Staff Pick
Do cats only purr when they're happy? Can they develop special languages with their owners? Is getting them a companion a bad idea? This fascinating book uses behavioral science, genetics, and archeological findings to explore these questions and more. Recommended By Renee P., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Cats have been popular household pets for thousands of years, and their numbers only continue to rise. Today there are three cats for every dog on the planet, and yet cats remain more mysterious, even to their most adoring owners. In
Cat Sense, renowned anthrozoologist John Bradshaw takes us further into the mind of the domestic cat than ever before, using cutting-edge scientific research to explain the true nature and needs of our feline friends. Tracing the cat's evolution from solitary hunter to domesticated companion, Bradshaw shows that cats remain independent, predatory, and wary of social contact, qualities that often clash with the demands of our modern lifestyles. If we're to live in harmony with cats, Bradshaw contends, we first need to understand and adapt to their ancient quirks.
A must-read for any cat lover, Cat Sense challenges our most basic assumptions about cats and promises to dramatically improve their lives and ours.
Review
Bradshaw's book mixes pellets of cat lore with accounts of feline evolution, anatomy, genetics and development from newborn kitten to adulthood, plus descriptions of cat-psychology experiments in the laboratory, many of which he has conducted himself....Inveterate cat-haters, those defective humans, probably won't appreciate this book, but anyone else might. It is written in a friendly and engaging way, has helpful tips for cat owners, and is packed with excellent cat facts.” The Guardian
Review
This fascinating book will be a bible for cat owners.” Booklist, Starred Review
Review
A useful guide to help cat lovers better understand their elusive pets.” Kirkus
About the Author
John Bradshaw is Foundation Director of the Anthrozoology Institute at the University of Bristol. Author of the New York Times bestseller Dog Sense, which won an Independent Publisher Book Awards Gold Medal, he lives in Southampton, England.