Product Description
Barrons Books The Cat Whisperer Book
Customer Reviews:
A very good book to get you up to speed with modern theory.......2007-07-23
I just brought home my first cat in 20 years, and find this book an excellent primer in getting to know this little creature & appreciate it as a friend. The book is identical to her other book titled "How to Talk to Your Cat", so no need to buy both. The book is not written in an 'owner manual' style, but rather as a long essay where the author dispenses her sage advice. All the author is doing in this book is tying together modern theory to explain what a cat is, & why it does what it does, so we can better appreciate it & have more fruitful interactions with it. Some people may prefer a more systematic & technical approach; it is all personal preference. But I agree, the title is very misleading & a slick marketing ploy.
GREAT BOOK!.......2006-03-01
This book is one of the best I have seen on cat behavior and psychology. It is very in depth and easy to read. I recommend this to all users who want to get to know their cats better!
The Cat Whisperer: The Secret of How to Talk to Your Cat.......2004-11-05
Aside from the catchy title, I found little of use in this book that supposedly deals with cat communication. Any 'tasty morsels' were far and few between. Does the author even own a cat?
The Cat Whisperer: The Secret of How to Talk to Your Cat.......2004-04-28
At the beginning of this book, the author attempts to get us to understand from a cat's perspective on what it must be like to live with humans by comparing cats to Eskimos who suddenly move to the jungle. I nearly couldn't read any further. It is a distracting and unappetizing comparison with which Native people may be all too familiar.
Throughout the book, the author seems to go on and on about the relative popularity of dogs to cats. She includes far too much about dogs and their behavior characterstics in relation to people. If this were a book about cats and dogs that might have been appropriate. However, in this book, it was simply another distraction.
There are a few interesting things, but overall doesn't cover any new ground that Desmond Morris hasn't already covered.
Do Yourself A Favor And SKIP This Book.......2004-01-04
I've read dozens of cat books in the last few years, and frankly I just thought this one was a waste of money. There is no new info here, no new point of view, nothing that isn't available in a dozen other cat books, and better written at that. Someone who picked up "Cats For Dummies" would get more plentiful, useful information.
Amazon.com
Perhaps no one is better equipped to help us understand our cats than Jean Craighead George, award-winning author of over 80 books about nature and animals. This delightful picture book for cat lovers of all ages makes it perfectly clear who has the power in a human-cat relationship: the cat. But you already knew that. What you may not have known is that cats meow as many as 19 different meows (all interpreted here), that cats never purr when they are alone, that no one knows what part of the cat a purr really comes from, and what cats' various tail positions mean. Illustrator Paul Meisel's charming, cartoonish cats prance through the pages with photos of the author herself in a clever, endearing display of the human-feline relationship. Dog lovers will want to sniff out the companion title, How to Talk to Your Dog. (Ages 7 to 107) --Karin Snelson
Book Description
Find out what your cat is really saying -- and talk back!
Jean Craighead George, Newbery Medal-winning author of over 80 books about nature and animals, demonstrates in words and photos how to communicate with that ever-mysterious, ever-lovable animal -- the cat.
Customer Reviews:
Book filled with inaccuracies.......2007-10-06
My daughter and I read "How to Talk to Your Cat" and were amazed by the number of inaccuracies stated throughout the book.
The author states that cats are "completely self-sufficient and can leave you at any time and go off and make a living." It's this kind of ignorance that contributed to the explosion in the feral cat population we face today! People pick up and move and abandon their cats thinking they can fend for themselves. Hunting is learned by watching other cats, and then putting those lessons into practice until they are perfected. Offspring of non-hunting cats rarely make good hunters themselves. In other words, house cats that have never been outdoors could never just "leave at any time and go off and make a living." They'd starve to death!
She also states that "cats are loners" and they "don't like company, including other cats." Cats are not anti-social. They have intricate social interactions with their own kind. Two of my cats are very social; they love the attention of people (even those they just meet) and the camaraderie of other felines. Feral cat colonies are found in every city and town throughout the world--the perfect example of their social nature. Cats also possess the ability to form close friendships with people. I own 8 cats and I have a unique relationship with each one. They are my babies and I couldn't imagine life without them.
She recommends only having one cat. She goes on to state "cats dislike other cats and will fight." Cats are social beings; they do like other cats and the only time they fight is to establish territory or male dominance, not because they dislike one another.
