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Book Review of Cat Sense: How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet

Cat Sense: How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet
maura853 avatar reviewed on + 542 more book reviews


Full disclosure: I am only one frowning husband away from being a Crazy Cat Lady. Cats have been part of my life since a stray moved in to the family home when I was about 10 years old, and together we turned my heretofore dog-loving parents. I've never had more than two cats at a time -- always siblings who just about got on with each other -- but that's not to say I haven't been tempted.

This is the book for anyone who wants to understand more about those wonderful fluffy bundles of contrariness and rampant ego who have taken over our hearts, and are working on taking over the Internet. Some reviewers have complained that it is drier and more scientific than they expected, but I liked that -- the conjectures on the inner workers of cats' minds, their instincts and behaviours, is backed up by observation, rather than (what you would get from me) blind love at how cute and clever they are.

This is nicely balanced by the author's clear affection for his subjects: the science is back up by anecdotes about cats he has known and loved. For me, each chapter had a least one moment when I thought "so that's why they do that!" Scientific, yes, but dry, no.