Cats

DK Smithsonian Handbooks

by David Alderton

Smithsonian Handbooks are the most visually appealing guides on the natural world in the book marketplace. Featuring more than 500 full-color illustrations and photographs, along with detailed annotations, Smithsonian Handbooks make identification easy and accurate.

Genres: Nonfiction, Cats, Reference, Animals, Science, Nature, Childrens

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

David Alderton is a UK-based writer specialising in pets and natural history topics. Growing up in a home surrounded by pets, he originally trained to become a veterinary surgeon. An allergic dermatitis acquired in his final year of study forced a change of career however, and so led him into the field of writing about pets and their care. He has since become a regular contributor of articles on this subject to a wide range of newspapers and magazines in the UK and abroad, and also participates frequently in radio and television programmes.

His books have currently sold over six million copies, and have been translated into 30 different languages. David’s titles have won awards in the USA from the Cat Writers' Association of America and the Maxwell Medallion from the Dog Writers’ Association of America, as well as being nominated for the Sir Peter Kent Conservation Book Prize. He has also chaired the National Council for Aviculture, the umbrella organisation for bird-keeping clubs and associations in the UK, and is a member of the Kennel Club, as well as editor of the monthly magazine Practical Reptile Keeping.

Reviews

[David W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tiny little book I chose in a store for my little brother waaaaay back in 1997 (gosh, does that mean I'm *old* now? :P), and I ended it up reading myself at least five times a year. Great compliments to the quality of the binding—our copy had survived Eric's infant rough manhandling and survived with no loose or falling pages.

Too bad I don't have any other in the same book series, though.

[RebelChick · Rating 5 out of 5]

For my reading in april 2013 to may 2013

Are you in to cats or cat breeds? Then this is a book for you. In it is a profile of each cat breed and a liitle on each breed. There is 18 long hair cat breeds 34 short hair cat breeds. There's also a page or two on the cat family. Choosing a cat. And breed/color development and if your in to showing a bit on that too. :)

[Kady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to navigate, fun to look through, and a good amount of information!

[Deeya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I apologize to any other children who may have wanted to read this book at my elementary school's library. Over the course of my 6 years at that school, I probably checked the only copy of this book out a good 20 times. I would pore over the little drawings of cats and their names, and it is likely the only reason why I know what a "Prussian Shorthair" cat is. Wonderful book.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tiny and cute book with well designed layout internally. Describes the main breeds of domestic cats, along with introduction to cat biology, wild cat species and how to care for cats. A mixture of photos and painted illustrations.

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Notes:
250 page handbook 6"x8"
lots of variety within breeds
not as many breeds covered as in the dk cat encyclopedia

[bellalla]

this was an information overload and now my brain hurts

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating catalog, loved the photo illustrations.

[Rivkah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great compact handbook to various Cat breeds. Wonderful for a new cat owner trying to figure out what they might have, or for those who just like cats.

[Megan]

DK Handbooks: Cats by David Alderton (1992)

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it!

[Jen Wiltrout · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great images and information on cat breeds!