The author tells us that cats are o.k. with our leaving; they will not sulk. She doesn't know my cat Amber. Once I pull out the suitcases, she knows what's about to follow. She follows my every move when I go from room to room to gather things to pack all the while whimpering. I once had to cut a vacation short when her caretaker told me she wasn't eating or using the litter box. She was so upset by my absence.
Finally, she states that "the deeper the claws dig [into furniture], the more status the cat has." Huh? Scratching is a way of marking territory. Depth of the scratch has nothing to do with status. Feline social standing is measured by the amount of land a cat can lord over it. At the top of the hierarchy are unneutered males, followed by females that haven't been spayed, spayed females and at the bottom are the neutered males.
Her book would have been better suited for the fiction, not non-fiction classification.
I find it ironic that the author doesn't even own a cat, yet somehow she feels she has the knowledge and expertise to write a book about them.
A great laugh... and it works too!.......2007-09-26
I have had cats for quite sometime... and I was always saying to myself and my girlfriend... "I wish our cat could talk." To be honest, she never wanted to know what they were saying, I think becuase she would be afraid of what they are saying, even though our cats love her more than they do me.
ANYWAY, this book has been a great way to understand better what our little friends are trying to say to us. I would not say that we are having conversations, but, at least I know that I should not take somethings as personal as what I was in the past.
For example, I loved to hold up our big cat, Toolsie, and put my nose to his (as kind of a kiss). Well, he let me do that without any resistance. What his relaxed body but squinting eyes were telling me was that he thinks this is fun but does not undrestand what or why i am doing this. A nice scratch on the back. Our other cat, Cuckoo, puts her paw up to my nose/face as I put my nose to her nose. It is quite funny and I was always wondering what she was thinking... well, from what I understand, Cuckoo thought I was more cuckoo and she was saying "hey, stop that, get out of my face. you are irritating me." Ok, i probably knew that without this book, but it has been good fun and i recommend it to any person who has a cat or give it as a gift to a friend that has a cat.
Keep up the conversation :)
Cute for all ages.......2006-08-27
This book tells how to interact with your cat. It is a very cute story that I enjoyed along with my family.
Understand house-cat behavior........2006-01-19
"How to talk to your cat," by Jean Craighead George.
Formerly published as part of a book called "How to talk to your animals."
Not to be confused with: "How to talk to your cat," an earlier book by Patricia Moyes. "How to talk to your cat," by Claire Bessant. "How to talk to your cat," by Lynn Allison. It's a common title!
A book about house-cat behavior, body language, and communication by vocalizations and pheromones. It is not about (nor does it mention) telepathic animal communication. The book has three chapters; the first and last are about various other kinds of animals, and the middle chapter is about house cats. It has simple black-and-white line drawings that serve as diagrams of gestures, and illustrations of anecdotes. While the illustrations are good, I would have liked to see more of them. [Note: this refers to the 1985 printing; it appears that the newest printing has more illustrations!]
The author used to believe (as science used to dictate) that animals behaved unthinkingly and without emotions, as automatons, and that they should not be thought of as being like humans. However, her stance changed to the opposite. She now sees animals as being intelligently, sensitively, and as being only a little different from humans, if at all. She has a convincing collection of case studies for this argument.
The chapter about cats tells of how they were domesticated. It describes and explains their social interactions with one another, including parenting, mating, fighting, hunting, and communicating with pheromones. As the title promises, it gives you advice on how to use body language and vocalizations that your cat will understand.
I'm familiar with this subject, but I did learn some new things from this book. There were a few feline behaviors whose reasons were mysterious to me that this book explained. The last chapter brought up several examples of animal tool use that I hadn't heard of before. As the author has raised "173 wild and 50 domestic animals," there were some amusing personal anecdotes about ravens, coyotes, and so on. I didn't spot any mistakes or false factoids.
All in all: the book was short enough to finish reading in a morning, I enjoyed reading it, and I learned some new things. Very good!
HOWLING GREAT FUN AND FABULOUS ILLUSTRATIONS!.......2003-02-13
Let's start simply and honestly, the same way these tomes approach their subject matter, and say these are the cat's meow! Jean Craighead George has penned two ultra-thin volumes on communicating with our best friends and felines, and each is a howling success. The Newberry Medal-winning author does what someone like Elizabeth Masrshall Thomas has tried to do in books tens of thousands words and pages longer and could not. Jean, by George, had found the winning ways to teach pet lovers how to chat with their four-footed pals. Her writing is sparse: "A lick is not a kiss. It is a statement that says you're a wonderful leader." Her advice is refreshing: "Growling is aggressive talk. Don't growl back. Dogs don't like that." As special as her words is the whimiscal use of arkwork: actual color photos of the animated author interacting with illustrations (by Sue Truesdell) of equally animated cartoon cats and dogs. (We just love the one of George on all fours, rubbing heads with a cat!) Four paws up!
