[.ca] The Cat Who Cried for Help: Attitudes, Emotions, and the ... (ISBN 0553378546)

From Amazon.com:
Dr. Nicholas Dodman, professor of behavioral pharmacology at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine and director of the Behavior Clinic, turns his attention to our feline friends and their mysterious minds in The Cat Who Cried for Help. Similar to Dodman's discussion of dog behavioral problems in his popular first book, The Dog Who Loved Too Much, The Cat Who Cried for Help examines aggravating cat habits and undesirable behavior, and shows how modifications in such areas as diet, exercise, and environment cause remarkable improvements in the majority of problem cats. Divided into three sections, Dodman first tackles aggressive behavior, followed by emotional behavior, and compulsive cats. With examples from his own practice, Dodman intelligently communicates symptoms, treatment options, and helpful tips for prevention. Vital to his treatment is maintaining the cat's dignified and independent nature, an objective sure to please those cat owners irritated by certain kitty traits but concerned first and foremost for the health and well-being of their cats. Praised by author Elizabeth Marshall Thomas as "a thoughtful and creative approach to changing detrimental behavior," The Cat Who Cried for Help is perfect for cat owners interested in better understanding their fascinating feline.

Must read for frustrated cat owners!:
I have four cats, all of whom have had behavioral problems due to abuse and/or abandonment issues. Reading this book gave me great advice and step by step guides on modifying inappropriate behavior. "The Cat who Cried for Help" is an entertaining and easy read that uses the author's own cases as examples of success and sometimes failure. I use the book often as a reference since each topic is broken into chapters with a clever title and funny case story to start. For example, the chapter "The Writing on the Wall" deals with problems of kitty "bathroom" issues such as litter boxes, spraying/marking, UTI's, ect... Understanding why a cat does what it does, and what it's trying to tell me in the process has made our home a much happier, and cleaner, place! The importance the author puts on being patient is key to making this book successful. Solving feline problems doesn't happen over night- in our case it took about 5 months, but if you follow Dr. Dodman's advice and don't expect an immediate miracle, you will end up with a happy kitty (and owner)!

A surprisingly fun read!:
I had bought this book in anticipation of moving, with a new kitten in tow, and I wanted to make sure that I familiarized her with her new surroundings and was able to catch any behavioral problems early on. I was then surprised by how much FUN this book was to read! Dr. Dodman's case stories are really enjoyable and informative--almost like reading a little mystery. "Why's the cat doing this? What can we do now? Here's the answer!" He has a genuine knack for storytelling and at the same time provides valuable insight into the minds of our cats. I've been able to put several of his theories into action with my own cat, and we're both very happy with the results! I highly recommend this book even if you *don't* think you have any behavioral issues with your cat--it's stuff worth knowing, and a great read to boot.

A readable resource for cat behavior:
This book is well-written and anyone can understand where Dodman is coming from. It lends insight into the thoughts and emotions of a cat. There are explanations for the reasons behind the behavior and how to modify your cat's behavior into a more managable situation. As a cat owner my entire life, this book helps explain some things I was always left wondering. Instead of euthanizing your pet for a behavior that is innate, why not try to help them instead? Both owner and cat can learn to coexist in the same household. A definite read for someone trying to figure out a behavioral problem in their cat.

A (Literal) Lifesaver for Cats and Their Owners!:
I frantically read numerous cat behavior books desparately looking for a solution to a problem between my two cats before I finally came across Dr. Dodman's book. It is lightyears better than all others, no wonder since Dr. Dodman, who I subsequently contacted to work with me, has achieved a well-deserved reputation for being lightyears beyond any one else in his understanding of cat behavior. His work is inspired by a lifelong mission to solve cat behavior problems that result in the destruction of literally thousands of cats each year, and this book I'm sure has saved many a cat to date. A wide range of problems are discussed in wonderfully written case studies from Dr. Dodman's practice, including inter-cat aggression, the problem that led me to read the book. What shines through every story is that no behavior problem is impossible to resolve, if not one way, than another. This gave me the faith to continue working on my cats' problem long after other vets had said to give it up & give one cat away (something I could never face). I'm happy to report that thanks to this book, I now have two happily co-existing cats. It never would have happened without this book, and without Dr. Dodman--he is truly a lifesaver! Thanks again, Dr. D!

Fascinating Felines:
I bought this book to learn more about agression problems in cats as one of mine has on occasion been agressive to me. The case studies presented in this book are fascinating. After reading about those crazy cats, mine seemed quite normal. I've taken a slightly different approach toward dominance agression than in the book. But, I agree with the author that cats can express dominance agression just like dogs. The authors use of mood-altering medications for cats is quite informative.