In this section I’d like to review some of the books I own on my favorite topic; cats.
However, this list is not as complete as I’d like it to be, as some of the books I’d like to discuss are or were published in Dutch or German only.
It would make no sense to discuss these books here when the majority of the visitors of this page could not read them.
If you can, however, read Dutch or German, please visit the Dutch version of this page for a more extensive list of readings.
If you have any suggestions on material everyone should read, don’t hesitate to send me an email!
Because I am always on the lookout for new books myself, expect this page to be forever "under construction"!

 

	Cat Confidential - Vicky Halls (2004) If you ask me, this book should be owned by anyone who loves cats. Vicky uses several cases (from her private life as well as her work as a behavioral therapist) to illustrate how and why some behavioral problems may occur in our cats. She also shows that solutions can be simple as long as we take the nature of our cats into account. The book is written in a clear, amusing style. Through use of clear examples the writer gives you insight into the psyche of the animal. It becomes apparent that we, as owners, are often completely unaware of how we could make our cats happier. It turns out that quite a few of us have quite a twisted outlook on our pets. This book wasn’t exactly an eye opener for me, however I’ve heard many people say that it had been just that for them.
	Cat Detective – Vicky Halls (2006) If you’ve read “Cat Confidential” by this author it is likely that it has made you curious. Regardless, it seems obvious that after its tremendous success the first book needed a sequel. In “Cat Detective” the writer again uses actual cases to clarify certain problems in the relationships we have with our cats. In comparison to the prequel, this book focuses less on the anecdotal stories and more on the analyses of the problems and the thinking of solutions for them. If you’ve read the first book it probably won’t be all that surprising that problems often have their root in the (expectations of) the owners, but it’s once again subtly brought to the attention. In this book there is also a lot of focus on multi-cat-households and indoor-only cats, topics that should ring a bell with people who are involved in purebred cats. However, this book will probably be interesting for every cat owner regardless of the amount of cats he/she owns.
	Cat Counsellor – Vicky Halls (2006) For everyone who is by now sort of addicted to this series or to the knowledge attained from it (or if you already understood your feline perfectly well but just couldn’t help smiling at all those familiar misunderstandings) this third book will be your cup of tea again. In “Cat Counsellor” the writer tries to find the origins of the emotional bonds between cats and their people. Again, this book shows us how we can obtain amazing results simply by changing the way we interact with our cats. This book is once more full of fascinating cases on all the relationships our cats engage in, including those with other household pets that are not of the feline persuasion. After having read the other two books I must honestly admit I sort of ran out of patience with this one, as it is more of the same. If that is what you expect you won’t be disappointed though and I would recommend you this book!
	The True Nature of the Cat -John Bradshaw (1993) Biologist John Bradshaw has been one of Britain’s foremost experts on cat behaviour for years on end, and just this book already proves why; using experiments and referring to or quoting from scientific studies, he carefully constructs a picture of the cat’s senses, language, intelligence, instincts and behaviours, to help us see the world from the cat’s point of view. The book tries to explain what it is really like to be a cat, by taking the information previously only known to biologists to a wider audience. Especially considering this book was first published in 1993, it was well ahead of its time, and raised the bar for all books on cat behaviour on the market even now – a bar only very few can even touch on if you ask me. If you’re looking for facts on cat behaviour, more than theories or stories, while still presented in a readable, well written fashion, this is the book for you – because while it’s based on science, it doesn’t loose its entertainment value for one minute either. A lovely, valuable book for the dedicated cat owner, and probably my favourite one currently on my shelves.
	Why is my Cat Doing That? -Sarah Heath (2009) <latest addition> Sarah Heath is another one of Britain's foremost feline behavioural experts, and with this book she tries to offer an insight into our cats' thoughts. The richly illustrated book appears to be very light reading as each bit of text just explains what is shown in the beautiful images, but in fact there are some very substantial things to learn from it. Topics discussed include the matriarchal nature of cat society, social animals vs. solitary hunters, interaction with other cats, humans and dogs, scent marking, emotional responses, hunting, toileting behaviour, threats to daily perceived security, importance of play and much more, all clearly illustrated by pictures of cats displaying various emotions. In this way Heath not only manages to explain the theory behind feline responses and behaviours, but actually manages to show what they look like in practice, so you won't be able to miss them when your own cats display them. Lovely, useful book, a must-have!