Amazon.com
How to Talk to Your Cat won't necessarily transform you into a fluent speaker of kitty lingo--but it will provide a blueprint for interpreting those chirruping mews, silent miaows, and deep throated demonic growls. Of course there is nothing scientific here, but furry fun is guaranteed along the way. A strong emphasis is placed on listening and talking to your cat, (hopefully your neighbors won't think you're too strange). Recognizing your kitty's needs and wants through her sounds will ultimately strengthen the bonds between cat and human, so try not to feel too self-conscious! Cat talk is far more complex than just vocalization; non-verbal cat communication is also explored in depth, and the classic postures (sad, happy, anxious, nervous) are exemplified with pencil drawings. Anecdotes and oodles of kitty tidbits and trivia make this a charming read for cat fanatics and prospective Dr. Dolittles! --Naomi Gesinger
Book Description
Entertaining and informative guide for the cat-lover packed with charming anecdotes and home-spun advice, cat-calls and a vocabulary of gestures. B&W drawings throughout. 128 pages.
Customer Reviews:
Could be better.......2007-05-22
I didn't find this book to be very creative or interesting. There seemed to be a lot of filler and little substance. I had expected something more entertaining.
Entertaining and Useful.......2004-07-04
How To Talk To Your Cat is divided into ten sections, each devoted to a different aspect of cat care and communication.
I immensley enjoy Patricia Moyes's style of writing; her tone is both professional, yet she also has a good sense of humor. This makes the book fun to read, while also providing helpful information.
A lot of the verbal communication that she mentions (including the silent miaow, the "welcome home!" chirp, etc.) I could smile and nod my head at, knowing that my cats do the exact same thing.
If you really want to learn something, find another book........2004-05-08
This book has very little content pertaining to how to talk to your cat. When I first picked the book up, I flipped to the middle, which happened to be the "good" part, so I gave it a try. The beginning contained some "historical" information, which I found sketchy considering the author had no credentials or references. The argument that this woman gave for how cats became domesticated wasn't convincing. Regardless, there was a decent section in the middle about picking a cat (if you got past her feelings about purebreds), communicating with your cat, and what the different "miaows" and body language mean that I found interesting and useful. Otherwise, the book is filled with stories of her Siamese cats and their world travels, unlikely circumstances involving the one cat being lost for 2 weeks, and many, many opinions. The author seemed haughty most of the time and was very opinionated. Overall, I'd guess this author had money and thought it would be fun to write a book about her cats.
I Haven't Hated A Book This Much In A Long Time..........2004-03-01
I bought this title along with several others in earnest, seeking to better my relationship with my cat, & then honestly could not wait to finish the book...
There was a small handful of nuggets of helpful information, mostly concerning a cats' body language & basic needs, that was useful. The most important concept I came away with is the advice to speak to your cat intelligently, & to treat him as a sentient being who bears personhood & with respect. I agree with the author that this is crucial. Even if your cat does not fully pick up on all of your complex human vocabulary, as Ms. Moyes elaborately fantasizes that hers do - your cat *will* pick up on your intent, the tone of your feelings towards him, & the spirit in which you speak to him. Her method of developing a call signal to find a lost cat is also of practical value. If you come away with these points, you've got the basics.
That said...
This author's narcissistic "snitty british" arrogant writing tone propelled by almost purely emotional reasoning drove me up a wall........ The author struck me as overly self-involved & almost completely lost in her own personal fantasies about what is going on with her cats to the point of living in a dream world, made for one. After page 20 this slowly became nauseating, & a stifling urge to scream settled in & stayed.
In this book, the author haughtily purports herself to be everyone's Conscience concerning their pet. She makes striking statements that anyone who would ever opt to declaw a cat - or to solely house them indoors - is better off not having one at all. Apparently, this individual would rather see stray animals piled up dead on the floors of kill shelters, than to be adopted to live by apartment pet regulations concerning declawing, or kept safely indoors. My thought was, "How dare you..." The author needs to reach beyond a myopic, single-minded love of Siamese cats & an upper class lifestyle to develop some concept of how many hundreds of thousands of cats are left unclaimed & unadopted to die in shelters every single day, claws intact. This is reality.
