Member Reviews

I mean, this is so cute I love it haha. Anything cats you can sign me up! Would recommend to any known cat lovers.

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I read this to my children and they really enjoyed it. The illustrations were well drawn and made the story come alive. Highly recommend.

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I love cats! OK, I said it. As an adult, I loved this book and I think it would be great for kids, the actual target audience. It would be good for a child who wants a cat and wants to learn about them and how to care for them. Loving a cat is easy (in my opinion!!!) but taking care of them and knowing about them is not always easy. This would be helpful to teach a child how to care for a new pet. Great book!

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Just a cute book about cats with information, images and all around cat-stuff!
Colorful, infomartive and all around a good read for people that likes cats and or have cat!

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Cats are my favorite animal, so I pounced at the opportunity to read this. Let me tell you, this book is absolutely meowvelous and if you're a crazy cat person like myself you need this book in your life because it's purrrfect for cat lovers! It's filled with just about anything and everything you'd want to learn about cats, as well as adorable pictures to accompany the information. It's educational while still being enjoyable and fun. This book can be read by wannabe cat connoisseurs of all ages, so don't miss out on this catastic read!

Thank you so much HarperCollins and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!

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I picked this up from Netgalley because cats. Always cats. I really didn't expect to find anything in here that I didn't already know since I've been a cat owner my whole life. I really just wanted to see pictures of adorable kitties. Well, turns out that there was a lot of interesting information in this little book!

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This is a good book for grade school and middle school children. It breaks down cats in an easy to understand manner and has lots of information. It would make a great gift for a child interested in cats and their care. Very straightforward, easy to understand format.

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This was a book I chose to read since I love cats and there is always a change going on in the world of cats. As such I was intrigued to see what had changed since I had read an actual nonfiction cat book that wasn't focused around someone's amazing pet. And what a soothing gem it was.

There are pages that are given to colored photos of cats for each section that has little thoughts being suggested by cats and instead of going for the stupid baby talk stupid animal speak that a lot of authors fall back on these cats were gifted finally with eloquence. I am so happy for this since I thought that particular trend would never go away and it makes me cringe anytime I read a book with cats or any other animals for that matter speaking that way.

As for the book it is a bit heavy on the information but the presentation was given in a swift and easy to understand style. Each behavior being mentioned was dedicated a two page spread with the aforementioned photo on one side and a page given to the text itself with the writing taking as much space as needed. And usually there was also a vet tip and a trivia fact also included for those who may be interested in learning more. Finally each section was finished off with a cat case where it gave a cat with a problem and the answer as well as steps on how to train or help your cat further if you should want to do so.

The book's sections were also given as being broken down into types of cat talk whether it was focused on body talk, physical, emotional, tail tells, cat communication, etc. And what I definitely enjoyed with this giving of information is that it also had a section for troubled behaviors and suggestions on how to possibly fix it instead of just giving the cat away while hoping that will resolve the issue.

Finally the last section of the book was given more or less on how to introduce cats to each other, information on coat colors, specific breeds, how to make toys and play with your cat and a timeline of human reactions to these fuzzy small tigers.

And finally my main reason for giving this particular book 5 stars is just the wow factor I felt in people finally acknowledging besides pet owners that animals have a voice and a specific identity. The book seemed to re-emphasize over and over again just how much cats are like us, how much they aren't and yet also how as living species we all still feel, have our own voices, our own identities and so forth.

This is definitely going to be a nice book to have for any age whether you are a cat lover, a cat companion or even working with cats on a daily basis.

***I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review***

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I remember going to the library (to take out a whole stack of books I’d return in a few days to get more stacks – listen, I was a very busy child. But like only with reading. Definitely not Maths. I liked stopping at the magazine shelves and quickly read the Nat Geo Kids – I liked all the short and sweet articles and bright pictures.

Which I think is great because kids are definitely entranced by bright pictures and most kids, if they’re not used to reading a lot, they like short articles. And animals – fun facts about them and even funnier stories. It also gives out information in an easy way that any kids could understand.

