Oh my gosh, did I love this book! Liesbeth Puts has packed this slim volume with so much good advice, interesting tidbits that I'd never considered, and great pictures. I was originally interested in this book so that I could provide my daughter with some useful advice as she got her first cat, but found myself using a bunch of it myself to learn more about the cat that I have had for six years! I have highly recommended this book to patrons and will continue to do so. A huge thank you to The Experiment and NetGalley for the early access in exchange for my honest opinion.

As someone who works in animal welfare and is an enthusiastic auloriphile even I learne d a few nuggets of wisdom in this book that I didn't know or hadn't considered.
The Happy Cat is the perfect book for a first time cat owner, or those just looking to learn more about why cats are such a mystery to many.
This book extensively covers it all in a way that's not dumned down but also easy to understand.
Definately a great read for the novice or intermediate cat owner.

Very informative. I love cats of all kinds so I love learning more about them! This book was a treat to read through.

A great guide to cat parenting! The photos are absolutely adorable, and the information provided in fresh and empowering. A must-have for any cat lover.

This is a useful resource for cat custodians, whether new or old. There is a lot of information delivered in short and easily digestible chapters. My cats approve of the improvements it helped me make.

An easy to read, informative guide on all things cat. This would be perfect for first time cat people, as well as anyone who loves cats.

Do you have a cat? You'll want this book because no matter how many cats you've lived with, they'll come up with a behavior that will make you wonder what's up.

Worth the price for just the discussion of whisker fatigue!

The Handbook for a Happy Cat is a great introductory book for any beginning cat owner or cat lovers that want to learn how to better care for their special felines. I loved the amount of detail in this book and learned a bit about dominant cat behavior and how to better understand my cat's actions. I would recommend this highly for any cat lovers.

Subtitle: Speak Their Language, Decode Their Quirks, and Meet Their Needs – So They’ll Love You Back!

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publish through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I read several books on cat behavior after we adopted our shelter cat, Trixie, back in 2019. In multiple ways, I believe this book is the best I have read on the topic. Instead of unquestioned repeating of unproven beliefs about cats and their behavior, this one references actual scientific studies. As a bonus, there are many striking, full-color pictures of cats and kittens illustrating the book.


Author Puts, an internationally certified cat behaviorist based in the Netherlands, discussed common cat behaviors and fears, often laying out specific steps to help improve the lives of not only cats but their humans as well. For example, Trixie is intensely afraid of our vacuum cleaner. The book lays out a specific plan to help alleviate that fear.

I gave The Handbook for a Happy Cat five stars on Goodreads. I recommend it to cat owners who want to improve their relationships with their cats and help them lead a more enriching and satisfying life.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Experiment for an eARC of Liesbeth Puts very handy guide for cats. As a new cat owner, I found this book extremely helpful in decoding my cat’s behaviors. I’m also Googling the meaning of my cat’s strange behaviors, and I feel like everybody on the Internet has an opinion about certain things cats do. “If a cat moves the tail into a question mark, they are feeling like this.” “If your cat slaps their tail three times instead of four, they are angry.” Honestly, I find it all confusing. Thankfully, Liesbeth is a certified cat behavioral specialist, and her book is a definitive guide to cat life. No more searching the Internet for answers, I can reference this book! Can’t wait to have the print version.

I really enjoyed the scientific background research in the book. I learned a lot of interesting facts and cat stuff to look out for!

Filled with tidbits of lots of info and lots of stock photography of cats. I read an ARC that still had some of the original Dutch words.

A thorough and helpful book on raising and caring for one or more cats so they can live a happy life. Recommendations are in line with current cat-behavior research I've read recently.

The Handbook for a Happy Cat is also a handbook for a happy cat owner! An informative, well-written book. I have to admit, the pictures made it a lot more enjoyable to read. Would recommend for any friend to cats.

The Handbook for a Happy Cat is a very nice handbook for raising cats. It doesn't matter if you've never had a cat, or you've lived your whole live surrounded by them, you'll most probably find something new/interesting or a good tip inside.
I really enjoyed how the book tackles everything, from what a cat *is*, through food, sleep, play, health, and of course noting all the basics on health. It felt complete and yet so easy to read and it made me excited for when I can get a cat again.
I recommend the book to anyone who has cat(s) and feels like they might have a some questions or need tips, and also to people who wish to adopt, but don't know where to start with preparations.

