For Well-Balanced Relationships With Cats...

Planning on adding a kitty to the household anytime soon?  Trying to figure out why your cat is acting crazy?  Wondering why she has suddenly stopped using the litter box?   Pulling your hair out because the cats are fighting?  There is help, and it lies in understanding why the behavior is occurring.  That is the opinion of behaviorist Pam Johnson-Bennett, and she states it quite well in her book, Think Like a Cat.  Regardless of the age of your cat, there is hope.


Packed With Information

Think Like a Cat is a combination cat behavior manual as well as a detailed primer for anyone considering acquiring a cat or already living with one.   It’s divided into 18 main chapters.  These deal with a number of issues from the very basic to more complex behavior problems.  Some of the content areas:

- Acquiring a cat, cat-proofing the home
- Selecting care-givers (pet-sitters, veterinarians, etc.)
- Understanding cat body language, vocalizations, instincts, and habits – these chapters really form the core of the book, because they delve into the basic understanding of cat behavior and discredit many myths about cats
- Veterinary care, first aid, emergency care, and basic medical information
- Training & behavior issues – yes, cats can be trained, and Johnson-Bennett explains how, as well as addressing issues such as scratching, not using the litter box, aggression, and fear
- Using play therapy techniques to influence behavior – in this section, the author discusses the importance of play, the best types of play, and the qualities of good toys
- Specific behavior chapters – individual chapters are devoted to some of the “big” behavior issues, offering a great deal of insight into why they occur and options for how to reduce or eliminate them
- Food – what’s needed at each stage of development, what’s natural, what’s not
- General grooming and pest control
- Traveling with cats
- Life stages – separate chapters are devoted to kittens, adults, and aging cats, including a good section on end of life issues

The book includes a helpful 63-page medical appendix describing conditions that affect cats.  The author offers simple explanations of everything from halitosis and skin allergies to kidney problems and other serious life-threatening ailments.

The comprehensive nature of the book is further evidenced by the resource guide that lists veterinary organizations, product manufacturers and mail order catalogs, hotlines, insurance companies, registries, pet-sitter organizations, and magazines about cats.


It’s All About Relationships

The emphasis in the book is clearly stated in the title.  The author constantly encourages the reader to think about these things not from a human perspective, but through the senses and impressions of a cat.  We forget that cats don’t see, hear, smell, or feel things the way we do.  Johnson-Bennett points out that understanding why the cat engages in certain behaviors, such as scratching or playing with prey, is most important.  This knowledge can help us to adjust the environment, activities, and our interactions in a way that allows us to live in peace with well-adjusted felines.  In fact, the subtitle of the book tells us the results of doing things right:  How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat, Not a Sour Puss.

Though this book confirmed a lot of what I already knew about and practiced with my cats, it did provide me with some pointers, especially in the areas of multi-cat interaction, toys, and litter boxes.  (Johnson-Bennett points out that those covered litter boxes that we humans love are not the ideal in the cats’ eyes, because they trap the odors inside.  This might cause cats to eliminate outside of the boxes.) 

Some of the content provided me with alternative ways of looking at cat-related issues.  For example, I had concluded that cat foods with “animal by-products” were not especially healthy.  Johnson-Bennett raises a good question, though:  when cats kill prey naturally, don’t they ingest those same by-products?  I’m still mulling that one over.


Good Choice for the Cat Enthusiast

Though she is a behaviorist, Johnson-Bennett doesn’t use jargon, but makes the concepts understandable. She explains her methods through definition, example, and straightforward language.  The appearance of the book isn’t anything special (no photos, no color, and the layout is a bit boring), but the information is valuable. 

Cats have graced my home for more than 25 years.  Kittens, mature adults, and senior citizens have been a part of my life, each with his or her own special qualities.  Having lived with no less than 14 cats at various times, I imagined myself quite knowledgeable about them and their needs.  Then I read Think Like A Cat and realized I still had some blind spots.

I found this book interesting and informative, and would certainly recommend it to any cat enthusiast or anyone considering acquiring a cat.