Product Description
Featuring sections on daily care, preventive medicine, and training, The Well Cat Book teaches cat owners how to detect signs of illness, diagnose problems, and begin home treatment–thereby avoiding expensive and often unnecessary trips to the vet. Includes over 100 illustrations and step-by-step instructions…. More >>
The Well Cat Book: The Classic Comprehensive Handbook of Cat Care
I’m fortunate in that Terri McGinnis has been my veterinarian for decades, and has helped me care for my cats during that time. I met her before I knew she had written a book, and when I found the book I immediately bought a copy. I’ve since collected the various versions as she updates them.
I find that the books are very informative and most of the ills and complaints my cats have developed were described and explained in the book. Many times the information in the book was enough for me to heal minor problems at home. For other, more serious or complex problems, it was very helpful to have enough information to understand what treatments were available or why we were doing something, etc.
When things get complicated I’ll read up a little before a visit, and find myself reviewing afterwards. This makes it much easier to communicate at an intelligent level and understand what’s going on.
Dr. McGinnis is an unusually observant person — she has an unusually good rapport with the animals. I’ve seen her handle and treat a hostile cat without upsetting it, where other veterinarians could not even get close. It’s very impressive, and the first time I saw it I knew I wanted her to care for my kitties, and I have not been disappointed.
She’s also very good at explaining things both in person and in her books.
If you’re reading this you know medical care is not cheap for our pets. Good prevention and home care can prevent a lot of illnesses. I have a lot of books on cats, and if I could only keep one it would be this one.
Rating: 5 / 5
The original book, published in 1975, has saved me many, many trips to the vet and lots of money! It is written so that everyone can understand it and easily diagnose (to a point) your cats’ symptoms. It’s extremely helpful in educating the cat owner on all aspects of kitten and cat care for overall well being as well as treating illnesses and injuries. This book also has several helpful illustrations throughout the book, including a very comprehensive anatomy section. I have recommended this book to several people over the years and they all have found it as useful as I have. The author has done a wonderful job! I look forward to receiving the new updated version providing me with the latest in cat care.
Rating: 5 / 5
After recently going through a mysterious illness with my 6 month-old kitten, I realized that my reference shelf is severely lacking in cat-care books. I used the Internet to research symptoms and any of the specific diseases my vet mentioned she was testing for, but despite the wealth of information available online, there is no replacement for an expertly-researched cat-care manual. The Well Cat Book is an essential component of your cat care library, which should also include some more modern titles. (It’s also available used at a rock-bottom price.) There is no one size-fits-all cat manual and multiple expert opinions should always be consulted.
Terri McGinnis’s The Well Cat Book was originally published in 1975 and then updated in 1993. The update covers new diseases (FIP, FIV) and advanced medical techniques once reserved for humans (blood tests, urinalysis, x-rays). The manual is organized three opening sections on anatomy, preventative medicine, and diagnostic medicine, followed by sections on home medical care, breeding and reproduction, and veterinary care. McGinnis uses headings in the wide margins to guide the reader through the book, which allows the reader to rapidly locate the paragraph of interest by skimming a chapter. Numerous black and white anatomical diagrams are interspersed throughout the text, showing everything from inner organs to proper technique for retracting and trimming the claws. The book concludes with both an index of signs/symptoms and a general-purpose index.
The Well Cat Book allows the cat owner to get maximum benefit out of veterinary medicine. A Well Cat owner can perform appropriate care at home and converse intelligently with their vet about symptoms and treatment. I recommend that all cat owners read this manual cover to cover to familiarize themselves with these majestic creatures. After one read, this manual can be used as a quick reference for nearly every aspect of feline development and health.
Rating: 5 / 5
While there is solid medical information here, the information on cat “training” or behavior modification is appallingly outdated. The author states “most cats respond to punishment” and advocates “a spank on the rump as a last resort.” Times have changed, and so have behavior modification methods when it comes to felines. Also, very little information was offered on cat psychology or behavior, which if the cat owner is not aware of can lead to unnecessary surrenders to cat shelters when the problem behavior could be modified. This may have been a good cat reference book at one time, but that time has long passed. It needs a lot of updating.
Rating: 3 / 5
still use my original 1975 edition that was bought that year, but have seen this re-issue and am glad it is back in print… it is a *must have*. over 21 years, ‘the well cat book’ has been the saving grace for more cats than i can remember; housepets who needed general care on up to rescuing farm cats that were involved in serious accidents (if you’re not the squeamish sort)… most people don’t end up in such situations, but the needed information is there.
for the average housecat owner, you will be pleasantly suprised about how much time and $$$ will be saved at the vet on tests/ diagnostics because of the clear, common-sense and descriptive information dr. mcginnis provides.
the really *big* bonus is a *healthy and long life* for your purry companion thanks to all the information about diet and general daily home care!
Rating: 5 / 5