*Thanks to NetGalley and The Experiment for providing me with an free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.*

Written by a cat behaviorist, this book gives solid advice in short chapters that will be helpful for cat owners.

This is a great book for cat lovers. It is beautifully illustrated and provides information about common cat behaviors as well as practical advice about how to deal with behaviors that may be less than desirable. In my opinion, as someone who has lived with multiple cats for decades, the author covered just about all of the issues that may arise during a human-cat relationship. She was very thorough. The book is intelligently written while remaining very readable and entertaining. The author also includes references to scientific studies about cat behavior to back up her discussion and suggestions.
I would recommend this book to anyone who already has a cat and to those who are considering bringing a cat into their household.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Princess Fuzzypants here: I am happy to report that I have trained my humans well. Except for the occasional mistake ( they are only human!) I am treated the way I should be. Good staff are essential for a happy cat and just in case there are humans who do not have the stellar remedial training that I offer, this book is a handy little tome to tell them what we want and what we need.

I was quite surprised that even an old pro,(a very old pro) like my Momma picked up some hints. I could tell when she made that little noise of comprehension. I am glad to report, however, that the book does allow us some secrets still. We would never want the humans to have all the answers. Where would the mystery be? Where would the fun be/. *Wicked laugh*

It is well presented and clearly written and full of facts and information. However, I might suggest that any felines who wish to keep their humans in “the dark”, you may wish to skim the book before allowing your human to read it. One should always err on the side of caution. However, I still will give it five purrs and two paws up.

anyone that loves cats can benefit from a book with a way to understand your feline better. I learned a few new tricks to keep my cats happy. There's is a bit about training, yes, you can train a cat! I enjoyed learning and acknowledging behaviors I see in my pets.

This review is for The Handbook for A Happy Cat: Speak Their Language, Decode Their Quirks, and Meet Their Needs—So They’ll Love You Back! by Liesbeth Puts. It will be published in late November by The Experiment. I received an electronic copy on NetGalley in exchange for honest feedback.

Pub Date: November 9, 2021
Publisher: The Experiment
Genres: Pet, Home & Lifestyle, Leisure, Animals

Summary:
A standout easy-reference guide to cat care and psychology—filled with irresistible photos!
One reason cats fascinate us is that they are so unlike us: Their ears, more than eyes, show their feelings. On our laps, they are purring lovebugs; on the prowl, they are fearsome apex predators—with territorial instincts to match. This makes it hard for us humans to understand our cats as well as we love them.

Review
Right off the bat, the cover is enticing. Look at those beautiful blue eyes on that sweet baby! I love my cats, and I already think I'm in tune with their behavior. Yet, I'd love to read more about them, especially considering you never know what sort of circumstance you can find yourself in one day.

The book begins with a chapter about basic elements of dealing with cats -- their personalities, behavior, basic tenants like grooming or sleeping (things cat owners are probably familiar with!). Then it moves into cats dealing with other pets and cats, cats dealing with the home (litterbox, sleeping, eating, etc. This is followed by dealing with interactions between yourself and the cat -- humans and the cat. Importantly, a dedicated section to both training and health follows these chapters.

The information is straightforward. It is a great overview that would be a good foundational start for someone who is embarking on taking on their first pet. Perhaps it isn't necessarily news to the seasoned cat owner that cats vary in personality type or how to get them to use the litterbox. But if you come across a problem, it's probably in the book or online either way.

One side benefit from this book is the layout and high quality photos. They're very cute, but they also can be informative when necessary, such as when depicting cat behaviors such as "angry hissing" or tail swooshes.

If you want to have a browse, you won't be disappointed if you're a cat lover.

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49150917-the-handbook-for-a-happy-cat

Thanks to Netgalley for this copy. I enjoyed the book. Most , I already knew as I've read thousands of books like these. There was some new info I liked reading about. Great book for any cat lover.