Dear Cathy,
I read your great pet column in the Las Vegas Review-Journal every Sunday. It’s always interesting. I am writing because our son has four cats, and seems to be very adept at their overall care. My question is, can you recommend a good cat medical guide, which would be a handy thing for him to use now and then? An A-Z guide covering as much as possible? No doubt there are several on the market, but I wanted to ask the expert. Christmas is coming soon, and it would be a good gift.
– Geoffrey, Las Vegas Nevada
Dear Geoffrey,
Reference books on pet care make great gifts for people with pets of all ages. While there are lots of books with great information on pet care, health, and behavior, I tend to go for the classics. My favorite books include Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats by Susan Hubble Pitcairn and Richard H. Pitcairn. It’s been around for about 20 years, but was recently updated, so get the updated version. It focuses on natural health.
The other book I like, and which is more in line with your question, is The Cat Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook by six veterinarians. This is a good all-around reference book that focuses on health issues. Make sure you get the recently updated version of this book too.
If your son is interested in understanding more about cat behavior, check out books by cat experts Jackson Galaxy and Pamela Bennet Johnson. These authors offer lots of insights into feline behavior that can be helpful in a multi-cat household.
Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal
