Wild Discovery Guide to Your Cat: Understanding and Caring for the Tiger Within

by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas (Foreword)

Why do cats always land on their feet after a fall? What allows a sleeping cat to comfortably curl into a circle? Why do cats appear to torture their prey before killing it? Just how much attention do cats really require? In the spirit of the Discovery Channel television series Wild Discovery, this book answers these and other questions, drawing from science, history, and feline behavior in the wild to explain the inner nature and most puzzling characteristics of these endearing animals. Included in this comprehensive primer
-- Understanding cat language
-- Feline sleep patterns
-- Learning and intelligence
-- An informative guide to 28 major cat breeds
-- The cat's agility and senses
-- Marking and defending territory
-- Nutrition, grooming, and health Enhanced with striking color photographs, this is an entertaining and insightful approach to feline behavior, pet care, and appreciation that will delight cat fanciers of all ages.

Genres: Cats, Animals

216 pages, Hardcover

First published October 5, 1999

About the author

Elizabeth Marshall Thomas is the author of The Harmless People, a non fiction work about the Kung Bushmen of southwestern Africa, and of Reindeer Moon, a novel about the paleolithic hunter gatherers of Siberia, both of which were tremendous international successes. She lives in New Hampshire.

Reviews

[Annelisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A comprehensive and informative guide for anyone who is interested in cats. The text outlines the history and development of the domestic cat in terms of physical features, behavior, and its relationship to humans and the natural world. The book has the most success in its approach; it teaches the reader to become a better cat owner via understanding just who cats are and how they operate. The more that the individual understands that a cat really is a lion in a sweet little package, the easier it becomes to live with them, make them comfortable, and be their companions for life. A cat's life stages are depicted from kittenhood to old age, with everything in between. It breaks down a lot of their seemingly strange behaviors, getting inside the minds of cats to show why they do the things that they do. (For example, cats don't see themselves as tiny humans, rather, they see us as big, unusual-acting cats). The book includes information about the specific health needs of cats, picking the right breed for your lifestyle, and introducing cats to new members of the family. I especially liked the appendices at the back, with supplies that every cat owner should have, common poisons, and foods that they like. Whether someone is a potential cat owner/adopter (join the club, by all means!), wants to find out more about this amazing creature, or just wants to help that fuzzy stray that comes to their door, this book is a perfect fit.

[Laura Cushing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took this book out of my library's cat section, as I am always looking for more information on how to raise my two kitties right.

There are some great things in this book - I learned more about the function of whiskers, why cats sleep so much, and how the lives of large wild cats mirror the lives of small domestic ones.

Great information, nice full color pictures, very well done book.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm getting a new kitty! This book has a lot of information about a lot of things -- behavior, habits, best practices, feeding, illnesses, grooming, etc. It helped me come up with a good "Things To Buy For New Kitty" list that I had forgotten about.