Of course I chose this because of my kitty cat (he’s just too fantastic and I love him even if he uses me for food) but I’d definitely be interested in other National Geographics about other animals – dogs or whales (just not spiders. Please no).

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AUTHOR

Aline Alexander Newman and Gary Weitzman, D.V.M. are the authors of How to Speak Cat: A Guide to Decoding Cat Language. Click on their names to find out more about them and their publications.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE

How to Speak Cat: A Guide to Decoding Cat Language is appropriate for those of any age. The target audience is children and young adults.

SYNOPSIS

The structure of the book guides the reader through the essentials about felines from a veterinarian perspective and includes a quiz as a memory aid. As cats utilize both vocal and physical communication, the authors have provided a comprehensive yet brief breakdown of cat body language. Having owned a cat myself, I am only too aware of the importance of understanding the occult clues of feline behavior. What is abundantly clear, is that cats have a myriad of means to communicate their feelings, emotions and intentions. How to Speak Cat: A Guide to Decoding Cat Language will aid those who fail to pick up on many of the felines nuances and assist them in better addressing their pets concerns. Most importantly, following some of the advice herein contained will avoid unnecessary misunderstandings and ultimately be less stressful for the cat and owner.

Included within the book is a chapter on anti-social or dissonant behaviors is a brief breakdown of issues that can cause problems for both owner and cat. In this chapter biting, spraying and bullying are discussed along with a spectrum of other troublesome activities of some wild cats. Other chapters cover the playful side of your cat or kitten and some advice on how to recognize fear, aggression and frustrations .

The publication is resplendent with a gallery of full color high-quality photographs. The summation is elegant and includes some myth busting, fun ideas for you, your cat, and a fun quiz. There is a list of resources, an index and credits.

CONCLUSION

Ultimately, I had fun reading How to Speak Cat: A Guide to Decoding Cat Language and it is my opinion that you will also. I read so many intense scientific manuals on a weekly basis, that this publication was a complete breath of fresh air. It is bright, brilliant and informative as well as being amazingly illustrated throughout with colorful photographs. It is a great buy for your home library or as a gift for anyone who loves cats. I strongly recommend this publication to you.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Aline Alexander Newman and Gary Weitzman, NetGalley, and Harper Collins for affording me the opportunity to review How to Speak Cat: A Guide to Decoding Cat Language.

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Visually bold and interesting, with beautiful cat photos and clear language easy for children age 8 and up to understand, this book is essentially a quite detailed guide for interpreting the ways cats communicate with us and their environment. Children will especially welcome youtube links for easily misinterpreted cat feelings. Training tips and DIY ideas for cat toys and supplies are also great. The book would make a great gift for children and even first-time adult owners, for whom the publisher's name may boost the trust in the information provided.

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An easy to read book that does a good job of acquainting the reader with information about how to interpret a cat’s behavior. The format is enjoyable, with a mixture of pictures, descriptions and narrative regarding specific feline behaviors. The book is designed to be read by young people, specifically teenagers and young adults, and utilizes a combination of pictures, narrative, colors, etc. to increase the book’s appeal. While teens and young adults will likely enjoy the book, adults may also find the book to be entertaining and informative.
For anyone who has a cat, they will recognize many of the behaviors described in the book, and if they are seasoned cat families these descriptions will do little more than confirm much of what they already know. For anyone new to cats, there is a wealth of information that will help them as they transition into a cat oriented household. Regardless of how well acquainted a person is with cats, there is likely to be some information in this book that will be new to them.
There are also a few instructions on how to train a cat to some specific behavior, such as coming when they are called. The method explained within this book can easily be adapted to other behaviors if a person is trying to train their cat to do something special.
At one point the author makes a sweeping statement about cats who aren’t held as kittens remaining forever wild. Personal experience has been more nuanced than this seems to indicate. Having had rescue cats who were feral as well as adopting one that was loved as a kitten, then abandoned as an adult, the wildness of a cat, and their subsequent reluctance to become part of the social fabric of a household, I believe is more complex than simply being held and cuddled as a kitten. However, cuddling a kitten is always an excellent way to help develop a bond.
Overall, this book has some excellent information and would be a good place to start for anyone who is trying to create or improve an understanding of cats. It would make an excellent book to be displayed in a veterinarian's office, particularly one who specializes in feline health. The table of contents at the beginning of the book offers a quick way to get to specific information an individual may be seeking, and is an added bonus. In addition, it would be a great gift for any young person whose household is expanding to include a cat or two.
My thanks to Collins Harper Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an Advanced Digital Reader copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

