About.com Rating



I had been following Darlene Arden on Facebook and Twitter for several years, and enjoyed our interaction, but thought of her mostly as a dog expert. However, when I joined in on About.com's Readers' Choice Awards in 2012, I was interested to see that Darlene's new book, The Complete Cat's Meow, was highly lauded by a number of readers who nominated it.

This book unanimously won the 2012 Readers' Choice Award for "Best Book About Cat Care." so it was only natural that I'd want to purchase it, not only to read for my own benefit, but also to share a review with my readers.

Book Basics

• Published IN 2011 by Wiley Publishing, Inc.
• Paperback, 222 Pages
• Illustrated with several full-color centerfold photos, and black-and-white photos throughout.
• Cover Design by Wendy Mount, Cover Photograph by Lisa Marie Thompson/jupiterimages
• ISBN: 978-0-470-64167-5

Full Review of The Complete Cat's Meow

This book is divided logically into chapters covering different areas of cat care.

Chapter 1: The Newborn Kitten

I surmised that Darlene started off the book with kittens because so many people look for a kitten as a first pet. Darlene goes into great detail about responsible cat breeders and how they initially raise the young kittens they breed "underfoot." She covers the early growth, development, and care of newborn kittens, including, but not limited to:

• The age when litter box training can be started
• The initial kitten vaccinations, including core vaccines and the diseases they prevent
• Confining the kittens to a kitten-proof area of the home
• Socializing, so that the kittens will more readily acclimate to the humans in their new homes

• The degree of responsible care necessary to raise kittens

Darlene discusses these facets of kittens' development, not to suggest that readers' first cat should be a purebred cat, but to illustrate the responsibility necessary for bringing a kitten into the home as a first cat.

Chapter 2: "Ready, Steady, Get Your Cat"

This entire chapter prepares the new cat owner for his or her first cat, starting with the question, "Are you ready for a cat?" Darlene clears up a lot of misconceptions that people have about cats, such as that they don't require the kind of care a dog does, that the kids can care for them, or that they can be left home alone if you leave for a trip. Then she asks pointed questions that require serious consideration before getting a cat. The fact is that cats do require a lot of care and a lot of time, and Darlene is painstaking about making sure no one makes the mistake of getting a cat if they are not willing and prepared to take care of it properly.
Once you (and Darlene) are satisfied on that score, she gets into the fun and exciting part of choosing a first cat:

• Kitten or Adult Cat?
• Pedigreed or Moggie?
• Long Coat or Short?
• Where Will You Get Your Cat?
  Shelter, Rescue, Friend or Relative, Breeder?

Darlene also makes an excellent point that while you're considering getting a cat, you could volunteer at a shelter or rescue, to make sure you have "the right stuff" while performing a valuable service for these organizations (and the cats they care for.)

Chapters 3 and 4

Chapter 3 (Gearing up for Kitty), covers kitty-proofing your home for your new arrival. Also described in detail are the things you'll need to have on hand for your new family member. They include litter boxes and cat litter, scratching posts, cat trees, window perches, food and water dishes, toys, and other items cats need for well-rounded lives.
Chapter 4 (Home at Last), is all about integrating your new cat into the family, using a safe room, complete with litter box and amenities; getting him used to you, and eventually to other cats and dogs, if any. Also included are sections about keeping him indoors; declawing - don't; and environmental enrichment.

The Remainder of the Book

A brief synopsis of the remainder of The Complete Cat's Meow:

• Chapter 5: Understanding Cat Behavior
• Chapter 6: Feeding a Carnivore
• Chapters 7 Through 9: Cat Health
  Chapter 7 discusses routine health; Chapter 8: Special Feline Health Concerns; Chapter 9: Emergencies and Surgery
• Chapter 10: Popular Cat Breeds
• Chapter 11: Catapulting Into Activities
  This section covers training, both for fun and for necessities, such as walking on a leash or going where you want her to go (into her carrier, to her mat, staying off the counter).
• Back Matter
  Appendix A: Shopping; Appendix B: Useful Resources; Index

Although Darlene Arden is a proven authority on cats and dogs, the entire book is written in a warm, personable manner, completely in keeping with Darlene's personality. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to anyone thinking about getting their first cat, nor to any experienced cat caregiver seeking more information about cat care.

And though Darlene and I are "virtual friends," through our contact with CWA (Cat Writers' Association); and our regular interaction in social media groups, such as Facebook, Twitter, and others, the full 5-Star rating I've given this book has nothing to do with friendship, and everything to do with masterful writing. The 5-Star average rating by Amazon readers certainly supports my opinion of this excellent book on the care of cats.

More About Darlene Arden:

Darlene Arden's Website
Blog: PerPETually Speaking
Facebook Page
Twitter