	Why does my Cat ...? -Sarah Heath (1993) A much earlier book by Sarah Heath, but in fact every bit as valuable, is "Why does my cat...?". Amazingly enough, this book offers a more in depth understanding of cat behaviour than the more recent Halls series, and could be seen as a predecessor for Vicky's later books on this topic. Even the chosen form is similar; the book is hardly illustrated at all, but is kept readable by offering cases and solutions; only instead of cases out of the daily practice of a behaviourist, Heath uses a question and answer format. In a way it is quite sad to see how relevant the book still is; questions posed in it are still posed today, while obviously the answers have been available for nearly two decades already. To me, that indicates this is a must-read for every cat owner. It is not the holy grail though; I was disappointed to see benching being offered as a solution to some problems, as well as the spray bottle. Still, a very instructive book overall.
	The Character of Cats – Stephen Budiansky (2002) This book by Stephen Budiansky might not be quite as amusing and accessible as the books by Halls but it is every bit as informative. In “The Character of Cats” he writes about the origins, intelligence, ability to learn, the use of play and training, emotions, body language and the character of cats. He supports his findings with recent scientific facts. Even though the book has a serious tone to it in general, the style of writing is light and often ironic. It is admirable how the author has been able to make a logical and readable story out of all the various topics. There wasn’t much I didn’t like about the book, although I did find some weaknesses, one being the personality test for cats. As could be expected, none of my cats would be classified as being one or another type of cat. However I think this book is a valuable source of information for anyone who is seriously interested in the behavioral aspects of cats and for the ones who are still trying to understand the basic principles of cat behavior.
	The Secret Life of Cats – Claire Bessant (2006) This book is a combination of two of the author’s previous books; Cat Whisperer and What Cats Want. Even though I haven’t read the above, I still feel like this book doesn’t add much to the current repertoire on this topic. Even though the author may be the chief executive of FAB, this doesn’t make her an authority on cat behaviour; experience is not exact science. Lack of references to studies supporting her claims and a lot of “it may be that...”, “perhaps” and “maybe” only make matters worse. The author obviously loves cats and she is approaching her subject with great kindness, however, I feel her solutions for certain behaviours aren’t always as cat friendly as seem to be at first glance. Apart from this, the book is very repetitive, making you feel like the author is underestimating your intelligence. Throughout the book, she also seems to go on and on about dog behaviour in comparison to cat behaviour. If this were a book about cats and dogs that might have been appropriate, however, in a book that is supposed to be about cats, after a while it becomes a little tiring. Don’t get me wrong; I feel this is a still good book on cat behaviour, I just feel there are better ones out there. For dog people trying to understand cats, this might be a good buy, to others, I’d recommend Bradshaw, Heath or the Halls series before this one.
	This is the Russian Blue – Ingeborg Urcia (1983) I probably won’t have to explain why this book is in my list of recommended reading when you know it is one of a very small number of books ever written on this breed. This in itself makes it a must-have for anyone who is seriously dedicated to this breed. Even though it dates back to 1983 which means it is outdated on multiple fronts, the writer still managed to deliver a book that is of lasting value. She describes the history of the breed in the US as well as the UK, and provides names and pedigrees of the cats that were at the foundation of the Russian Blue in America, which can still be found in our lines today. Having been a well respected breeder of Russians (Katzenburg cattery), she also writes about the general care, exterior traits, temperament, genetics and showing of the Russian Blue, sets criteria on which to base the selection of breeding cats and much more. The pictures are predominantly full-color and show many cats that we only know from old pedigrees.
