Books on single breeds of cat

Colette Anderson
EKL Publications (2014)
ISBN-10: 190982061X
ISBN-13: 978-1909820616

Burmese cats have many similarities with Siamese cats, and those found in Europe and the US have some Siamese blood. Burmese cats have smaller ears than Siamese cats, and they aren’t quite as loud when they meow, but they are similar in being very elegant cats which are active and which tend to form strong bonds with their owners.

Burmese cats are sometimes kept as indoor cats, but because they’re active, they do need entertainment if they’re kept indoors. They also benefit from an enclosed area in the garden or from access to an apartment balcony. Like Siamese cats, Burmese cats often follow their owners out of doors, ‘helping’ with the gardening. They are a curious, intelligent breed, and like company, so make good companions for people who are at home in the day, though they may come and sit on your work table, to 'help' you!

Older Burmese cats tend to be calmer and less active, so if you want an indoor cat that is affectionate but not especially active, it’s worth looking for an adult Burmese in need of rehoming. They tend to choose one person as their ‘slave’, but they can happily transfer their affections to a new human if they need to.

Colette Anderson’s book is an interesting account of the breed, which has useful help with general care, as well some good illustrations. It’s geared to an American readership, and Americans tend to favour keeping cats indoors, because it’s riskier for cats to go outdoors in much of the US due to there being more feral cats, and large predators like coyotes. This is actually helpful, because this particular breed can be challenging as an indoor cat, and there are tips on how to keep your Burmese cat amused.

Dan Rice
Barron's Educational Series;
2nd Revised edition edition (29 April 2005)
ISBN-10: 0764128620
ISBN-13: 978-0764128622

Bengal cats are hybrids which have descended from crosses between wild leopard cats from Southeast Asia, and domestic cats. Early attempts to domesticate leopard cat kittens proved to be a failure, while bringing in domestic cat blood meant that the new breed was easier to house train, and friendlier with people.

Bengal cats are a large breed which have spectacular coats with leopard - like patterns, and they have been carefully bred to have nice temperaments - less wary and more outgoing than their wild ancestors.

They are very active and intelligent cats, and need an enriched environment. Many Bengal cats are kept indoors, because they are such special cats. Indoor Bengal cats need games with their owners, and places to climb, so that they don't get bored - an enclosed area in the garden, or a fenced in apartment balcony help alleviate their boredom, especially if they have high places to sit on, and access to water, which they love.

The markings of a Bengal cat change as the kitten becomes an adult, and the pattern can become muted, only to reappear. Bengal cats can be expensive, so it's worth checking at the breeder's that both parents are from the Bengal breed, and learning as much about their ancestory and links with wild leopard cats as you can.

Dan Rice is a US vet who has written this concise guide to the breed. It's a very good introduction to Bengal cats, and packs in a lot of information, though it is rather short. There's help with health problems that the breed is prone to, and the book gives a very good idea of what it's like to share a house with one of these marvellous cats. The illustrations are also a treat for all cat lovers, and show what a striking breed this is.

Dennis Kelsey-Wood
Interpet Publishing; 1st edition (20 Nov 2001)
ISBN-10: 1842860380
ISBN-13: 978-1842860380

Birman cats are medium-sized, and have many of the advantages of Persians such as a tranquil nature and long fur, without their distressing tendency to mat. Birman cats' fur isn't as dense as that of Persian cats, and they have Siamese-type markings, with white feet, and strikingly blue eyes.

They can be very playful cats, but are content to watch the world much of the time. This tranquility means that they are suited for people who work at home, since they are less likely to help you on the computer, or get up to other mischief, in the way that a Bengal or Siamese might.

Kelsey-Wood's guide to the breed covers its history, personality, and care, such as feeding and grooming. It's well illustrated, and clearly written. As with most breed books, much of the advice is general to all cats, but this book does give readers good insights into this lovely breed.

Dennis Kelsey-Wood
Interpet Publishing
ISBN: 1842860100

Burmese cats have many similarities with Siamese cats, and those found in Europe and the US have some Siamese blood. Their ears are smaller than those of Siamese cats, though, like Siamese, Burmese are very elegant cats. They are not aloof, tending to form strong bonds with their owners.

They are sometimes kept as indoor cats, and do need entertainment if they are kept indoors, and benefit from an enclosed area in the garden or apartment balcony. They are intelligent, and like company, so make good companions for people who are at home in the day, though they may come and sit on your work table, to 'help' you!

This is an up-to-date account account of the breed, which has useful help with general care, as well some good illustrations. There's also an interesting account of the history of the breed.

Marilis Hornidge
Tilbury House Publisher
ISBN: 088448243X

Maine Coon cats are magnificent beasts, and were developed in Maine, America. They have long, thick, fur and can tolerate the cold well. Some individuals have tufts on their ears so they look like lynxes. They come in a range of colours, and are large cats, but not giants - they just look even bigger than they are because of their shaggy coats.

