I bought this book hoping to find good, practical advice about owning my first cat. Instead, I found the book to be extremely condescending and preachy. Rather than giving truly practical advice about cat-related matters, I was treated to Ms. Hotchner's personal diatribes on issues such as declawing, cat food, spaying/neutering, etc. I would have vastly prefered a more dispassionate discussion of the pros and cons of these issues rather than Ms. Hotchner's one-sided opinions.

Good but it lacks some schematic drawings of a cat's anatomy.

Sandra

This is a handy-dandy guide to almost everything you need to know about your cat. It covers everything from kitten behavior to most common medical problems. If you're looking for a guide specifically on how to raise a kitten or what to do in a medical emergency, I'd go with something else. This is more of a guide on basic questions you might have for your cat. It covers a lot of areas , but nothing too terribly in depth. I recommend it for general feline questions.

The author has very strongly stated opinions, but she is not always consistent. For example: she goes through a list of all the "bad" things that can be found in cat food, then gives a list of "recommended" brands and flavors. One of the recommended flavors--which happened to be the only one I had on my shelf--is full of the "bad" and has none of the "good" ingredients she talked about.

The author claims that "The Cat Bible" is all-inclusive. However, she intentionally does not address the issues of pregnancy and birth because she feels that ALL cats should be neutered with the exception of purebred breeding stock. (p. 321) I love cats, but I don't particularly want to own a purebred cat. The book definitely does not help me with the care of the pregnant stray I just took in.

I'm sure there is a lot of good information in this book. However, I would want confirmation from another source rather taking taking this literally as my "Cat Bible." Therefore, I feel that this has been a waste of money.

I found this book to be the most comprehensive cat care reference tool I've ever read. The glossary is extremely well organized, helpful and time-saving.

Whoa. I am a cat lover. In fact, I am a lover of all animals. Anyone who "gives away" their animals, as far as I'm concerned, might as well be abandoning their children. And that's why I cannot recommend this book.
On page 252, Hotchner blithely discusses giving away 2 cats, Bert and Ernie, after acquiring a third dog. Huh? This is the same woman who chides the reader for not understanding that a cat is a 10 to 20 year commitment? I don't get it.
Well, apparently she acquired a puppy, which then created a pack mentality among the dogs. "So I gave the cats to a friend."
She was about as emotional as discussing discarding day-old bread.
So the cats had been living happily with your two dogs before you brought a new puppy into the home? Wouldn't it make sense to find the relatively emotionally unattached puppy a new home rather than destroying the lives of your two devoted cats?
Bottom line: I wonder if the DVM who endorsed this book thoroughly digested that heartbreaking nugget...ditto the humane society endorser.
The subhead of this book should be altered to read: Everything your Cat Expects You to Know: Please don't Abandon Me. I will Bond to You. I need to Know You are There for Me forever.
If someone writes a "Cat Bible" it would help if 1) they actually had credentials in the veterinary field and b) they actually liked cats.

Being a cat lover, I also love books about cats. This one has lots of great information and is a handy reference. Well written and logically ordered.

This is an excellent source of information for anyone sharing a home with a cat/cats. They are NOT just small dogs, but have a unique, completely different personality. Dogs are pack animals, cats are not. This simple difference explains volumes! Spraying, peeing on a comforter may have nothing to do with the cleanliness of the litter pan. Lots of information!!

Demystified my cats and helps me when they are behaving strangely/not feeling well.
Indespensable.