The Cat's Meow, a book review

I read a good book this week. “The Complete Cat’s Meow: everything you need to know about caring for your cat” by Darlene Arden is written with a light, engaging style that feels as if the author is talking directly to you. It is an excellent cat care guide but even more it is a totally readable book. What I mean by that is you could use it simply as a guide book referring to it only in need or you could read it cover to cover just like a storybook. I recommend reading it through to get all the information the author can offer.

What I really liked about this book is the way it follows the needs of a cat in a chronological fashion from kittenhood to the adult. The author has done her research talking with breeders, veterinarians, behaviorists, nutritionists and trainers to get the best information out there for the cat owner. As a veterinary technician I am especially impressed with the way she discussed vaccines and the diseases they protect against. I liked the section that dealt with many of the diseases that affect cats although she did leave out one condition, hyperthyroidism. I may have to blog on that in the future since my own cat Lady suffers from that condition. Arden also included a section on many of the more popular and the less well-known cat breeds using information garnered from people who know the breeds best. Most interestingly she included mixed breed cats among the breeds, definitely a plus in my opinion.

The author takes us on a journey that includes choosing a kitten, introducing a new cat/kitten, cat behavior & nutrition, a list of feline diseases and ways to train a cat. Though she uses the example of raising pedigreed cats she treats it in a way that is useful for the person who is raising mixed breeds and rescues. Included in the center of the book is a selection of full-color prints of lovely cats. In the back of the book is a good list of references including a list of sources for shopping for cat toys and supplies, a list of websites that provide information about cat care and finally an index that is easily explored.

I read a lot of cat books but keep very few, this one, however, will be staying on my bookshelf. “The Complete Cat’s Meow” is a great addition to any cat book library.