	The Russian Blue Cat – Ingeborg Urcia This book is in my list for the same reasons as the former; however nowadays it is almost impossible to obtain it at a fair price. It is no longer in print and very much sought after as it is, again, one of the few books on this breed. The added value of this book to “This is the Russian Blue” is solely in the many written pedigrees and the more elaborate description of the history of this breed that this book provides. This book clearly shows how come the Russian is so oriental in type in the States when compared to the cats in the UK and mainland Europe, and shows that the breed is based on a much smaller genetic base over there. The book also names the catteries that have had a major influence on the development of the Russian Blue in the US. It is a great book to have in your collection if you can get it at a decent price, however, in my opinion you’ll be satisfied borrowing it from another enthusiast, especially if you already own Urcia’s first book on this breed.
	Russian Blue Cat – Dennis Kelsey-Wood (2002) I received this book as a gift from my friend Yasmin. I'm very grateful for this addition to my collection. The book contains a lot of the breed's history, describing its development in Europe as well as Australia and the USA.The writer names a few of the pioneer breeders, explains the differences in standards and the subsequent differences in type worldwide, and makes some opinionated statements about the colors and Nebelung. All in all very well done. It is a big shame that he also makes some massive mistakes trying to explain the genetics of the Russian colors, turning the RB into a self chocolate (aabb), stating the gene d in itself causes a cat to be blue and completely forgetting the need of a B gene next to aa to create a self black cat. As this book was published in 2002, these mistakes are unforgivable. However, the basic (health) care guidelines which are provided are good, as well as the advice given on breeding and exhibiting Russian Blues. The book is illustrated with many full-color pictures, some if which made my skin crawl as the cats and kittens in a lot of them look unhealthy and very stressed. Great information about, poor image of, the breed.
	Cat training in 10 minutes – Miriam Fields-Babineau  I am aware of the fact that the word “training”, when used in the same sentence as the word “cat” will likely send shivers down many a cat owners’ spine. “Training” tends to imply a certain submissiveness, which we identify with dogs much more than we do with cats. However, cats need challenges; it’s in a cat’s nature to stay busy, to work for its own food. Training cats is not so much about teaching a cat tricks as it is about stimulating your cat in a way that comes naturally and that keeps them happy. The writer of this book (a professional animal trainer for the movie industry) gives a clear explanation on the reasons for training and provides a step-by-step tutorial on teaching your cat wanted behavior and preventing it from displaying unwanted behavior by a system of reward (with food or clicker). Try it, you’ll see it works and the cats have fun at it too!
	Robinson’s Genetics for Cat Breeders and Veterinarians This book is the real deal, some serious reading! Definitely not easy to read, it might be a little too much for the absolute novice. It doesn’t help that it’s only available in English. However, if you’re fairly equipped in English and if you have good knowledge of basic genetics, than this book is an outstanding source of information. The 4th print has been completely revised and is only based on the most recent findings. This book is written by some of the most renowned specialists in their field; Lorraine Shelton, Carolyn Vella, John Mc Gonagle and Terry Stanglein. Topics are amongst others reproduction and development, inheritance, breeding systems, inbreeding and genetic defects. A book you want to be able to have at hand while seriously engaging in this fantastic hobby.
	The Book of the Cat – Spectrum Many authors have added to this book to create as complete a book as possible. And complete, it is. “The Book of the Cat” is also one of those classics which are no longer in print but which are very much sought after- and with reason. The occasional copy can still be found online and in second-hand bookstores. The book discusses almost every thinkable topic; from origins and breeds, to genetics, to anatomy, to buying and caring for your cat, to illnesses, to breeding and exhibiting cats. The book is extensively illustrated with drawings, full-color photos and diagrams. Even though it was published in 1980 and is outdated here and there, it is a jewel and for the most part, it is still a good source of information. The information on pregnancy and birth are valuable for novice breeders (as long as you ignore the suggested nutrients for weaning the little ones). I’d well recommend it.
