I have many cat books, but this one is my most prized. Filled with an incredible amount of information and gorgeous photos, The New Encyclopedia of the Cat is a cat enthusiasts' heaven. I also own The Encyclopedia of the Cat, and I was slightly disappointed that it didn't have the amount of new content that I thought it would. Otherwise, I love it. It's easy to read, easy to understand, absolutely purr-fect!

Lush, fascinating and accurate. Beautifully designed, with many colorful photographs and illustrations, this book is likely to appeal as much to kids as to sophisticated adults. The individual breed descriptions are especially valuable. A great idea for a Christmas present!

A very good and beautiful book for those domestic cat lovers young or old. Wonderful and magnificent pictures, informative text that covers everything to do with cats: history, anatomy, behaviour, breeds and care. My eleven-year-old cat lover refers to it all the time and simply adores the book.

Bought for a relative Christmas 2000. Cleverly done little picture book much appreciated!

Every once in a while a reviewer has to do something silly to keep from taking themselves too seriously. We get in the habit of waxing eloquent over the latest serial killer novel or thinking deep thought about Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and we forget that folks like fun too.

So that explains why this reviewer is about to tell you about an out of print stocking stuffer entitled "Cat's Christmas." I received it as an early Xmas/Hanukkah present from a dear friend. Or rather, my cats did. For some reason they actually like the book and are hanging around now waiting for an opportunity to do their own version of reviewing.

I can tell you right now the book is unbearably saccharine, Starting right out with two sealpoint Siamese kissing under the mistletoe. From there, undaunted, it runs the gamut of silly cat jokes, menus, and sight gags. If your cat is one of the more philosophical kinds then he or she may find this booklet beneath them. I believe my female is making that comment when she sits on the volume.

But my male, the more softhearted of the two, is every bit as softhearted and sweet-tempered as are the cats in the book, so he is right here, helping me type this review. Hopefully we will all take the time this holiday to give little silly things as well as the big expensive toys. And not just to out cats.

Well, right on page 18, there are complete instructions for how to "spruce" up the litter box with snowy white litter peaks and fake fir trees.

Bruce Fogle is the author of The Encyclopedia of the Cat and realizes Christmas brings on a certain neglect of ones feline friends as we rush about buying gifts. So, to rectify this oversight, he and Malcolm Hillier created a sumptuous book reflecting the art of indulgence.

If you are looking for a hilarious stocking stuffer, look no further. For cat lovers, they will be amused to read:

Diary of Destruction: December 24

9:30 Taunted the dog from the safety of the garden fence 10:20 Created a crafty diversion and helped myself to the turkey from the kitchen table next door.....

and so on goes the frivolity....until pg. 29, where the cats sing "Peace on earth, goodwill to all dogs...for now."

Then don't miss out on New Year's Resolutions. "Pay attention to my owner at all times, not just before a meal." And then read up to 10 and see that they will NEVER happen.

A real sense of humor and cat paws clapping everywhere as their happy owners read them this feline Christmas fantasy. I love the "Cat-Tail Party" where you will find recipes for devilishly delectable paw dips, including "Salmon Supreme, Catnip Dip, Liver Mousse."

The book ends with an angelic looking cat with some nice fangs! All the still life photography is by Stephen Hayward and the cat photography is by Jane Burton, Dave King, and Marc Henrie.

Only Jingle Cats could complete the experience.

Put off by the K.I.S.S. branding? Don't be. They hired the right guy to write this book.

You will enjoy it. The book is filled with quality images, colorful subtitles, and negative space--resulting in a visually stimulating read.

I bought this book for the couple who adopted Honey, a wonderful stray I rescued. But in actuality, I gave it to the people mainly for the dog's benefit. (Those of you who regularly place dogs in new homes may want to consider using this book for that same purpose.)

Fogle demonstrates obvious concern for the physical and emotional welfare of dogs. A great part of Fogle's motivation is to make people better owners--for their dogs' sake.

The book is thorough. From genetics to adoption dog temperment testing. From grooming and accessorizing to dog-proofing your home, garden, and yard. From playing to training to dealing with aggression. Then there are several chapters on veterinary care: things like giving your dog a physical with details like how to take your dog's temperature, pulse, and heart rates--and what to do if they are off by varying amounts. There's also a chapter on the special concerns of associated with aging canines.