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This book was very informative and fun to read. It covered nearly all aspects of cats. The photos were cute and correlated well with the information.

I am wondering if there is an "American" version of this. This was clearly written by and intended for use by British people. The cricket analogy, and mention of "rubbish bins" and a half dozen other British colloquialisms, made parts of this book difficult to follow for American children, and probably even some adults.

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If you have a cat or if you want to get one, this book is definitely helpful because it doesn't only show you what cats are trying to tell you but also how you should work with a cat from his/her kitty life on already. I knew some of the things, obviously from growing up with cats all my life, but I never owned a cat just by myself so when someday it will happen that I get one, I'd definitely get back to a book like this for some key facts and important things I have to look for.
I also really liked the little facts you get throughout the book. There's some interesting stuff I didn't know about. Also, the photos through this book are beautiful.

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How To Speak Cat: A Guide to Decoding Cat Language by Aline Alexander Newman and Gary Weitzman is a children's non fiction book that is easily enjoyed by adults as well. Ever wish you could talk to your cat? Well, now you can! Master cat language in this National Geographic Kids guide to pet behaviour. It is an informative guide to the body language of cats with additional facts, games and tips, designed to entertain children as well as encourage responsible pet care. Learn why your kitty likes to climb way up high, what it means when she flops belly-up in front of you, what each tail position says about your cat, and a lot more. This guide features more than 55 different feline poses with detailed explanations of their meaning as well as tests and vet care and advice, wacky fun facts, training tips and more than 100 cat photos.

How To Speak Cat is a good resource for readers that want to have a better understanding of cats. I have had at least one cat in my house for the majority of my life, and think this will continue being the case. I have read a good deal about cats, their behavior, and how to interact with them so not much of the information was new to me. However, I liked the emphasis on safety, and how like people each cat is different and personality has a role to play in the way we interpret their body language. I thought that the text was accessible and sometimes fun, holding the attention of readers. I enjoyed the images of cats, and thought they were well chosen and just nice to look at.

How To Speak Cat is an informative and interesting read, but I have to admit that I was hoping for more new information. Readers that are looking for this sort of information for the first time will get the most out of the read.

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This book is basically an encyclopedia of everything cat. It talks about how your cat behaves, how to make life more enjoyable for them, and has other information too.

I thought this book was very informative. I enjoyed that the book was very kid-friendly and is easy for one to understand. Everyone can read this book and learn more about cats.

It seemed like some parts of the book where all over the place so that made it hard to read.

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I had so much fun reading this informative guide on cat behavior. It is well structured into different topics with every subtopic covering one page. It is short, entertaining, easy to understand, and – most importantly – helpful! I certainly profited from reading this guide. And the many cat pictures are super cute!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Everything you've ever wanted to know about how your cat communicates - how they use their ears, tails and purrs... Even with this guide I'm still not sure if my cat loves me or hates me...

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The format was very difficult to read on my Kindle. However I truly loved this book. It was full of so much information that I really enjoyed about cats. I learned little things, like what the whiskers are truly used for, but also much bigger things, like how important it is for cats to learn to play properly with their litter mates, otherwise they may not ever learn to play properly, if at all.
This book was a true joy to read, and will be used as a reference for a long time to come.

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It's anther cute cat book. My son read through it, but he wasn't really pulled in. I didn't find it was all that interesting. But hey, if it gets kids reading.

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