Maine Coon cats were allowed to develop naturally as a breed, and matings planned by humans are fairly recent compared to many breeds, so recent natural selection means that they are relatively tough and healthy cats.

This breed doesn't really like to be confined indoors, and prefers to be patrolling the garden, investigating mouseholes and warning the local mutts to stay away. They can get on very well with dogs in the same household, and are also robust enough to make good family cats.

This book is a delight for cat enthusiasts - you don't have to be a Maine Coon owner to enjoy the stories of the breed. There is also advice on general care and breeding of Maine Coons. There's enough in this book to interest discerning Maine Coon fans as well as newcomers to the breed.

Thomas Critchley
Interpet Publishing
ISBN 1-842860-07-0

This excellent book about Persian cats with some beautiful colour photographs would be useful for new and experienced owners, as well as those who wish to breed and show Persians. It covers all the usual information you’d find in a cat book, such as health care and feeding, as well as more Persian related advice, such as grooming, and each chapter features highlighted hints and related points of interest, which is a nice touch. As an owner of Persians I was pleased to see a whole chapter devoted to the all-important grooming, which provides sensible advice on the right sort of grooming equipment to choose, as well as how to bath your cat.

The chapter about the origins of the Persian cat is interesting and there is an easy to follow guide to the different coat colours and patterns accompanied by some stunning photographs. I would have liked to see a bit more about the intrinsic nature of the Persian cat, but it is still an invaluable addition to a breed specific library.

Review by Gillian Harvey

 Ulrike Meuller
Publisher: Barron's Educational Series;
2nd Revised edition edition (Oct 2004) Language English
ISBN-10: 9780764129193
ISBN-13: 978-0764129193
ASIN: 0764129198

Persian cats are very popular. They are gentle cats which like company, but they aren't usually pushy when they want affection. They are usually much more calm and relaxed with both dogs and children than most other breeds. They aren't very noisy, and are less likely to knock objects off high shelves than many breeds.

Persians also come in some wonderful colours, including tabbies and Himalayans, as well as the more familiar solid silver or white cats, which appear in chocolate box images.

What are the downsides of this lovely breed? They do need a lot of grooming, and will readily mat if they aren't groomed regularly. They can pick up all sorts of debris if they are outdoor cats, though this is one breed which seems perfectly content to live indoors, with a cat run to be able to take the sun.

Persians are also less able to defend themselves in cat fights compared to the average moggy, or a more robust breed like a Maine Coon or even a British Short Hair, so it's kinder to give them some protection if you live in an area with a high cat population density. Some people go so far as to fence their whole gardens with a mesh roof, to keep other cats out.

This book is an excellent introduction to Persian cats. It's a very good guide for novices, and there is a lot of good advice on general care, including grooming and health care. It's is a little short for people who already have experience of Persians, but it's an inexpensive book.

Denise Jones (Author)
Publisher: Interpet Publishing (17 July 2001) Language English
ISBN-10: 1842860089
ISBN-13: 978-1842860083

Siamese cats have presence. They are very elegant, and look as though they were designed to be painted or photographed. They are long, rather than large cats, with long heads and bodies, and short, sleek coats that show up their fine lines. Their eyes and a piercing blue, and can mesmerise humans. These cats have often been compared to dogs, in that they like to be with their owners and communicate with them, and have even been taken out on leads. Siamese cats know that they are not dogs, however, and tend to treat the family mutt with disdain! These cats like to be up high, so can knock things off shelves. They benefit from an enclosed area in the garden or apartment balcony if they are kept indoors, and like to have objects like tree trunks to climb.

Denise Jones has written a delightful book about Siamese cats, starting with an account of their origins in Thailand and their later popularity in Europe. The book covers the breed's characteristics, as well as all the main aspects of choosing and caring for a Siamese cat. It is well illustrated both with illustraitions to help understand the text, and some lovely 'pin up' shots of Siamese cats.

K.L. Davis
Barron's Educational Series
ISBN: 0764107321

Ragdoll cats are a large breed which was developed from white cats with long hair and Siamese markings. They come in a range of colours, and have blue eyes. They are gentle, affectionate cats, which are robust enough to be good family cats, and they tend not to climb as much as many breeds, so are less likely to get into mischief. They don't need as much grooming as Persian cats, despite their long fur, and they aren't very noisy. The breed is very relaxed when handled, and tends not to defend itself. Many people keep Ragdoll cats as indoor cats on the grounds that they can't easily defend themselves against local moggies, though they benefit from an enclosed area in the garden or apartment balcony, if they are kept as indoor cats.

This book is a short introduction to the breed, which has some nice pictures. It's clearly written and up-to-date, and is an excellent introduction for novices, especially people new to cat ownership, though most Ragdoll enthusiasts are likely to want more!