Veteran dog owners will also find the book interesting. Fogle begins with a plausible--but unsupported--opinion on the evolution of dog from wolf. Why do dogs have floppy ears, crowded teeth, and smaller brains than wolves? Fogle believes he knows.

He moves logically into a discussion of how the breed types came about and how their original purpose shaped their builds and temperments.

He discusses picking the right breed or mix and picking the right individual dog, whether a puppy from a breeder or an adult dog from a shelter. (I think he falls short in discussing breeds' drawbacks. For example, he doesn't mention that many people find the cute little Jack Russel terrier to be a terror.)

He goes on to thoroughly, yet succinctly, discuss most of the issues a dog owner is likely to worry or wonder about. Being a vet himself, he devotes a lot of detailed attention to safety and health concerns, some of which will be new to even experienced dog owners.

If you want to a give a book to dog owners, a book that will make them better care takers, a book that they will actually read, this is the one.

Jeff

Put off by the K.I.S.S. branding? Don't be. They hired the right guy to write this book.

You will enjoy it. The book is filled with quality images, subtitles, and negative space--resulting in a visually stimulating read.

It begins with the author's very interesting opinion on the evolution of dog from wolf. Why do dogs have floppy ears, crowded teeth, and smaller brains than wolves? Fogle believes he knows. His explanation is very plausible. It's a little lacking in its understanding of the interrelation of genetic traits, but still good.

He moves logically into a discussion of how the breed types came about and how their original purpose shaped their builds and temperments.

He discusses picking the right breed or mix and picking the right individual dog, whether a puppy from a breeder or an adult dog from a shelter. (I think he falls short in discussing breeds' drawbacks. For example, he doesn't mention that many people find the cute little Jack Russel terrier to be a terror.)

He goes on to thoroughly, yet succinctly, discuss most of the issues a dog owner is likely to worry or wonder about, and a few more to boot. Of course, being a vet himself, he devotes a lot of attention to safety and health concerns.

It also seems that part of Fogle's motivation is to make people better owners FOR THIER DOGS' SAKE. I like his advice to owners that they let their dogs be dogs.

All in all, this book is quite fine book and an especially good one to give to a new dog owner.

I bought this book for a friend (new puppy owner) and ended up going back to the bookstore a week later to get one for myself (owner of a 7 year-old Boston Terrier). This book covers everything you need to know, from training to grooming to feeding habits. The author, Bruce Fogle, has a great, reassuring tone to his writing that will make reading about your best friend fun and helpful!

By the way, this is indeed an attractive coffee table book with its colorful cat pictures and tidbits of information. However, it is a good book to have on hand for the information in it.

Although it's written by a veterinarian, this isn't really a cat care book. Oh, it does have a number of cat care tips, but the focus is on understanding your cat. Naturally, the information here is in the form of generalities, and any cat owner knows that your individual cat might not follow all of those generalities! Bearing that in mind, this book's information does seem to be on target.

I do have reservations on Dr. Fogle's training tips, one in particular involving use of a mouse trap concealed under newspapers which a prized plant is on. The theory is that the cat approaching the plant with the idea of chewing its leaves will set off the trap, causing the papers to suddenly explode along with the noise of the trap. Seems to me that the cat could get a paw or tail caught in the trap.

Much of the book covers pregnancy and the raising of kittens. Again, this ia all profusely illustrated, there being pictures along with the text on every page. The text is, at times, a bit dry and impersonal, but the pictures more than make up for this shortcoming.

I do believe that you and your cat(s) will benefit from this book.

Other than that, this is an informative and useful book. Chances are that you'll read a bit at a time, and not necessarily cover to cover.

As I type this with my purring kitty on my lap, I know that he is calm, happy and content. This knowledge, along with a lot more, is thanks to Dr. Bruce Fogle, the author. I thought I knew quite a bit about cats and their actions, but this book taught me even more! Instead of paragraph after paragraph droning on about science and character, this book is packed full of wonderful pictures. Each picture has a caption beside it explaining, in great detail, it's relevance. Of course it also has paragraphs of great information too! Many topics are covered, such as Cat Relationships, Having a Family, The Growing Kitten, The Mature Cat, and more. While this book explains cats in an easy to understand format, it also throws in some science. (Enough to make you feel smart!) I feel a lot brighter and well versed in cats, and I actually feel like I know my cat better too (sounds trite, but it's true!). Know Your Cat is the perfect name for this hard to put down book!

