feel even closer to your cat and build a more loving, patient and rewarding relationship for life.

368 pages, Hardcover

Published October 29, 2024

12 people are currently reading
244 people want to read

About the author

Lucy Hoile

2 books

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5 stars
30 (46%)
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21 (32%)
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11 (17%)
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Profile Image for Kirsti Ferguson (MrsFegFiction).
43 reviews
January 26, 2024
I loved this book. I found it so useful in helping to understand my cat's behaviour, but also what I could do to enrich his life and make sure we are all as happy as possible. I've already made some changes based on Lucy's advice, and I know I'll refer to this book again in the future. If you have a cat or are thinking of getting one I'd thoroughly recommend reading this.
25 reviews
May 3, 2024
I would HIGHLY recommend to all cat parents or people thinking about getting a cat (ps it'll be the best decision you've ever made getting a cat, DO IT. From someone who didn't used to like cats, I am now totally a cat person and I absolutely adore my Misty and Mabel, cant imagine life without them!!!)
Profile Image for Anthony.
1,046 reviews
August 21, 2024
Lucy Hoile (2023) THE BOOK YOUR CAT WISHES YOU WOULD READ (AUDIOBOOK)
Spotify - Hachette UK

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 out of 5 stars

Spotify writes, "Have you ever wanted to know what your cat was thinking?
In The Book Your Cat Wishes You Would Read, feline behaviourist Lucy Hoile gives you all the information you could ever need to build an even better, happier relationship with your cat. Lucy is speaking directly to you, the carer, and is here to support you on this amazing journey.
Cats are an enigmatic species and their behaviour is subtle and difficult to read. Because of this, it's not always easy to understand what they need from us and our relationship with them can suffer as a result.
Included in this book is information on how cats communicate through body language, vocalisations and their secret language of scent. Deciphering this information helps us understand what they are trying to tell us, including when they are feeling unwell, when they are stressed or when they are feeling perfectly content.
Armed with Lucy's invaluable advice you will feel excited and empowered to feel even closer to your cat and build a more loving, patient and rewarding relationship for life.
=====
Well David, I didn't read this but I did listen to it, so now I know.
=====
#LucyHoile #TheBookYourCatWishesYouWouldRead #Book #Books #Read #Reads #Reading #Review #Reviews #BookReview #BookReviews #GoodReads #Audiobook #Audiobooks #Spotify
116 reviews1 follower
February 14, 2025
While the author's credentials remain mysteriously unclear (a surprising oversight in a field where expertise matters), the book offers practical insights into cat behavior and welfare. The focus on consent and individual cat preferences feels modern and respectful, moving away from the old-school "dominate your pet" mindset toward a more collaborative approach to cat care.

The book covers essential aspects of cat behavior, from body language and environmental needs to stress management and social interactions. The key takeaway is that cats thrive in environments tailored to their individual needs, and many behavioral problems arise when their natural instincts are overlooked.

Hoile provides helpful pointers for recognising when a cat is uncomfortable and adjusting human behavior accordingly. The sections on problem-solving common issues, such as scratching and inappropriate toileting, offer straightforward advice that many cat owners will find beneficial.

The practical advice and focus on understanding things from the cat's perspective make this a useful guide for any cat owner, or indeed those looking to adopt a cat. It's particularly strong in its emphasis on working with, rather than against, natural feline behaviors and preferences.
Profile Image for Magdalena Morris.
490 reviews66 followers
February 21, 2024
I have two cats and I can never have too many books about cats! Lucy Hoile's guide is just wonderful: from the very beginning I loved her voice - it's caring, friendly, understanding and wise; she cares about both her readers and these wonderful, little wild animals that inhabit our houses.

The Book Your Cat Wishes You Would Read is not a book you need to (and I definitely didn't) read back to back. It's super accessible and I simply picked the parts that interested me the most and were the most relevant at this point: general history, cat's senses and behaviour, litter, food, etc. That being said, this is definitely a book that I will treasure and keep on my bookshelf and turn to a different chapter whenever I need it. There is a super useful chapter on going to the vet as well as spotting that your cat is ageing and even when it might be time to say goodbye, which basically broke my heart a bit, but even that part is written with such great empathy!!! I wanted to cry and hug Lucy Hoile for covering everything we need to know about the cats in such a brilliant way.
Profile Image for Ken Heard.
756 reviews13 followers
February 27, 2025
My wife and I have five cats; we tend to take in stray cats who show up and try to give them a good, safe home. I wish I had read this book before we loaded the house with them.

This isn't really a book to read cover-to-cover in a sitting. Instead, it may be better to pore over chapters and read about something the cat owner is dealing with at the time. Lucy Hoiles includes everything.. and I mean everything... about dealing with cats. Feeding them, where to place food and water, an entire chapter on litter, socialization, communication, playing, introducing them to other cats and dogs. Outdoor vs. indoors.

This book has it all. It should be required reading at all pet stores and veterinarian offices.

There are a lot cat books out there, all with good advice. This one by Ms. Hoile is a keeper and a must read for all who want their cats to enjoy life more.
5 reviews
November 11, 2024
This book helped me better understand my cat. I read it when my cat’s behavior started changing and it seemed to be in response to me. I learned how to better read my cat’s body language and was able to identify the root of the changes and make modifications that made both my cat happier and our bond better based on the information in this book. Essentially, my new cat was VERY different from my previous one that I had for 12 years. I learned that things my previous cat loved are not loved by most cats, including my new kitten. I have loved and been around cats most of my life and still learned so much I didn’t know. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to understand their cat better.
Profile Image for Ame.
25 reviews
July 31, 2024
I guess I knew around 70% of the ideas shared in this book (too many years sharing my life with cats!) But it was great to read even the already-known info. I will make sure to recommend several of these chapters to new cat parents

The other 30%, the information I didn't know already, has been crucial to me. I am now more eager than ever to give my two cats the best life possible. I took notes and will apply Lucy's advice to the next phases of my cats' lives.

The chapters are very well structured, which makes it easy to find the exact information you need for a particular issue.

Would definitely recommend this book to any cat parent out there.
Profile Image for Karin Brauner Hollman.
8 reviews
June 23, 2024
Uplifting, hopeful, reassuring, factual

We became cat parents in October 2023 and it's not been boring.
Cats deserve our best, but as humans we make mistakes more often than not.
Lucy's book was reassuring about our senior's behaviour and gave us hope about how best to help him and our bonded juniors live in the same house without aggression.
We have some work to do and look forward to working with Lucy in a few weeks time and find out more about what she expertly does.
634 reviews2 followers
November 27, 2024
Helpful and accessible, I learnt things about my cat I didn’t know and I love and respect them all the more for reading.
Profile Image for Josh Hamilton.
35 reviews
December 29, 2025
As someone who's never owned a cat before, this book felt like essential reading. I feel like I have a much better understanding of how to care for them more effectively, and my understanding of their needs is far, far better.

Now, do I think that what's been written is revolutionary? Probably not; you could probably find other texts that do a very similar job. But this is a fantastic starting point for a first time cat owner, who no longer feels out of his depth or the need to read another book on the topic.

Read on 2x speed on Spotify.
Profile Image for Jordan Murray.
Author 5 books134 followers
Read
July 16, 2025
Very informative! I love how there’s an index at the back where you can see exactly what pages discuss which topics. I will definitely be referring back to this in the future.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews

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