If you like cats, if you’re curious about cats, if you wonder why your cat does something, you need to read this book. Nagelschneider has an easy, relaxed voice that makes it feel as if you’re sitting, chatting with a friend, while her knowledge of, her respect for, and her love of cats shine through.

When she gives advice, she explains why she’s recommending it, and also explains why she’s not advising that you do something else. For instance, she’ll discuss conventional advice and why she doesn’t agree with it or why it doesn’t work. I found that to be particularly useful. Despite the fact that I have lived with cats all my life, I discovered there was still a lot I didn’t know. I was happy to discover that there’s a lot I’m doing right with my cat. :) While he has no major bad habits, there are still things I can do to improve his life and a handy reference book for when I have questions or problems in the future.

The book is arranged so that you can, if you desire, read chapters out of order though I think in order would be best if read in order. She frequently refers you back to information in other chapters, rather than constantly repeat herself, and there are extensive footnotes and appendices. One thing I didn’t like was the constant referral to her website for products; it was self-promotion overkill. That is my only complaint about the book actually; some self-promotion is reasonable but she went overboard. The information itself is practical, most of the time; useful; and clearly laid out. There are some action plans, such as bringing a new cat into the house or re-integrating existing cats, that are extremely intensive, both in implementation and time involved, and I think many people would take shortcuts. Honestly, I probably would. But overall, this is a useful, easy to read and use, practical guide that I think all cat owners should have. I plan on buying it for several friends.

I love my cat and wish I understood her more - I question a lot of her behaviors. I feel like cats are very misunderstood and this book did a good job of clearing up some of those misunderstandings.