As with all DK books, this one is profusely illustrated with high-quality photographs, showing the moods, habits and personality traits of cats. These are not purebreds, but average pets, from kittens to aging adults. A great guide to understanding and caring for felines.

I bought him dog in spca in Malaysi

I recomend this book to any dog lover, dog breeder, or anybody that has the slighest intrest in dogs!!! It's GREAT!!!! Get it!!! :o)

The book I have read has really helped me care for my German Shepherd puppy.really I don't have to say much because it helped me alot.

"First Aid for Dogs" was one of three similar books I bought and is clearly the best, by a head and shoulders margin. It has almost 200 pages of information about a variety of conditions that can occur at home, in the neighborhood, or in the field. It makes very clear what to look for (symptoms) and then gives a helpful "decision tree" (if this is present, then do or look for ---; if that is not present, then look for or do ---). It is also very clear about what options you have in contacting a vet: Now! Same day. Within 24 hrs. Soon. Phone for advice.

It very clearly tells how to check symptoms. It covers almost every imaginable condition a dog owner would usually encounter. In the money it will save in trips to the vet that weren't needed, using this book will save its cost many times over.

The book is very well organized into sections, Part 1, What to do first, how to make splints, etc,; Part 2, What to do next, checking symptoms, what to observe; Part 3, First aid for various emergencies; Part 4, improving health, how to give/apply meds. The line drawing illustrations are simple, clear, and helpful. The index is comprehensive and useful.

By comparison, one of the other books I bought (published by a university press and written by vet school faculty), is higher priced, has about one fourth the pages, and contains much less than a twentieth the information. "Always have injuries examined by a veterinarian" is neither sufficient or particularly helpful advice. For poisoning, it recommends "veterinary advice should be sought."

The third first aid book I bought was for outdoor dogs (I have a Lab). It has a little less than half the pages that Fogle's book contains. The topics it covers are adequately treated but I've found nothing covered that is not also in Fogle's book.

When my wife, Amy, and I bought Sparky, our pet pekinese, we picked up this book, though we hoped to never need it. It was so clearly written and easy to use that the entire family read it. When our oldest son, Ryan, used it to save Sparky from choking on peanut butter, we realized just how valuable the advice in this book is. Thank you, Bruce and Amanda, for saving our dog's life.

i love this book! it tells me what to do when there is an emergencey

All cat lovers will treasure this book. I fell in love with it because of the fantastic pictures and easy to follow prose. The book covers everything about cats - the evolution of cats, the treatment they have received from man throughout the ages, practical cat-care guidelines, and a review (with pictures!) of cat breeds. I never tire of reading this book.

Dr. Fogle provides detailed information about the cat in many areas: historical, cultural, scientific, social, et cetera. The scientific detail he provides about the cat is amazing: he provides descriptions of the nervous system, digestive system, skeletal system, etc. He also writes about each breed of cat and habits specific to that breed. This is a must read for anyone who loves cats!

Great book, mainly for those who didn't have ever had a cat. Serious but simple with lots of good advices and things everyone having a cat should know! I have loved it! Maria Manuel (Portugal)

This is a great book for cat lovers. Brought many smiles..

Excellent choice! The first few pages tell you about dogs in general, following this with one page of information on each breed (seperating small, medium & large breeds). Then the main thrust of the book is on dog care, which is very helpful, such as what to look for before buying your dog (ex. examining ears, eyes, mouth, body, posture), the vaccination schedule, emergency treatment (choking, CPR, shock), nutrition, toys, collars/leashes, grooming/bathing (which brushes/combs), fleas/ticks, worms (chart to compare them & symptoms), diseases. I ordered a few books on dogs & this is my favorite.

If you want a purebred, but not sure which one to get, make sure you read the books by Bruce Fogle. This book covers such things as basic commands, crate training, first aid, breeding and so much more. The book isn't long and I found it so helpful.

I found this book very helpful. It has graphs that have trainability, house trainability, etc. that compares them to different breeds. It is quite useful in the training section too. It also has a history on the dog, and just about everything you want to know about Goldens.

Whether you're considering getting a Golden or you already have one, this is a useful and fun book to read. It's informative, up-to-date, easy to understand and inexpensive. Definitly worthwhile.