The Ultimate Cat Book

by David Taylor

Designed for the cat enthusiast, this volume provides a photographic catalogue of over 100 different breeds and varieties. The book explores the distinctive characteristics of each breed and provides readers with information and advice on cat care, breeding, showing and behaviour. A general chapter on cat evolution, their basic behaviour, anatomy, intelligence and ability to communicate with each other and their owners serves as an introduction to the main part of the book, which is devoted to individual breeds. This unique photographic guide covers both longhaired and shorthaired varieties in full colour; each specially commissioned photograph has been chosen by experts to represent the breed illustrating the individual markings, colouring and distinctive physical characteristics. Further chapters cover other aspects of cat ownership with practical advice. A chapter entitled "Keeping Your Cat" covers all the everyday occurences of bringing up your cat; washing him; travelling; common ailments; first aid; common household hazards and when to call your vet. A section on breeding takes you from the sexual behaviour of your cat through pregnancy to kitten development; fostering; worming and neutering. Finally, a section on showing tells you how the shows are organized, explains the points system and shows you how to prepare for the big day.

Genres: Animals, Nonfiction, Reference

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

David Conrad Taylor, BVMS, FRCVS, FZS, was a British veterinary surgeon. He was the first veterinary surgeon to specialise in zoo and wildlife medicine. Taylor worked with zoo and wild animals from 1957, acting as a consultant on the treatment of some of the rarest species on Earth. He was world-renowned as an expert in marine mammal medicine.

In the mid-1970s and early 1980s, Taylor wrote a popular series of autobiographical books that charted his life and experiences as a "Zoo Vet". These books were adapted for Television in a drama series, One by One. He continued to be a prolific writer until his death. [wikipedia]

Reviews

[MatthewW]

The book really told a lot about all the different types of cats and how to take care of them.

[annalise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this book about a thousand times. very interesting and helpful. it's fun to learn about cat breeds in the book's format. 10/10 would recommend

[nai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this over and over as a kid.

[Lex Enqvist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I understand how my cat works!

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are an animal lover like me, this book has the best photographs of different cat breeds I have seen. I have owned a Chinchilla Persian, Blue Persian, and Black Persian cat in the past and this book was an exellent guide to help me in identifying which cats were pure breeds vs. half breeds people were trying to sale for the same price. This is a nice hardback book, larger in size than most. The most interesting breed is the Sphynx, a hairless cat which looks like an alien. Contrary to popular belief, this cat is very affectionate and loves being cuddled. His temperament is nothing like the cat from hell portrayed on "Friends" with "Rachel."