A 546 page compendium of fascinating Cat Facts is exactly the kind of book I dig, and I sought out the author and requested this particular book for review. Amy Shojai is an amazing woman and writer and I respect her and her work a great deal (check out her blog here). I was ecstatic when she agreed to send me a copy for review.
It took me quite a bit longer to get through the book than I originally expected. It’s a fascinating, well written, extensively researched and extremely informative book, but it really is encyclopedic and not something anyone would just sit down to read on a lazy afternoon. It details a ridiculous number of medical facts, such as the definition, symptoms and treatment of a variety of ailments and diseases, and also covers non-traditional treatments such acupuncture and massage.
The book also reviews important topics such as how to pill or otherwise medicate your cat, as well as behavioral concerns such as feline aggression.
There is so much good information in this book, I’m reluctant to say anything negative about it. However, it stumbles in a couple of areas I consider important.
First, it doesn’t take a strong stance against onychectomy, or “declawing” a cat. This is a cruel and barbaric procedure that is banned in over two dozen countries around the world, and should be banned everywhere. (Read more on what this surgery does to cats and why it’s truly NOT something you want to put your loyal friend through on The Paw Project’s website.)
Second, in every reference to nutrition or food that I read, the book promotes processed diets. If you’ve been following me for any length of time, you know just how unhealthy such diets are for our beautiful cats, and how important it is to offer them fresh foods that support and strengthen their carnivorous physiology.
Both of these topics are undergoing a massive shift in how society perceives them and are fiercely debated so for you, these points may not be as important as I find them, or you may even agree with the author.
On the whole, this is a massively informative book, and you can purchase it by clicking here: CAT FACTS: The Pet Parents A-to-Z Home Care Encyclopedia
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Have you read Cat Facts? What did you think of it? Tell us in the comments!