But then...she imagines that in spite of the plethora of feline breeds & mixes available, every person would *only* want to keep a Siamese cat, if they only knew their nature, as a matter of course. After reading her descriptions of her cats' behavior, I've never been more glad to have a DSH in my care. However, if you do keep a Siamese - get the book. It may help you realize you're not alone in your Siamese's unique antics. Most of the information here pertains only to them & does not generalize out well at all to other breeds. I could not relate at least 60% of the content to my own cat's personality, habits, feelings, & behavior. Or any other cat I've known, for that matter. Or, if you are interested in a purely anecdotal personal "case study" account of one person's experience of Siamese behavior - you may find this book's giddy ramblings entertaining. Be prepared to wade through mounds of ego & narrow subjectivity to get to the informational content you seek.
However - if you are looking for a truly resourceful book on how to communicate with your cat...look elsewhere. Don't let one woman's endless egocentric carrying on bend your mind concerning your cat. Some far better suggestions for books on this topic would be:
* "The Language of Animals: 7 Steps To Communicating With Animals" by Carol Gurney
* "CatSpeak" by Bash Dibra, reknowned animal trainer
* "The Cat Whisperer" by Claire Bessant
* "Animal Talk" by Penelope Smith
* "277 Secrets Your Cat Wants You To Know: A Catalog of Unusual & Interesting Information" by Paulette Cooper & Paul Noble
* "Cat Owner's Manual" by Dr. Bruce Fogle - written by a Veterinarian, this is the single most helpful cat book I've found yet.
There are SO MANY better titles out there on the topic of human/feline communication with helpful, useful information surpassing this stifling narration.
To be perfectly honest... And I can't believe I'm saying this... I finished the book thinking, "I am so grateful I am not Ms. Moyes' cat....." And screamed into a pillow.
Mostly Siamese If You Please.......2003-12-06
If you have a Siamese cat, this might be interesting, but only one chapter applies to the title claim of "how to talk to your cat," and I suspect Siamese must speak a different language than other cats. This was written in 1978 and sounds old-fashioned in the style of writing.
Average customer rating:
|
How to Talk to Your Cat
Manufacturer: Warner Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
| Birdwatching
| Conservation
| Ecology
| Ecosystems
| Environment
| Fauna
| Field Guides
| Flora
| Hiking & Camping
| Hunting & Fishing
| Natural Resources
| Nature Writing
| Outdoor Recreation
| Reference
| Survival Skills
| Travel
ASIN: 9993776653 |
Customer Reviews:
Best cat book I have ever read........2002-03-01
Many cat books seem to be based on anecdotal knowledge. This is not. It is simple, concise, authoritative, and very practical information. It also answers questions as to why cats behave as they do. It is the single cat book that I recommend to all my cat-loving friends.
Book Description
In The Secret Techniques of Bonsai, the author of the groundbreaking Bonsai with American Trees teams up with his son to offer not only the basics of creating perfect bonsai, but also secret techniques they've developed over years of careful work and observation. For example, readers will learn such tricks as: - Making a cutting for a new bonsai in winter, while the plant still stores its winter nutrients, then wrapping and freezing the cutting until sprint, at which time it can be planted and will thrive; - Trimming branches in such as way as to eliminate swelling and scars; - The proper use of tools to perfect bonsai work; - And much, much more. The Kawasumis provide detailed, easy-to-follow information about growing bonsai from seedlings or beginner plants; expert advice on shaping, pruning, training, grafting and repotting the trees; and new techniques for using tools. And although the Kawasumi family is world-renowned for their bonsai tool design, their instructions allow gardeners to improvise with other readily-accessible bonsai, gardening or even simple workshop tools. Step-by-step photographs accompany the text. Masakumi Kawasumi III, the first qualified tree doctor for bonsai in Japan, contributes his unique insights to make this an invaluable resource for beginners and experiences enthusiasts alike.
Customer Reviews:
bonzai plant care.......2007-09-20
This is a great little book for the beginner because it explains everything simply but thoroughly.
A well-organized, helpful start.......2007-08-29
In short, my opinion is that this is an excellent book if you are serious about bonsai and would like to get started, or to complement your knowledge from other books.
Before I purchased this book, I checked out several books from my local library. Some books seem to show many pictures of finished bonsai without really getting into details and I feel as if I still don't have the knowledge to even start on a bonsai. This book is a bit more helpful with step-by-step pictures from repotting to pruning, diagrams of undesirable branches, and methods of propagation.
