Far too many books about cats stress their idiosyncratic natures, their mysterious glances, and their mythological pasts. Far too many of these books concentrate on the perfection of cats: how independent, how intelligent! Such books seem to dwell far too much on the unanswerable issue of whether cats are smarter than dogs or vice versa.
Consequently, it is refreshing to read a book like Cats Behaving Badly by Celia Haddon. Haddon tackles feline bad behavior from spraying in the house to fighting in the house to fighting in the yard to nipping at an owner's heels. She also tackles owner's issues like feeding cats too much and hoarding too many cats.
In fact, after a few chapter, it seems like there are no nice cats in the world! Haddon dwells on aloof and unfriendly cats--possibly because these are the cats she gets called in to help. But there are a notable lack of easygoing, affectionate cats in her records. Since this reviewer's two cats--Bob and Aurora--are currently sleeping together in the same room less than two feet apart and will, in approximately one hour, eat dinner side by side, Haddon's claim that non-related cats rarely get on is hard to take as the final word.
However, the book is worth perusing. Haddon is a close observer and her willingness to describe how cats behave--rather than their auras or personalities--is refreshing. She also has a matter-of-fact and humorous tone. In one of the funniest parts of the book, Haddon details the types of things cats bring home from their trips abroad. The book is also scattered through with stories about individual cats and their owners which makes it more than lists of steps and procedures.
Since Haddon is mostly writing about British owners and their cats, the book can also be read as a fascinating peep-hole into the difference between American cat-care and British cat-care. For example, Britishers seem to put more store on a cat's need for outside experiences while Americans place more emphasis on cat safety and extol indoor living (when this American reviewer obtained 6-week-old Bob from the local rescue shelter, the assistant urged that he be raised as a permanent indoor cat).
The only off-note in Haddon's book is the continual mention of Feliway, a product for preventing bad behavior based on pheromone therapy. There are times when the book reads more than a product brochure than a balanced account of cat behavior.
Still, there is enough down-to-earth advice throughout the book--including some excellent suggestions for entertaining our little hunters--to make it well worth reading.
In the Greater Portland Area, Haddon's book can be obtained from the South Portland Library, where it is a new purchase, and from the Portland Library. Pick up a copy soon and learn more about your feline companion's occasionally odd behavior!
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