To be honest I don't think you can learn about your cat by just reading a book, it's interesting to read a book and helps you to focus on the cat but you need to read The Cat.
That's my favourite bit of your post. It's so true...and just lovely.
What a shame that the book wasn't as insightful about cat history as you'd hoped
I think your absolutely right about needing to read the cat..........as you do with any pet be it cat dog rabbit horse etc No book will ever be able to tell you all you need to know about your pet but it is good to read them so you can have a fuller understanding of what they're telling you, just like a dog giving off warning signs if you havent learnt body language you wont understand what theyre saying.
Wouldnt it be nice to write a book about all your cats it would make interesting reading.
crinklecats, You're a fast reader ! I bought mine and have only read Chapter one !
Bear in mind that you are an experienced cat owner and many people that are owned by cats arent . I agree that you have to learn abot your own cat but as Jorden said books can give you a fuller understanding.
The book fixes it's focus on the stress and anxiety suffered by cats living in close proximity either within the household or within the neighbourhood and the ensuing territorial disputes. I'm not saying these don't exist but they should be by no means the defining factor a cat's life and their lives should be full enough to deal with them as a minor irritation at most and hopefully not have them at all.
Most animal behaviour books are based on ethology so from that point of view where and how cats evolved and their survival is important.
While cats can adapt and are capable of forming strong attachments and living with other cats and humans , they have changed very little from being the solitary hunters they were thousands of years ago. What basically or genetically is a cat : a solitary hunter and its behaviour is innate. Cats survival depends on their territory and home range . A dog is a socially predator but many breeds have been genetically altered so they may not perform all the behaviours their ancestors did or perform difference ones.
If you define a cat from the ethological view point that its a solitary hunter then territory and close proximity is a defining factor in a cats life. Of course , all situations are different and cats nuture and nature are individual but you only have to read the problems of cats weeíng and pooing everywhere or hiding away in the house for example on the cat behaviour forums to realise that many cats have profound difficulties and often the owners dont realise what is causing it. .
When I said I hadn't seen as many cat books in one place as the shelf at the branch library I forgot to mention other than my own bookshelf. I have a bookcase full of cat books. My favourite books are The Wildlife of the Domestic Cat by Roger Tabor and The Cat by Linda P Case.
Both very good books. I have The cat too and I like that it covers nutrition and health as well as behaviour . I have Roger Tabor's cat behaviour , its good and I love the photographs in that one.
I must admit to being addicted to dog and cat books , some I've learnt a lot from and some I didnt finish and some dogs books are so out of date I would rather throw them away
