Books on Animals
Cat health and disease (veterinary) and Feline nutrition
If you want to buy a book, clicking on the book cover will take you directly to that book on the Amazon.co.uk web site.
See also:
Feline Nutrition: Nutrition for the Optimum Health and Longevity of your Cat
This is a very useful book for cat owners who want to know the basics about feline nutrition, such as why cats are called obligate carnivores, and what that means for how we should feed them. Sadly, not all commercial cat foods are ideal for cats, especially those with health problems. There is some help with understanding the contents of cat food packs and cans, which explains the basics, though as the book is geared to American readers, it’s less help if you live in the UK. There are also recipes for people who have time to prepare food for their cats and prefer to be sure of what their cats are eating. These recipes are especially useful for people whose cats have special dietary needs. In general, this is a good basic introduction to feline nutrition.
Feline Medicine: A Practical Guide for Veterinary Nurses and Technicians
This guide to feline medicine is geared to veterinary nurses, but is also very useful for cat owners who want to information on how to care for their cats. It's especially useful for people with aged and infirm cats, people with several cats and for cat breeders.
The book also gives help with feline behaviour. There is a lot of useful information on a wide range of subjects, including nutrition, as well as nursing care. The book is very clearly written, so is accessible to non-professionals.
Feline Infectious Diseases (Self-Assessment Colour Review)
This book is geared to professionals in the field of veterinary medicine, but is also written clearly enough, and has enough illustrations to be understood by non-professionals. It deals with all types of feline infections, whether caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites or fungi.
There are clinical cases with detailed analysis. People likely to find the book especially useful are cat breeders, owners of cat boarding facilities, and people with more than one cat.
Small Animal Nutrition [Paperback]
This is a very useful reference book on small animal nutrition, which is especially useful for cat owners, though it is geared to both owners and to professionals studying for exams. It provides enough information for cat owners to take decisions on how best to feed their cats at different stages of their lives, and in different states of health. It is very accessible, both in terms of writing style, and organisation.
Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook [Hardcover]
This is a very clearly written guide to cat care and ailments, with numerous photographs to help you identify feline problems. You may find some of the photos a bit sad, but they are very useful aids to home diagnoses.
This edition is the revised version, which has been expanded. It's a comprehensive guide that covers problems that can be solved without a vet, and helps you decide when to call the vet, as well as helping you to understand your vet's diagnoses and treatments. Highly recommended.
Veterinary Notes for Cat Owners
This book provides a comprehensive coverage of feline health and care, which will appeal to cat owners, breeders and also the veterinary profession. There are contributions from a panel of experts on subjects such as behaviour, nutrition, anatomy and physiology, diseases and breeding.
It is perhaps not a book that you would sit and read all the way through, but rather it is a reference source to dip into, to tackle a particular problem, or to increase your knowledge of specific aspects of feline care.
Real Food for Cats
This is more of a gourmet cookbook for cats than 'Cooking for Cats', with recipes for special occasions, and some quite fancy fare. The recipes have been checked out by veterinary advisers, which gives reassurance. The illustrations are fun. A very useful addition to the kitchen bookshelf for people who cook for their cats.
Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats [Paperback]
This is a very popular and accessible guide to holistic cat and dog care. There's a lot of help with both diet and health care. Some of the recommendations on nutrition are controversial, but there are many good ideas for improving your pet's diet.
All aspects of care are dealt with, including exercise, grooming, and tackling emergiencies. Much of what Dr Pitcairn says about commercial pet foods and vaccinations is not new, but the detail he gives for alternative approaches is very helpful, especially for owners of pets prone to allergies.
A-Z of Cat Health and First Aid: A Practical Guide for Owners
This is the second edition of a very useful reference book for tackling the most common cat health problems. It's clearly written, and easy to use in an emergency. The author stresses a holistic approach, this is not intended to replace conventional methods, but rather to complement them. There's a lot of practical help in dealing with, and assessing emergencies, so it's a very useful book to have just in case. The 'A-Z of Cat Health' also gives helpful advice on preventing feline health problems, and understanding vet treatments.