There is a lot of information in this book that I read in this book that other books brush by, but I found helpful to me. Without a doubt, it is important to read different books because each author has their own views on certain issues.
Other books that you might want to look into are "Bonsai (101 Essential Tips)" by Harry Tomlinson and "The Bonsai Workshop" by Herb Gustafson.
Bonsai made simple.......2007-05-23
The Secret Techniques of Bonsai: A Guide to Starting, Raising, and Shaping Bonsai An understandable, complete book on Bonsai .
Fine Summary of Advanced Level Bonsai .......2007-01-04
This is a fine work on Advanced Techniques for the Bonsai enthusiast, in particular giving full particulars on specialty tools and pruning shears in Bonsai Culture. It is kind of surprising the great tips one can get, from just the one paragraph tips that the authors son added after his father death. Very concise and precise is a great summary for this book.
Customer Reviews:
This book is disappointing.......2007-07-31
This book is disappointing. Although a lot of Bonsai topics are covered
there is not any real depth to the material. This is too bad as I think
the author of the book has a lot more knowledge on the topic as is coming
through in this work.
Although I bought this book I had to purchase others to get the
answers I was looking for. My favorite book at this point is "The Art of
Natural Bonsai" by Dave Joyce.
Customer Reviews:
One of the best Bonsai books available!.......2004-06-19
I bought this book approximately four years ago when I had the pleasure to meet the author, Mr. Charles Harnett.
This book is filled with tips on care and maintenance for most species of bonsai.
It is an easy read and really covers the questions anyone might ask about watering, sunlight, fertilization, potting, re-potting and many, many other topics.
It also covers how to spot and buy a true bonsai and not what most people think are true bonsai. The author details the differences between the two.
Having a long history with bonsai, beginning with military service under a master in Japan, the author's experience shines through clearly.
I have also had the privilege to buy two trees from the authors business and have had them for four years and counting. I have used his tips in their care since day one.
I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who would like to explore the world of Bonsai.
Average customer rating:
|
Late Medieval and Early Modern Corpuscular Matter Theories (Medieval and Early Modern Science)
Manufacturer: Brill Academic Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Interior Design
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Physics
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Medieval
| World
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Interior Design
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| History & Philosophy
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
History of Science
| History & Philosophy
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Physics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 9004115161 |
Books:
- The Complete Encyclopedia Of Rabbits & Rodents: Comprehensive information on hamsters, mice, rats, gerbils, and guinea pigs; Also including less well-know pets, such as ferrets and chinchillas
- The Complete Idiot's Guide to Beagles
- The Essential Kitten (Howell Book House's Essential)
- The Essential Puppy (The Essential Guides)
- The Hedgehog: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet
- The Howell Book of Puppy Raising
- The Injury-Free Horse: Hands-on Methods for Maintaining Soundness & Health
- The Inspired Aquarium: Ideas and Instruction for Living with Aquariums
- The Miniature Schnauzer: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet (Your Happy Healthy Pet)
- The New Aquarium Handbook: Everything About Setting Up and Taking Care of a Freshwater Aquarium
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- It Will Never Happen to Me: Growing Up With Addiction As Youngsters, Adolescents, Adults
- History: Fiction or Science
- Como Funciona El Cerebro
- Edgar Allan Poe: Complete Tales & Poems
- Cutting Edge Photo Cropping for Scrapbooks
- Geoenvironmental Engineering: Site Remediation, Waste Containment, and Emerging Waste Management Tec
- Complete Introduction to Breeding Aquarium Fishes
- The Last Flowers of Manet
- CREATIVE LICENSE, THE: GIVING YOURSELF PERMISSION TO BE THE ARTIST YOU TRULY ARE
- Relaxin and Related Peptides: Fourth International Conference
Cat Vs. Cat: Keeping Peace When You Have More Than One Cat
The Cat Who Cried for Help: Attitudes, Emotions, and the Psychology of Cats
Twisted Whiskers: Solving Your Cat's Behavior Problems
What Is My Cat Thinking?: The Essential Guide to Understanding Pet Behavior
277 Secrets Your Cat Wants You to Know: A Cat-Alog of Unusual and Useful Information
Communicating with Your Cat (Pets Miscellaneous)
Cat Biz: A Compendium of Amazing Facts and Anecdotes from the Cat World
What Cats Want
