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Cat behaviour

If you want to buy a book, clicking on the book cover will take you directly to that book on the Amazon.co.uk web site.

See also:
Cats: General
Cats: Single breeds
Cats: Behaviour
Cats: Health and nutrition
Cats: Fiction dealing with cats
Books on Animal Behaviour including Animal Coginition
Click here to see some stamps with cats on

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Cat vs. Cat: Keeping Peace When You Have More Than One Cat [Paperback]

Cat vs Cat is a very handy book for people with more than one cat. You may think you have seen it all, but introducing a new cat can bring about unexpectedly difficult situations. Here you have help with both preventing and tackling problems that can arise when cats don't get along. Please read this book before you decide to bring home a darling kitten to keep your existing cat company, or to take on more than one cat for any reason. It can save you a lot of head scratching ...!

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The Secret Life of Your Cat: The Visual Guide to All Your Cat's Behaviour [Hardcover]

Vicky Halls 
Hamlyn (4 Oct 2010)
ISBN-10: 0600621383
ISBN-13: 978-0600621386

 
"The Secret Life of your Cat" is beautifully written and illustrated, and is a joy to read, as well as bringing insights into what your cat is up to. Understanding your cat better can help you with with forming a more harmonious relationship with your feline companion, as Vicky Halls explains. She has many years experience as a Pet Behaviour Counsellor, tackling behaviour problems in cats, so she well knows that prevention is better than cure. Personally I just love this book for the very expressively feline illustrations.

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The Cat Behaviour Answer Book: Practical Insights and Proven Solutions for Your Feline Questions

The Cat Behavior Answer is especially useful for people who have indoor cats, because it is American, and in the US, owners often have to keep their cats indoors, because of dangers from large carnivores like coyotes, and from large feral cat populations. This means that the book is especially geared to people with indoor cats, which can behave in different ways from outdoor cats, or cats given the freedom to come and go as they please. There is plenty of advice about dealing with feline stresses, cats that make a lot of noise, toileting problems, and other behavioural issues that are perhaps more common among indoor cats.

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cat detective

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Cat Detective

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Cat Counsellor

The latest from Vicky Halls, and another gem for those who love to explore the mind of the cat. Vicky provides important insights into how the feline/human relationship has changed and grown over the centuries. Each section looks at the different problems that can occur in the relationship supported as usual, by detailed and intriguing case studies. The book also includes the results of a nationwide relationship survey and the findings are fascinating.

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Getting in TTouch with Your Cat

This book explains the use of Tellington TTouch, a special method of touch that can be used on cats to influence health and behaviour, as well as strengthening the bond between cats and humans. The specific Tellington TTouch movements are all explained in detail and there are beautiful photographs that demonstrate each touch. This lovely book is a must for cat owners, and indeed, anyone involved in the animal profession, such as groomers, rescue workers and vets.

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Communicating with your cat

This is more than just a book about cat behaviour and problem solving; it delves deep into the psyche of the cat to give you a greater understanding of your pet. It gives an insight into the body and vocal languages of the cat, enabling you to understand and resolve problem behaviours and also to teach your cat essential behaviours such as using a litter tray, staying out of no go areas, such as cookers, and getting used to the dreaded cat carrier – normally associated with a trip to the vets! Excellent book for those owners who want to better understand their cat and who want to resolve existing problem behaviours or teach new desirable behaviours.

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Why Cats Do That

This is a delightful little book for both new and seasoned cat owners alike. Quirky cat behaviours are presented in a factual but lighthearted way and there are attractive illustrations throughout. Obviously written by a cat lover and more to the point a cat watcher. It’s a quick read, but nevertheless informative. Cat behaviours are presented in a question and answer form, and even experienced cat owners would benefit from keeping this in their libraries of cat volumes. It would also be suitable for older children, as an introduction to cat behaviour, because it is presented in a jargon-free and often humorous style. You could just dip in and read one or two facts, but you’ll probably find you won’t be able to put it down until you’ve gone on to read the lot.

Review by Gillian Harvey

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Cat Confidential: The Book Your Cat Would Want You To Read

Vicky Halls is a well-known cat behaviour specialist and in this book she discusses all sorts of odd behaviours (both cat and human!), and gives practical advice and methods on how to resolve feline behavioural issues. Anecdotes about her own cats are nicely interspersed with the fascinating professional case studies. Vicky believes in adapting a programme of behavioural reform to suit the particular cat, rather than offering a single standard programme for resolving a behavioural issue, which is refreshing, and her methods help cat owners achieve a better understanding of their feline friends. This book goes beyond the usual problem solving and delves into the bond between people and their cats. Highly recommended.

Review by Gillian Harvey

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Twisted Whiskers: Solving Your Cat's Behavior Problems

This book is a very readable guide to feline behaviour problems, with insights from ethology. That means that many traits which annoy owners are explained in terms of what cats like to do, because they are cats. The advice to owners on how best to tackle problems such as aggression, is guided by what fits in with feline instincts, or what cats are programmed to do. There is also useful help with toilet training and spraying, and there is some good advice on introducing new cats to households which already have resident cats.

