Showing posts with label cat experts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cat experts. Show all posts

Sunday, April 3, 2016

CAT BOOK REVIEW/GIVE-AWAY:CAT FACTS The Pet Parent's A-to-Z Home Care Encyclopedia by Amy Shojai

Kitten to Adult, Diseases & Prevention
Cat Behavior
Veterinary Cat Care, First Aid
Holistic Medicine
Courtesy of Amy Shojai
Have you ever read a book and when finished,  you found yourself saying "WOW!" out loud?
That is how I felt after I perused one of author Amy Shojai's latest books, CAT FACTS The Pet Parent's A-to-Z Home Care Encyclopedia.

If I sat here telling you I read EVERY PAGE of this OVER 500 PAGE INVALUABLE RESOURCE THAT SHOULD BE A PART OF EVERY HOME WHERE CATS ARE IN RESIDENCE, I would be lying. THIS BOOK IS "HUGE!!" When I say "HUGE" I mean it is chock-full of information/resources that are needed and information/resources that those who share their lives with cats DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THEY NEED!!!!

Think you have read every standout cat reference book that exists? THINK AGAIN! I have read many cat care/cat reference books,  and in my opinion more are "so-so" than not. This book reigns as one at the TOP of my list!! 

FROM CAT FACTS:The Pet Parent's A-to-Z Home Care Encyclopedia:


More than 86 million pet cats today are kept in forty-five million U.S. households. Now, from one of the most trusted cat care authors of the last twenty-five years comes the definitive reference for adopting, keeping, and maintaining a healthy, happy cat.

CAT FACTS: The Pet Parent's A-to-Z Home Care Encyclopedia is designed to answer all your questions. How do I choose the right cat? What holistic help and preventive care should I give? Why do cats act the way they do, and what cat behavior indicates illness? What constitutes an emergency, and how/when can I safely treat my cat with home care and first aid?

CAT FACTS: The Pet Parent's A-to-Z Home Care Encyclopedia is written in a easy-to-reference form that is 

Alphabetical A-to-Z listings
Each letter of the alphabet that begins a section, is attractively drawn and eye-catching.  There are  more than 200 entries, covering everything from abscesses and hairballs to whiskers!!! Do you know what Nutrigenomics is? Or Jacobson's Organ? (Be honest, and don't Google it!) What about zoonosis? I didn't either, but I do now!

Courtesy of Amy Shojai


There are charts (many cat lovers have requested repeatedly that there be a chart showing poisons, from plants to household items. Now you have it!), that list symptoms for a particular condition, the corresponding home care or first aid, the comparative veterinarian and holistic treatments, and preventive advice.

As I mentioned above, it is virtually IMPOSSIBLE  to list EVERYTHING of importance that is in this book. I went through it page by page and read about topics that interested me, or that I have experienced with my own cats such as:

Acne
Territorial Aggression
Allergies, Cat
(which Cody experiences)
Artificial Respiration
Cancer
Cardiomyopathy
(which my Bobo suffered from)
Catnip
(did you know that catnip can be overused? I didn't either! "Overindulgence causes cats to lose their response to the plant. An occasional treat, perhaps once every two or three weeks is plenty." If you are like me, and I have a feeling you are, that is a fact that you DID NOT know!
Dermatitis
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
I know many of you have cats who have this and can use more info!

There is More!!


 Also Included:
A symptoms/conditions table
that helps you identify what ailments might be bothering your cat,  
a Breed-At-A-Glance chart to compare personality, looks, care challenges and other issues for if you choose to have a pedigreed cat.

Easy-to-use Index
The comprehensive, easy-to-use index makes quick reference a snap !!!!!!

Contact information for dozens of cat organizations
 and veterinary resources!!!!!!! 



CAT FACTS: The Pet Parent's A-to-Z Home Care Encyclopedia is

Courtesy of Amy Shojai



FROM CAT FACTS:The Pet Parent's A-to-Z Home Care Encyclopedia: the author has taken great pains to compile the most up-to-date information currently available for cat lovers on the care of their cat; however, veterinary medicine is constantly improving. Please consult with your veterinarian on a regular basis to provide the best care for your cat.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Amy Shojai, CABC is a nationally known authority on pet care and behavior, a certified animal behavior consultant for cats and dogs, and a former veterinary technician. She is a founder of the Cat Writers’ Association and the author of more than 30 award winning pet care books including pet-centric thriller series. She shares her North Texas home with a 20 year old Siamese wannabe, delinquent silver shaded tabby, and smart aleck German Shepherd.

