Leo T. reviewed The Trainable Cat: A Practical Guide to Making Life Happier for You and Your Cat on + 1775 more book reviews
I haven't seen the book but Ms. Ellis was interviewed by Terri Gross on WHYY this week....
Update: This is a well-made book with a nicely designed jacket. It is a serious 300 page effort by two Brits who are both university staffers, one an animal behavior specialist and the other the author of 'Cat Sense' and 'Dog Sense.' Certain points are illustated by photos of the late cat 'Herbie' to whom this tome is dedicated.
"Although it's sometimes said that female cats are more affectionate than are males, this probably harks back to the days before neutering was the norm for pet cats. Tomcats--neutered males--become more and more independent of people as they grow into adulthood, at which point they become obsessed with searching for receptive females and defending their territories against rival toms. Nowadays the majority of male cats are neutered before they are six months old--indeed, owners who forgo this can find that their beloved cat has disappeared forever, chased away by the mature males in the neighborhood who have begun to perceive him as a rival. Female cats, if left sexually intact, generally stay close to home, at least until they find themselves coming into season. Then, the entire focus of their lives shifts, for a week or so, to the business of finding the best father for their kittens. Once neutered or spayed, a cat's personality seems largely unaffected by whether it is male or female and should therefore not impact greatly on training."
Endnotes, further reading, and index.
Update: This is a well-made book with a nicely designed jacket. It is a serious 300 page effort by two Brits who are both university staffers, one an animal behavior specialist and the other the author of 'Cat Sense' and 'Dog Sense.' Certain points are illustated by photos of the late cat 'Herbie' to whom this tome is dedicated.
"Although it's sometimes said that female cats are more affectionate than are males, this probably harks back to the days before neutering was the norm for pet cats. Tomcats--neutered males--become more and more independent of people as they grow into adulthood, at which point they become obsessed with searching for receptive females and defending their territories against rival toms. Nowadays the majority of male cats are neutered before they are six months old--indeed, owners who forgo this can find that their beloved cat has disappeared forever, chased away by the mature males in the neighborhood who have begun to perceive him as a rival. Female cats, if left sexually intact, generally stay close to home, at least until they find themselves coming into season. Then, the entire focus of their lives shifts, for a week or so, to the business of finding the best father for their kittens. Once neutered or spayed, a cat's personality seems largely unaffected by whether it is male or female and should therefore not impact greatly on training."
Endnotes, further reading, and index.
