The Cat Owner's Manual: Operating Instructions, Troubleshooting Tips, and Advice on Lifetime Maintenance (Quirk Books)

Very good introduction to cat ownership and how to. Lots of good specific things to do and look out for prior to and after your new pet comes home.

I just adopted a new kitten and thought I was ordering the "Cat Owner's Maintenance Log," as both covers look alike. I own one of the maintenance logs already for my 10-mnth old cat and it has been an invaluable resource for keeping documents and records nice and neat, with fun tidbits of information interspersed throughout. It makes record-keeping fun.However, this book was also a pleasant read. Although I think it's unlikely people will seek out this book BEFORE adopting/purchasing a cat or kitten, I think that would be the optimal time to read this book. The manual is a very entertaining and comprehensive read on everything in the cat's lifespan beginning with the history of cats and an overview of specific breed personalities, along with things to consider when contemplating adding a cat to your life.The first 50 pages are devoted to choosing a cat (still an interesting read even if you've already brought one home). Other categories are: Home Installation (wish I had this resource with tips on adjusting your new kitten and old kitty to each other before I brought her home), Daily Interaction, Basic Programming, Fuel Requirements, Exterior Maintenance, Growth & Development, Interior Maintenance, Emergency Maintenance (which, I admit has made me even more paranoid about the cat getting out of the house with so many strays around my area, and made me aware of household items I didn't know were toxic to cats), Advanced Functions, and an Appendix with troubleshooting tips and handy technical support numbers (like poison control).This book packs a lot of information into an easy, interesting, read. You'll feel like a cat expert when you're finished. If I had to choose, I would still purchase the Maintenance Log book because I like to keep impeccable records, and the log also has some of the same bits of information interspersed throughout - but not nearly as much as this manual. Ideally, get both! : ) This would make a nice gift for someone contemplating getting a cat (it should help them understand the responsibility that comes with it too), or for those of us already blessed with them.

I have come accross many cat books, dog books, and dog or cat books that are written in a funny style. This is one of those rare books that actually manages to succeed in everything it aspires to!Not only is this book recent (2004), inexpensive, and hillariously written and illustrated, but it has all of the basic information a cat owner would need in an extremely USEFUL format. Man, how I wish I had this book when I first got my cat! It covers all of the questions other books could easily overlook, such as how to hold a cat, proper grooming, socialization, etc.... The format is just so... organized, it's easy to get an idea of where everything is, and the funny mechanical manual format is brilliantly integrated so that it does not interfere with either readability or clarity.The only deficiency of this book is the lack of detailed medical information. This is not a bad thing in itself, though, as it allows for a shorter, clearer book. I would strongly recommend you to also purchase a veterinarian-written guide to cat health that covers all of the common medical problems. This would allow you access to information about vaccinations, what qualifies as an emergency or needs veterinary attention, and at-home solutions to medical problems without constantly questioning your vet. Such books include "Guide to a Healthy Cat" by Elaine Wexler-Mitchell, DVM (great, recent, inexpensive book - the only lack is that it doesn't go into as much depth as it should because it tries to be easy to understand), "Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook" (a classic, in-depth book about almost every problem you might face - but not very up-to-date as it was written over 10 years ago), or "The Doctor's Book of Home Remedies for Dogs and Cats" (excellent in so many ways, but does not go into problems not treatable at home except to tell you when to take the animal to the vet).

I picked up this book used, fulfilled by Amazon & frankly I thought I'd get a good laugh & that would be about it. Being published by Quirk books, my expectations were not exactly for a up-to-date informative guide to cat care. But oddly enough, that IS just what I got! Though the book was written in a very (lol) funny tone w/ funky & funny illustrations, it turned out to be SO MUCH better than the other Amazon 5-star rated book written by a Vet dated 2009, I'd bought a week earlier! That particular book (which I'll try to review in the coming week) had grossly outdated information, didn't answer basic cat rearing questions,etc... By contrast the Cat Owner's Manual was very current and agreed with a lot of information my Vet (of 12 years) had been bringing me up to date with since it had been 10 years since I'd last had to raise a kitten. I give this book my two thumbs up for covering both basic info for the cat owner newbie, to basic 1st aide, what to keep cats away from, even how to train cats to do the basics AND to how to train them to do tricks, all this and more for the feline fancier. And all written in an engaging, fun to read way that makes you WANT to read an OWNER'S MANUAL(!) from cover to cover! Still skeptical? Try to pick up used copy here or search for one (I'd did for $4.95) and still after buying it would have paid full Amazon price for a new one if there wasn't a good used copy available. Sometimes Quirk isn't so quirky after all!

This volume addresses feline concerns efficiently and comprehensively for the lay person. The only complaint, especially for older people, is the type font. It is by far the smallest print I've ever seen on a printed book. I will have to get reading glasses, which is normal for people of my age, but something I've never needed before...

For the price of this book, I was expecting an A4 manual to arrive, so I was slightly put out to find a book less than an A5 size. Once I opened the book, that is where the disappointment stopped. The book is absolutely fantastic. I read it cover to cover over the period of two nights and now have it at my disposal to dip in and out of as needed.I am not at all new to cats, but it is some 20 years since I have had kittens running around the house, so I thought a refresher book would be a good idea before I welcome two little fluffballs into my life again. With having a lot of adult cat experience, I could tell straight away this is a quality book containing trustworthy and accurate information.The style of the book is at times hilarious and for the most part, smile-provoking. The book really has been written like an instruction manual for a piece of hardware and has an entertainment value to it. Titles like 'Diagram and Parts List, basic programming, fuel requirements, exterior maintenance are amusing, but wait until you see the diagrams throughout, they are hilarious.Fun aside, though, it is a thoroughly informative book that leaves nothing to chance and no stone unturned. It is jam-packed with all the information you need to know in order to welcome a kitten or adult cat into your life and learn all you need to know to keep them safe and nurture them throughout their lives.It's not a read once, file away type book; it will be handy as a superb reference manual for many years to come. Well worth the £12 price point.

If you are a car owner/cat owner then this book will be perfect for you. It is just like a small car service manual for cats! Very easy to follow and understand. A small but heavy book full of information. Excellent reading.

Cost me over a tenner and was supposed to be in great condition.Arrived bent in fairly poor condition with a charity shop sticker glued over the front cover showing a price of £1

Very good instruction manual for Feline owners ☺😃

Humorous diagrams of cats paired with genuinely informative matter, I learned quite a bit about kitty's behaviour but it's not a heavy tome. Easily readable in a day or two but looks cute on your bookshelf after you've done.