BOOK REVIEW: The Cat Fanciers' Association Complete Cat Book |
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Review by Leigh Curry
The heart of the book is the 200-plus pages devoted to the 41 breeds recognized by CFA. Each breed is described by an experienced breeder or exhibitor, who also sets forth the cat’s personality, grooming requirements, origins, history and miscellaneous habits and traits. The CFA Show Standard for the breed is also presented, as well as a color photograph of the cat. A separate chapter of the book describes coat colors and patterns, each illustrated in full color. A good deal of history is contained in the book, not only in the write-ups of individual breeds but also in a history of cat shows and of CFA itself. Origins of domestic cats and of pedigreed breeds in general are also covered. Another major part of the book is The Healthy Cat – A Home Veterinary Guide, by Susan Little, DVM. This book-within-a-book is a complete description of the health issues that a cat owner may encounter, with the remedies now available to all. Dr. Little starts with choosing a vet – what to expect, types of practices, fees, rapport with the patients – and concludes with euthanasia and coping with pet loss. She presents clear and up-to-date advice about diseases, parasites, vaccinations and medications of all sorts. Tables and charts clarify many of the discussions of symptoms and treatments, and many conditions are cross-related to the age of the cat. Another section of the book is by Daniel P. Carey, DVM, and deals with feeding cats and feline nutrition. One of the fascinating subjects covered by Dr. Carey is the cat food label – “a legal document.” Much of the analysis of cat food ingredients is based on the standards developed by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), which are useful to the informed consumer. Other chapters of this book are less formidable technically, but are nevertheless useful to the cat owner. They cover how to select a kitten or cat; how to get a new kitten started; how to deal with misbehavior; how to show a cat; and, the joys and responsibilities of breeding cats. What these chapters convey is the accumulated knowledge and experience of their authors. The key word in the title of the book is complete. No book in any library or a bookshop can equal its coverage of today’s world of cats. It is beautifully compiled, beautifully produced and is a credit to all those involved. It should become a standard reference in every cat lover’s home.
The Cat Fanciers' Association Complete Cat Book
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At last, CFA has done it right! No other cat book can rival this one in
either the breadth of coverage or in the quality of its contributing
experts, be they writers, editors or photographers.
