What I love about cats is that they are all so different: Cats can be cuddly, aloof, feisty, or playful. They can have long hair or short hair, or stripes or swirls in their fur. Some have no fur at all! And every cat has their own unique personality. Learning about cats can help you become a better friend to them. Getting to know a new cat is like reading a new book. Each has a different story. I hope this book helps you learn more about cats and encourages you to get to know them. Most of all, I hope you make some new feline friends!

Cats have been popular household pets for thousands of years, and their numbers only continue to rise. Today there are three cats for every dog on the planet, and yet cats remain more mysterious, even to their most adoring owners. Unlike dogs, cats evolved as solitary hunters, and, while many have learned to live alongside humans and even feel affection for us, they still don’t quite “get us” the way dogs do, and perhaps they never will. But cats have rich emotional lives that we need to respect and understand if they are to thrive in our company. In Cat Sense, renowned anthrozoologist John Bradshaw takes us further into the mind of the domestic cat than ever before, using cutting-edge scientific research to dispel the myths and explain the true nature of our feline friends. Tracing the cat’s evolution from lone predator to domesticated companion, Bradshaw shows that although cats and humans have been living together for at least eight thousand years, cats remain independent, predatory, and wary of contact with their own kind, qualities that often clash with our modern lifestyles. Cats still have three out of four paws firmly planted in the wild, and within only a few generations can easily revert back to the independent way of life that was the exclusive preserve of their predecessors some 10,000 years ago. Cats are astonishingly flexible, and given the right environment they can adapt to a life of domesticity with their owners—but to continue do so, they will increasingly need our help. If we’re to live in harmony with our cats, Bradshaw explains, we first need to understand their inherited quirks: understanding their body language, keeping their environments—however small—sufficiently interesting, and becoming more proactive in managing both their natural hunting instincts and their relationships with other cats. A must-read for any cat lover, Cat Sense offers humane, penetrating insights about the domestic cat that challenge our most basic assumptions and promise to dramatically improve our pets’ lives—and ours.

Pamper your pet while you save money by doing it yourself! This book shows you how to build inexpensive, functional accessories to make your home a pet paradise. DIY Projects for Cats and Dogs presents 20 simple projects that you can make in just a weekend, without any advanced skills or special tools. From a cat tree and a hide-away litter box to bowl stands, leash racks, and a Scandinavian bed platform, these stylish structures will take care of your pet's needs while preserving your interior décor. Built and pet-tested by the authors in their own home, each imaginative creation features step-by-step instructions, materials lists, and inspirational color photographs. Inside DIY Projects for Cats and Dogs Functional yet stylish furniture and accessories to make for your cat or dog. 20 simple DIY projects that anyone can make in one weekend without special skills. Save money by doing it yourself with scrap wood, simple materials, and basic tools. Modern, decorative designs let you show your love for your animals while embellishing your home. Step-by-step instructions, materials lists, and inspirational color photographs. Projects include litter boxes, dog house, bowl stands, bed platforms, travel basket, cat tree, leash rack, bedside table cabin, and more.

A fun and informative handbook for young readers on understanding and caring for our feline friends from the kid behind the popular Twitter account I’ve Pet That Cat! Pet That Cat! A Handbook for Making Feline Friends is an illustrated guide to understanding, befriending, and caring for cats by Nigel Kidd and his mom, Rachel Braunigan. This fact-filled and fun guide features: • A guide to cat body language—what does it mean when your cat’s tail looks like a question mark or is puffed up? • Helpful tips on how to safely interact with new feline friends. Hint: Let them approach first! • Advice for adopting and caring for your own cat. Choose the perfect cat for you! • Stories of cats throughout history and myth-busting facts—did you know every cat has a unique noseprint? • A cat personality quiz and your very own Cat Tracker to record all the feline friends you meet! This kid-friendly handbook pairs charming illustrations with an interactive format. With step-by-step guides, fascinating stories, and tips from cat experts and Nigel, Pet That Cat! is a must-have handbook for feline fans of all ages. And for dog-lovers and kids curious about dogs, check out Pet That Dog! A Handbook for Making Four-Legged Friends.