CONNECT WITH AMY! Drop her a line at her blog  or her website . Follow Amy on Twitter (@amyshojai) and like her on Facebook.

 CAT FACTS: The Pet Parent's A-to-Z Home Care Encyclopedia by Amy Shojai makes me, and will make ALL cat lovers  feel secure/comforted to have so much information available at their fingertips. It  is yet another vital "tool" to add to my responsible cat owner tool box, and I can't stress enough that it is one that should be a part of yours as well! 

GIVE-AWAY!! ONE lucky reader who is 18+ and who resides in the U.S. (apologies to our International readers, but the size/weight of this MUST HAVE RESOURCE makes shipping out of the country cost prohibitive), will win a copy! (An approximate $25 value which is a BARGAIN for all of the information that is in this book!)  Entering is easy! Simply enter on the Rafflecopter below and good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway  




DOG LOVERS!! Look for my review (and hopefully give-away!) of DOG FACTS The Pet Parent's A-to-Z Home Care Encyclopedia by Amy Shojai,  that will publish on Dakota's blog, on Monday, April 11th!!!!

In full disclosure: I was not compensated for this review. I was sent a copy of CAT FACTS: The Pet Parent's A-to-Z Home Care Encyclopedia in exchange for my always honest review.

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Tortitude:The BIG Book of Cats with a BIG Attitude by Ingrid King (Give-Away!)

When a copy of Tortitude:The BIG Book of Cats with a BIG Attitude by Ingrid King arrived at my home a few weeks ago, I was in complete shock,  I was honored, AND I was, (and am!) just a tad nervous!!!

Why? I do not live with, nor have I EVER lived with a tortoiseshell cat!  My immediate thought was "How am I qualified to review a book about tortoiseshell cats when I have never lived with one?"  I know of other bloggers who are far more knowledgeable about torties than I am, but I took comfort in the fact that since I had reviewed ALL of Ingrid King's books prior to this one, that she must have confidence that I will write at least a somewhat intelligent review of:

My first impression after merely LOOKING at the cover of Tortitude, was that it was GORGEOUS! I am one of "those people" who gets a thrill out of simply  touching a book and gazing at the cover, I become filled with anticipation of what awaits me inside, which is why I am NOT a fan of ebooks, but I digress....

When I turned the first page,  I smiled when I saw a quote by one of my favorite "Cat Daddies", Jackson Galaxy:

“Excerpted from: Tortitude:
 The BIG Book About Cats With a BIG
Attitude by Ingrid King ©2015” 

The foreword is written by another one of my faves; Kate Benjamin of Hauspanther.


Once I began to calm down and think, it dawned on me,  that if I , one of millions of cat lovers, knows little about tortoiseshell cats, surely there has to be many, many more cat lovers who might not be familiar with these wonderful cats!

Thinking back, to when I first began blogging in 2009, discovering Ingrid's blog was probably my FIRST exposure to torties, and from that day on, I always considered Ingrid to not only be one of a number of cat experts that I hold in high esteem, but to me, she is a MUST READ not only for misc. trusted information about cats, but for  personal and engaging stories about tortoiseshell cats in particular.

FROM Tortitude:The BIG Book of Cats with a BIG Attitude:

"With about 2 million tortoiseshell cats in the United States, these special felines tend to be strong-willed, a bit hot-tempered, and often very possessive of their humans. Other words used to describe torties are fiercely independent, feisty and unpredictable. Ingrid King (The Conscious Cat) brings her professional and personal experience to explore why these cats are so special. With expert insights combined with stunning photography and passages dedicated to the cats and their passionate guardians, King offers a new perspective on these exceptional cats."

When I read the above passage on the back cover, I was not only intrigued, but I began to think that if I were a cat, there is a better-than-average chance that I would be a tortie!!! I am "strong-willed, a bit hot-tempered (No!! Really? Ha!), fiercely independent, feisty and unpredictable." I have also been known to be very possessive of my humans!! But once again, I digress...