	Complete Cat Care Manual From the renowned and experienced vet, honorary member of FAB and former president of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, dr. Andrew Edney, and strongly endorsed by the RSPCA, comes this extensive manual on cat care. In my opinion, it comes fairly close to being the new "book of the cat", discussing topics like origin and domestication, physical traits and language, basic care, correct feeding, bathing and grooming, problematic behaviour, breeding, nursing and showing. The most valuable part of this book however is found in the health and first aid sections which take up about a third of the book - without claiming to be a substitute for veterinary care, it helps you to recognize various disorders and determine the correct actions to take, as well as offering methods of prevention. The first aid techniques offered should be known to any cat owner, anywhere. On top of all this content, the layout and illustrations of this book are downright beautiful, making the whole a delightful read.
	The ultimate cat book – David Taylor This book is in fact a very rich illustrated encyclopedia of breeds with some added information on general care, reproduction, showing, origins and physical attributes. When it comes to written information this book is nothing special. The book in total is very special though, and this is due to the amazing photography. It contains over 750 spectacular, full-color pictures. More than 100 cat breeds and varieties are portrayed against a white background, so without any distracting elements, and printed on high quality paper. When I was a little girl I would return to the library every month to borrow this book and I would dream away at the looks of the Sacred Birman and the Snowshoe. This book and my appreciation of it back then are the reasons I don’t have to take a peek at my catalogue to identify cat breeds when walking around in a show hall. My taste in breeds might have changed; I still appreciate this book the same. Pretty, pretty, pretty!
	Cats – Don Harper This book has obviously been set up as a guide for the inexperienced cat owner, who will be reintroduced to this species. The book contains information about origins, domestication, character, selective breeding, development, trends and temperament in breeds, stray cats and resulting issues, anatomy and senses, behavior and body language, reproduction, kittens, acquiring a cat, nutrition and care, the importance of play, creating a safe and harmonious environment, illnesses and parasites. It is remarkable how much of the available space is used to discuss behavioral issues. Even though I can’t agree with all the solutions that are given, I must say it is refreshing to see that the author often refers to behavioral therapists when ready made solutions can’t be offered. There is even one chapter completely dedicated to where to find such a therapist and when one should be consulted. The book is colorful, playful and very suitable for newbies of any age.
	The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Cat Breeds – Angela Rixon This encyclopedia consists of an introduction, in which history, anatomy, physiology, and psychology of the cat are discussed and a breed part. All parts are generously illustrated with pictures that clarify terms used in breeding. The breeds are separated into five groups; shorthaired, longhaired, semi-longhaired, oriental and semi-oriental breeds. Every breed description includes a description of the general breed standard. (With f.i. the Russian the differences between Europe and the US are pointed out). Most breed descriptions include one or more pictures of the possible varieties. It is obvious that the makers tried to create a second “the ultimate cat book” but sadly, they didn't succeed. The pictures are clearly “cut out” and although they’re nice, they’re rather low in quality. I had to frown at the drawings of the cats that are meant to clarify the standard of points; the illustrator failed miserably to portray these cats in a realistic way. Instead of adding to the book, the drawings break it down completely. Quite a shame.
	Cats: 99 lives Well, what can I say – cats and art, cat art and cat myths, cat myths and cat history - and COLOR -,how could I not like this book? 99 memorable cat lives are lovingly described in this book, from holy cats to cats owned by celebrities to orinary moggies that did very special things. Over 140 pictures and illustrations by the world’s most famous artists add to the artistic and imaginative portrayal of our feline friends. The stories about the mystical creatures are revealed in words and images, telling tales about their secret lives throughout the ages, from Ancient Egypt to the present. It is a no-nonsense book for a lazy Sunday afternoon, and yet so very inspiring that I couldn’t help but get my canvas and brushes out after flipping through it.
	Cat – Andrew Edney In “Cat” you’ll find many depictions of cats from every era and style known to art history, from the bronze Bast statues of Ancient Egypt to Da Vinci to contemporary artists like David Hockney. All cats are representred, lions and tigers, tabby moggies ans Siamese. The book is divided into themes that offer brief explanations on cat behavior. Every illustration is enhanced with information about the work and the artist, and is accompanied by quotes out of literature. “If a fish is the movement of water embodied, given shape, then a cat is a diagram and pattern of subtle air” and more poetry..