Foreword by Susan Orlean A charming facsimile edition of celebrated British illustrator Lucy Dawson’s 1937 classic collection of highly detailed and loveable drawings of dogs, complete with a cloth spine and ribbon marker—the companion volume to the acclaimed Dogs As I See Them. Lucy Dawson, also known as "Mac," was a preeminent British illustrator in the 1930s and 1940s revered for her paintings and etchings of dogs, from sporting and non-sporting breeds to hounds and herders. Though she worked in numerous mediums—pencil, pen, ink, and oil—her pastels set her work apart. Noted for her commercial dog postcards and her delightful "Tailwagger" series, she also created a "Puppies" series of 40 cigarette cards during World War II—produced in a limited quantity due to wartime restrictions on paper—which have become a rare collector’s item today. One of her most famous works is her portrait of "Dookie," the British Royal Family’s favorite Corgie, which was later reproduced as a Royal Family Christmas card. Dawson also published several books, including the beloved Dogs As I See Them, and its follow-up, Dogs Rough and Smooth. Now, Dogs Rough and Smooth is available in a lovely facsimile edition for a new generation discovering her superb craftsmanship. Printed on an uncoated stock that simulates the look and feel of a sketchbook, this delightful volume is filled with her beautiful, endearing drawings of a range of breeds. The illustrations are accompanied by notes in Dawson’s own handwriting as well as a short anecdotal text that provides amusing insight into the personalities of her canine models and the experience of drawing each. A stunning reproduction of this classic work filled with full-color and black-and-white complete drawings and sketches, Dogs Rough and Smooth features a foreword by acclaimed writer Susan Orlean, and is packaged in a three-piece case with a beautiful cloth spine and long ribbon bookmark. Dogs Rough and Smooth is sure to be a collector's item treasured by dog lovers of all ages and art connoisseurs for years to come.

This title includes additional digital media when purchased in print format. For this digital book edition, media content is not included. - World-renowned author Dr. Karen Overall is a leading veterinary behavior specialist and a founding member of the board of clinical specialists, a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behavior, certified by the Animal Behavior Society as an Applied Animal Behaviorist, and one of The Bark magazine's 100 most influential people in the dog world. - Companion DVD includes a 30-minute video of the author demonstrating techniques for correcting and preventing canine behavior problems, and provides handouts to assist the pet owner with behavioral modification techniques. - Supplemental material includes 45 client handouts, 12 informed consent forms, and 5 questionnaires that help you zero in on the pet's behavior. - Hundreds of images illustrate important techniques and key concepts. - Tables and boxes summarize key assessment information, behavioral cues, and pharmacologic management.

"Meet, love, and care for your new best friend"--Cover.

At last—a beginner’s guide to feline technology! The cat parent’s guide to common kitty quirks and what they really mean—featuring useful diagrams and hilarious insights! Scratch marks on your furniture. Dead mice on your doorstep. Stray hairs all over your clothes. It’s enough to make you cry out, “Why doesn’t my cat have an owner’s manual?” And now—finally!—she does. Through step-by-step instructions and helpful schematic diagrams, The Cat Owner’s Manual explores hundreds of frequently asked questions: • Which breeds interface best with dogs? • How can I maintain a quality exterior finish? • And why does my model always drink from the bathtub? Whatever your concerns, you’ll find the answers here—courtesy of celebrated veterinarian Dr. David Brunner and acclaimed author Sam Stall. Together, they provide plenty of useful advice for both new and experienced cat owners.

Dr. Marty Becker has become known as "America's Veterinarian" because of his educational and entertaining shows and columns. For more than ten years, Dr. Becker has been the popular veterinary contributor to ABC-TV's Good Morning America and is now a member of Core Team Oz on Dr. Mehmet Oz's show. Dr. Becker will help owners solve problems and enhance their bond with their cats through a tip-filled book on everything from finding the right cat to preventing health problems and bad behavior. He will start owners off on the right foot, whether they buy a kitten or adopt an older cat, showing them how to solve the most annoying behavior and cat-care problems--from scratching furniture to not using the litter-box. (Surprising fact: did you know that black cats shed more than light-colored cats?) And he advises owners how to make their own cat toys, and how to save money on medication, both traditional and alternative.

For more than a quarter century, How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend has been the standard against which all other dog-training books have been measured. This expanded edition preserves the best features of the original classic while bringing the book fully up-to-date. The result: the ultimate training manual for a new generation of dog owners--and, of course, for their canine best friends. The Monks of New Skete have achieved international renown as breeders of German shepherds and as outstanding trainers of dogs of all breeds. Their unique approach to canine training, developed and refined over four decades, is based on the philosophy that "understanding is the key to communication, compassion, and communion" with your dog. How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend covers virtually every aspect of living with and caring for your dog, including: Selecting a dog (what breed? male? female? puppy or older dog?) to fit your lifestyle Where to get--and where not to get--a dog Reading a pedigree Training your dog or puppy--when, where, and how The proper use of praise and discipline Feeding, grooming, and ensuring your dog's physical fitness Recognizing and correcting canine behavioral problems The particular challenges of raising a dog where you live - in the city, country, or suburb The proper techniques for complete care of your pet at every stage of his or her life In its scope, its clarity, and its authority, How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend remains unrivaled as a basic training guide for dog owners. Like no other book, this guide can help you understand and appreciate your dog's nature as well as his or her distinct personality--and in so doing, it can significantly enrich the life you share with your dog.