Product Description

Nationally-known pet authority Amy D. Shojai offers a veritable "Kitten 101," packed with feline facts:

* choosing, training, and communicating with kittens
* the personalities of different breeds
* purebred versus shelter kittens
* introducing a kitten to other family members and pets
* food and grooming considerations
* common medical concerns
* cat legends, myths, and fun facts
* plus, a myriad of kitten and cat resources: the best kitten websites, cat associations, magazines, and pet stores

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #644365 in Books
• Published on: 2002-06-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Review
"...a concise, easy-to-understand book. I wish it could accompany every kitten going to a new home." -- Kitty Angell, Cat Fanciers Association Allbreed judge

"...a must-read for anyone ... who already know the joys of living with cats." -- Lenny Southam, DVM, author of

"A wealth of information for first-time kitten owners. Amy Shojai shows you how to enjoy kittenhood." -- Pam Johnson-Bennett, feline behaviorist and author

"There are ... no questions left to ask about ... caring for a kitten after one has read this book." -- Karen Lawrence, CFA Allbreed judge

From the Author
Welcome to Complete Kitten Care, the most easy-to-use, up-to-date reference available on one of the most mysterious, endearing, and extraordinary pets you could choose.

First and foremost, this book celebrates kittens. Beyond cute stories and cuter pictures--both of which you'll find here--this book's solid information will arm you with the tools you'll need to build a lasting, loving relationship with the special cat babies in your life...

And so, cherish these days, weeks, and months--kittenhood is a fleeting treasure. It comes only once in each cat's life, and is even more precious because of its transient nature. I'd love to hear from you about your feline friends. You can send me an email at amy@shojai.com

About the Author
Amy D. Shojai is a nationally known authority on pet care and behavior, a columnist for Purina, and the award-winning author of 18 pet books, including "Pet Care in the New Century: Cutting-Edge Medicine for Dogs and Cats."

Customer Reviews

Dr. Spock for kitties
I picked up this book last year, and I studied it carefully before getting my first kitten, Ginny. The title doesn't lie, "Complete Kitten Care" is exactly what you get. The three-month old female I got last August is now a happy and healthy member of my family thanks to the advice from this book.

The topics covered here involve everything essential that a kitty novice needs to know, such as vet visits, spaying/neutering, adjusting to other pets, and grooming. The most important chapters that should not go unread are the sections that deal with medical emergencies (falls, drowning, and electrocution), and recognizing/treating sick kittens. I'm lucky enough not to have applied that information to my experiences with my kitten, but it's still good to know.

On the behavior front, "Complete Kitten Care" helps you understand your kitten's way of thinking and help you fix his mistakes, particularly litterbox-related mistakes. Also very helpful is the chapter on understanding body language, and how your kitty communicates with you. I now understand all of Ginny's moods by the size of her pupils, volume and pitch of her meow, position of her ears, and how her tail is held.

This book doesn't go without any entertainment, though. There are lots of adorable kitten photos and drawings that will easily melt your heart. In the back of the book, it has cat legends and fun facts, and there are lists of cat-related web sites, magazines, care organizations, pet supply sources, and other cat books.

Highly reccomended! A+

Complete Kitten Care Is Right
I've fostered dozens of kittens in the last ten years and made just about every mistake there is to make. Now that I have this book, I'll never take on another little one without having it at hand. All parts of this book are valuable to the new kitten owner, but I especially appreciate the sections on recognizing and treating health problems in young animals, and the section on emergencies is priceless. It tells you how to rescue your little one from a dog or other animal, how to administer artificial respiration if necessary, even perform acupuncture to jump start a stopped heart, how to give CPR to a drowned kitty, how to slow down shock, what to do if kitty ingests a poison plant, how to treat both heatstroke and hypothermia.

There's much else in the book, including learning to play with your kitty, understand her communications, and provide the kinds of toys and equipment that will suit her needs best. Complete Kitten Care is just what the title says it is. You probably shouldn't even think about acquiring a new kitten until you have a copy.

Besides presenting a wealth of knowledge, Shojai's book is fun to read. She has an obvious love of her subject, but it's tempered with good common sense and a great sense of humor. You can actually sit down and read this book through, rather than just thumbing to the section you need at any one time--it's that readable. She has a way of making the technical stuff understandable to us folks whose only qualification is that we love kitties.

A good reference guide
Honestly, there is nothing within the book that is not common-sense with regard to animal rearing, but I found it to be a good 'reminder' read as I prepared to bring home two new kittens. I would recommend the book.