Cat Counsellor: How Your Cat Really Relates to You

by Vicky Halls

If cats were asked how they would truly like their owners to show affection, what would they say? Are we giving them what they want? Is just loving them ever going to be enough, and can we love them too much? This well-researched study shows how miraculous results can be achieved by merely changing the way we relate to our cats. Packed with fascinating case studies and tips on every aspect of cat relationships—including those with all things furred and feathered—it also includes the fascinating results of the relationship survey, giving cat owners from all over the world the chance to share their feelings about their feline companions.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Cats

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, it made me wonder how our cats are so well balanced.
Wonderful read for all humans owned by cats.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the author to be very judgy.

[Matisse Verelst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ik weet weeral wat meer over m'n kat

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The case studies were interesting. However the chapters not based on actual relationships - 1, 9, 10 -were boring and seemed tacked on.

[Miri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read last year when working on a cat website project that needed research. Super informative, interesting and some great techniques for how to interact with kitties in an effective manor!

[Rebecca SG · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the anecdotes are interesting to read, as an owner of three indoor Bengals I did come out of the book feeling extremely judged - and like perhaps the author's experiences aren't inclusive of all feline relationships.

A lot of the guidance is common sense that's good to reinforce: how to avoid stressing a cat, creating a safe, engaging environment for them, what situations can cause nervous or angry behaviour. But there was clear judgement of anyone choosing to keep their cats indoors or even let them out in cat runs or on leads, and a bit of snideness about pure breeds.

There was also a fair amount of sexism when describing owner interaction with their pets - mostly when the owner was male, which the author seems to think is a bit of a special event in itself, especially if said male is at all *gasp* affectionate or emotionally invested in his cat. This reinforcing of the crazy cat lady stereotype while belittling the idea of male cat owners didn't sit well with me, and I had to check the book wasn't actually written in the 1950s.

Finally, there were a few recommendations for putting cats on dry food-only diets, and that's really not something I agree with excepting certain medical situations.

This book might be useful for someone with particularly problematic cats who match the anecdotes told, but for people with contented, loving cats, who are already familiar with cat behaviour, cat physiology, and common sense, this might just wind up annoying you like it did me.

[Mya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like the dog whisperer for cats. Very interesting.