That quote made me stop and think. I find it interesting that the HUMANS that I know that live with torties tend to have personalities that are the polar opposite of torties! Could it be a case of "opposites attract" or, could it be that these spunky cats have personality traits that their owners secretly wish that THEY as humans possessed, and that they live vicariously through their torties?
I think I may be on to something here!!!


“Excerpted from: Tortitude:
 The BIG Book About Cats With a BIG
Attitude by Ingrid King ©2015”


Did you know...

"that tortoiseshell cats are NOT a breed?"

(if you did, and you don't live with a Tortie, good for you! You move to the head of the class!) I did NOT know that until I read the section in the book titled:

"What is Tortitude?"

Author King points out the colors/patterns and personality traits  that make a cat qualify as a tortie, she also mentions:"while there are some commonalities between torties when it comes to personality, there seem to be wide variations in the degree of tortitude and in how it is expressed. Some cats appear to have read the book on tortitude, displaying all of the traits attributed to cats with this coloring. Others may vary in temperament, and only demonstrate certain aspects of it. All cats are individuals, and torties are no different in that respect, with the possible exception that they are far more demonstrative of their unique personalities than cats of other colors." 


“Excerpted from: Tortitude:
 The BIG Book About Cats With a BIG
Attitude by Ingrid King ©2015”
Being a quote collector/aficionado from way back, I took a special interest in the sizable section of the book entitled:

Quotable Torties

Quotes and photos were submitted by members of "Team Tortitude" and some of my favorites are:

Cats are dangerous companions for writers because cat watching is a near-perfect method of writing avoidance--Dan Greenburg

In order to keep a true perspective of one's importance, everyone should have a dog that will worship him and a cat that will ignore him--Dereke Bruce

If cats could talk, they wouldn't.--Nan Porter

and finally a favorite quote of mine that is posted beneath the photo of beloved Truffles, (who left much, much too soon), submitted by someone who is MUCH more qualified to do a review of a tortie book than I am, Melissa Lapierre of  Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries & Meows, 

A catless writer is almost inconceivable; even Ernest Hemmingway, manly follower of the hunting trophy and the bullfight, lived waist-deep in cats. It's a perverse taste, really, since it would be easier to write with a herd of buffalo in the room than even one cat; they make nests in the notes and bite the end of the pen and walk on the typewriter keys. --Barbara Holland


Tortitude:The BIG Book About Cats With a BIG Attitude delivers exactly what the title promises. While the book is small in that it is slightly over 100 pages, it is aesthetically generously sized, and is PACKED with information that will not only appeal to bona fide tortie lovers, but will also appeal to self-proclaimed "tabby girls" such as myself. Tortitude offered me insight into these delightful cats and a deeper admiration of their "colorful" coats and personalities.  Tortitude will appeal to cat lovers world-wide! You MUST get your "paws" on a copy, today!!


AVAILABLE ON AMAZON (and all online retailers NOW). AVAILABLE IN STORES FEBRUARY 5TH, 2016! 

FOR EVERY COPY ORDERED BEFORE FEBRUARY 5TH, INGRID WILL DONATE $1 TO THE JACKSON GALAXY FOUNDATION.


MORE BOOKS BY INGRID KING:

BUCKLEY'S STORY: Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher

PURRS OF WISDOM: Conscious Living, Feline Style

ADVENTURES IN VETERINARY MEDICINE:What Working in Veterinary Hospitals Taught Me About Life, Love and Myself

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ingrid King is an award-winning author (of the books listed above). She is a former veterinary hospital manager. Her popular blog, The Conscious Cat, is a comprehensive resource for conscious living, health, and happiness for cats and their humans. The Conscious Cat has won multiple awards, (including but not limited to), About.com's 2012 Readers Choice Award for Best Website About Cats. Ingrid lives in Northern Virginia with her tortoiseshell cats Allegra and Ruby.

GIVE-AWAY!!!!
Ingrid has generously offered to give-away a copy of Tortitude:The  BIG Book of Cats with a BIG Attitude to one of my readers who resides in the U.S.A. (An approximate $20 value!). Must be 18 and over. Entering is super easy! Just enter on the Rafflecopter below! Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway








In full disclosure:I was not compensated for this review/give-away. I was sent a copy of Tortitude in exchange for my always honest review.