Complete Kitten Care

I have only one problem with how-to books. I don't read them. I buy them. I just don't read them--or instructions, or manuals, or recipes. And if there was one I didn't think I needed to buy or read,it was one on cat care. I've had dozens of cats--weaned, unweaned, rescued half-dead, purchased from breeders, easy-going lap-cats and neurotic curtain climbers. I've always been proud that in the end my cats were sassy and long-lived. However, I recently purchased a Burmese kitten I brought him home and planned to spend my Christmas break getting to know him. It did not go well. He immediately darted under a bed and scrambled into a corner of the mattress frame. From there he began a yowling heard throughout the house. The very sight of me sent him into a frenetic shelter search. He was so scared and angry that he growled, yowled, and ate at the same time. By the end of the first week, he was still yowling and I could only get near him if I lay on the floor half under the bed for an hour with a tablespoon of tuna in my hand. I was ready to take him back where he came from, if I could catch him, but I couldn't admit defeat. I finally broke down and bought Amy Shojai's Complete Kitten Care, AND read it. Through Shojai's Complete Kitten Care, which is straight-forward, well written, and covers absolutely everything you need to know about kittens, explained everything I'd been doing wrong, and even why another way was better. I had people traipsing in and out, adult cats were prowling about, and the little guy was absolutely lost in my three story farm house. Ten days after I read it, my kitten was on my lap or on my shoulder, tangled in my hair and purring. He offered me a good grooming from time to time, and if he scaled a bare leg with his tiny, needle sharp claws on occasion, it was worth every scratch. The bonus is that besides the information I was looking for, I found much that I needed but didn't know it. I discovered the technical aspects of kitten nutrition, why I should feed a kitten a number of small meals a day rather than one or two large ones, and why it wasn't a good idea to give a them tuna or cow's milk. I got a lesson in cat hierarchy and its difference from that of other animals, a section that has been extremely valuable in teaching me why my grown cats do what they do. I now know how and why they groom themselves, how to teach them to, if not love, at least to tolerate baths. Now Barney, as he became, is the clown that chases and is chased, that climbs into my bed and under my blanket, and wakes me up with his nose on mine. He's everywhere and into everything. My method might have worked eventually, but really, I might not have had sufficient years left to wait. Shojai's book is filled with information, and, as I said is extremely well written. In addition, she conveys information in a knowledgeable but conversational tone. It was such a joy to read that I may read another how-to book someday. Nah. Probably not.

I purchased Complete Kitten Care in the Kindle version, since we have been used to adult cats for a long time, and wanted to brush up on raising kittens. The book is extremely well written, well organized, highly informative and a lot of fun to read. Amy Shojai has included a lot of adorable photos of kittens, and she writes with a fantastic sense of humor, so I enjoyed the book on many levels. It is possible to be parents of kitties without such helpful advice, but you and your kittens will be much happier and have a better relationship after reading Complete Kitten Care. She covers everything from preparing to bring your kittens home, choosing your kitten(s), food and snacks, litterbox training, play, training in general, providing appropriate scratching targets and encouraging kitties in their use, health, travel, and plenty of information about emergencies. Some of the most helpful information will be the portions on understanding how kittens view their world and you and how to interpret kitten body language and behavior. Whether you already have kittens or are planning to adopt some, please do yourself and your kitty children a favor and buy Complete Kitten Care. I know I will be referring to the book often for the kittens we will adopt soon.

As a new kitten owner and past dog owner, Complete Kitten Care has provided a thorough overview of the feline ownership experience. This is a not a brief "how to potty train"-type book, but a deeper explanation of kitten psychology, sociology, life stages, needs, motivations, and expectations: and only after all these things, training. Shojai is clearly an expert at the subject, and her notes come from a place of sincere love and compassion for the best interests of cats, even when confronting controversial issues such as declawing and destruction of unwanted animals. A full point is taken for less-than-steller editing, particularly in typographical errata and duplication of content. Reiteration for the sake of learning is ok, but frequent déjà vu of near exact verbiage is not acceptable. The content duplication problem is particularly apparent towards the end, where the smell of a weary-eyed editor on their N-tenth read-through is strongest. Writing style in the last few sections also changes dramatically and without explanation from the adoring, motherly nature of Amy's lighthearted tone, to a more clinical matter-of-fact sprit. Neither is necessarily preferable in this type of book, but a rounding of stylistic edges for the sake of reading consistency would be better. This is a book for the surrogate kitty mom/dad that wants an easy-to-read crash course in kitten love. In terms of useful information per dollar, it's money well spent, especially considering the level of commitment required to care for an animal over the course of a lifetime. Overall: 4/5.

This book is a godsend for anyone fostering kittens. Loads of helpful advice in easy to understand terms. The author loves animals and it shows in her writing. Don't adopt a kitten without reading this book. It will keep you from making mistakes and will help you keep your kitten healthy. I use the advice for my two kittens!

I bought this book on Kindle when I got my first kitten in over 20 years. I honestly had no idea what to do with it! I liked this book because it told me a lot of things I didn't know, but unfortunately, it is a bit thin on... well, everything... so it wasn't useful when I started to have problems with kitten behaviour, alas. It is a guide, so don't buy it thinking it's got absolutely everything in spades - it doesn't. It does touch on pretty much everything in some way, though, so it is still useful to point you in the right direction. And, for the 'feline virgin', it was a useful read and one that enlightened me about the cat and how we have developed our relationship with it over the years. Oh, and all those kitten pictures throughout are just adorable!!

My family surprised me with a new kitten never having had a kitten I looked for a book. If you have a kitten or a cat even by this book. There is so much useful and wonderful information helpful information I didn't know so much about cats even though I've had cats most of my life. The information in this book has helped my family and my new kitten to get along wonderfully and to become a happy family.

Excellent book on Kittens. Well written and easy to read. Bought used in very good condition. Which it actually appeared new! Was delivered in less than a week and a week earlier than scheduled. Very pleased with my order and will definitely use them again.

This book is excellent!

Fantastic...answers all my questions about kittens. I have read a lot of Cat books but this is right up there with the best

Having gotten a kitten for the first time in over a decade I found myself very overwhelmed at first. It seemed so tiny and fast and there seemed so many ways it could get hurt etc. I decided I needed a book on looking after a kitten, and after looking at a few different ones I downloaded this for my kindle and I'm so glad I did :) It covers everything I could think of, including how to know if your kitten is sick, what they need to be healthy and happy, how to train them and much much more. Things I had forgotten and a lot of things I just never knew! Including information on how to make sure you play with your kitten in a way that it won't try to play-attack you or other behaviour which might be cute in a small kitten but painful later on. I now feel I know most of what I need to and feel a lot calmer! The only possible issue is that it is written for an American audience so I think the brand names might be USA specific, also I think there is more of an assumption that the kitten will grown up indoors. However the brand names thing doesn't worry me, I would still recommend this book for any new kitten owners.

I started reading this and find it so interesting and useful for when I adopt a kitten this summer. This book is really helping prepare for this adoption. Also updated in 2017. Highly recommended.

Nothing new here, the book is really too superficial I learned nothing about kitten care, I regret having bought it..

I am really happy with the content of this book I actually feel more confident about caring for my new kitten, can be read cover to cover or referencing a particular area. I thoroughly recommend it.