This book provides great suggestion for helping correct feline mis-behaving. In this book I finally found new, solid methods that work. All of my feline-loving friends have been borrowing this book to help re-train their furry family members. I highly recommend it!!
If you are looking for a quick and easy fix to feline behavior problems, then this book is not for you. And frankly, you need to rethink your strategy and look at long term. There are no easy fixes to hard problems.
I have a formerly feral young cat with some behavior problems--mix that with a foster cat who chases her and you get some big ugly. I have read almost half this book over the past few days, have started some of the techniques she recommends, and I have already seen a difference.
We still have a way to go, but this evening has been more peaceful than the last two weeks combined. The cats are even napping in the same room, although of course not together. I can easily distract and redirect the aggressive cat's (the foster) stalking behavior, and my cat is already more relaxed and showing much less fear aggression.
I have been a cat person my whole life and consider myself pretty fluent in cat. There is still so much this book has taught me. The main thing being that you have to throw out your personal conception of what YOU believe is going on and really listen to and look at the cat and let her tell you. (the book helps you interpret cues) I never thought my cat would be fear aggressive as she appears (to me) to be fearless. But I now clearly see a lot of her problems come from anxiety and being uncertain, which = fear to a cat.
I have also identified behaviors which are affectionate and indicate deep trust on the part of my cat, and it's very touching to know she DOES trust me and loves me.
I have gone from being committed to hanging in there until things change to being extremely confident not just that they WILL change, but confident on HOW they will change and what I can do to get there. I have a plan, and now all I need is time and consistency.
I cannot say how highly I recommend this book, even to a life long cat person.
Best Cat Advice Book
This book is fantastic.
I took life-with-a-kitty for granted for a numbers of years until I recently adopted a stray kitten who is perfect in every way except for his nasty biting habit. After weeks of frustration, I finally decided I needed to find some advice about cat behavior. Originally, I picked up this book for its section on aggression but after the first few chapters I was hooked. The format of the book is wonderful, the information she presents about cats and their natural behaviors is astounding, and the suggestions she makes throughout the book are more than helpful. In just a few weeks, my relationship with my cat has improved tremendously. In addition to the behavior modifications I was able to do with the cat thanks to her advice, I have also learned so much about how to keep my cat happy, active, and stimulated. I never knew it was so easy! And it makes both the cat and I extremely happy.
The author believes the best way to modify your cats behavior is through positive reinforcement techniques. I have found this method to be extremely effective. However, modifying your cats behavior through positive reinforcement takes time, patience, and presence on your part. If you are not willing to be an active member in your cat's life, then you will get nowhere fast with this book. If you are willing to be attentive and active, then the rewards will be worth the effort ten times over again.