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Understanding Cat Behaviour

Cat behaviour authority Roger Tabor provides an insight into how cats think, in this fascinating book. It covers subjects such as the senses, territory, hunting behaviour, play and learning and the human cat relationship. It also looks at some common behavioural problems and solutions, and there are many delightful photographs throughout.

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The Cat Who Cried for Help

Nicholas Dodman
Bantam Books
ISBN 0 553 37854 6

Dr Dodman discusses some of the cases of problem behaviour in cats he has treated at the behaviour clinic of Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. He uses case studies to illustrate his points, and demonstrates that problem cats can be treated successfully using up to date breakthroughs in feline nutrition, behaviour modification and pharmacology. There is quite an emphasis on the use of drugs to treat behaviour problems, but in many cases they are either a last resort, or used in conjunction with other treatments.

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Why Does My Cat?

Sarah Heath
Souvenir Press
ISBN 0 285 63542 2

This book will give pleasure to cat owners who want to understand their pets' behavioural quirks. The book is divided into three sections. The first deals with general issues relating to behaviour, including diet and the environment, and the second with normal cat behaviour, and how this is affected by domestication. The third section deals with with specific cat problems and accounts for about two thirds of the book. This section is arranged in alphabetical order, by topic, such as 'fear aggression', and 'phobias'. Old age, and other aspects of cat care are also covered. The book is well written and is very funny in parts. Non cat lovers may wonder why we put up with some of the behaviour described, but cats have a special magic and dignity that is all their own, which is captured by this book.

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Manual of Feline Behaviour

Valerie O'Farrell and Peter Neville
British Small Animal Veterinary Association
ISBN 0 905 214 24 2

This is intended as manual for veterinary surgeons, but it is written in such a way that would appeal to many others, such as animal nurses wishing to specialise or animal behaviour students. Cat owners who wish to have a better understanding of their cat's behaviour will also benefit from reading this book. It first considers normal feline behaviour and then goes on to discuss the diagnosis and treatment of behavioural problems, incorporating interesting case studies.

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The Domestic Cat The Biology of its Behaviour (Second Edition)

Editors Dennis Turner & Patrick Bateson
Cambridge University Press
ISBN 0 521 63648 5

This second edition (2000) incorporates new research, results and theoretical ideas into the various reviews which were first published in 1988. It covers behavioural development, social life, predatory behaviour and the human-cat relationship. It aims to be an up to date reference source for vets and zoologists, as well as cat owners and breeders. Each chapter is self contained and there are many references to previous studies and the authors of those studies throughout, which, while of great interest to professionals, can be a bit irritating to the more general reader. However, it is worth persevering because the book is a mine of information and will be of great use to both those studying cat behaviour, and the general reader.

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The Behaviour of the Domestic Cat

John W.S. Bradshaw
CABI Publishing
ISBN 0 85198 715X

This book about cat behaviour begins with the physiological, developmental and psychological aspects, following on with chapters about social behaviour, welfare and interactions with people. There are references to scientific literature at the end of the book which avoids the numerous citations throughout the text which other books like this often include. The book will be of use to students of cat behaviour, but will also appeal to the general reader with an interest in cats.

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Is Your Cat Crazy?

John C. Wright and Judi Wright Lashnits
MacMillan
ISBN 0028608380

Animal care students will find a great deal to interest them in this book, which presents case studies for readers to think about, before explaining the solution that the authors decided on. It's also gripping enough for non-specialist cat owners, who want to gain new insights into cat behaviour. There is also general advice on how to deal with and prevent cat behavioural problems.

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The Perfect Kitten

Peter Neville and Claire Bessant are highly respected in the field of cat behaviour, and here they set out guidelines for bringing up kitties, based on the latest research. This book is beautifully illustrated, as well as being full of practical advice. This is a very gentle and helpful introduction to the more theoretical aspects of cat behaviour, which should be required reading for anyone taking on a cat.

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The Cat Whisperer

 

Claire Bessant is a highly respected cat behaviour expert, despite this trendy title! Much of this book covers the same ground as her earlier book 'How To Talk To Your Cat' - though if you enjoy her work, it's still worth getting both books. She is very good at explaining complex ideas in a way that is easy to understand, and you can pick up far more from twenty minutes dipping into her easy-to-read explanations than from spending two hours on some weightier tomes. Her books are a great help for frustrated owners, and give pleasure to owners who are happy with their cats, but would just like to understand them a bit better.

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The Nine Emotional Lives of Cats

Jeffrey Masson's enchanting book is written from the heart, and here he talks about his life with cats in a deeply personal account which rings true in a way that every cat owner will recognize. Masson has already studied emotion in other animals, and here he focuses on Love, Contentment, Jealousy, Curiosity and other emotions he sees in his cats. This is a feel-good book, which also teaches you a lot about your feline companion.

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