Cat Speak: How To Learn It, Speak It, And Use It To Have A Happy, Healthy, Well-Mannered Cat - Hardcover

Bash Dibra is the internationally acclaimed animal behaviorist and trainer whose clients include Jennifer Lopez, Matthew Broderick, Sarah Jessica Parker, Martin Scorsese, Mariah Carey, Kim Basinger, Alec Baldwin, Calvin Klein, and Mia Farrow. He is a recipient of the New York State Humane Association Award and the New York City Veterinary Medical Association Unsung Hero Award.

Elizabeth Randolph is the author of more than a dozen books about pets and their care.

Dibra, an animal behaviorist and "celebrated dog trainer to the stars," now turns his attention to cats, wisely noting that whereas one gives a dog a command, a cat only listens to suggestions. Still, according to Dibra, there's much that can be done to adjust a cat's behavior using the "three Ps" --patience, persistence, and praise. Among the topics covered are feline society and behavior, various breeds, how to choose a pet, "the homecoming," health issues, and "catspeak" (the ways your cat communicates and how you can communicate right back). Final chapters deal with addressing particular behavior problems and teaching your cat tricks. This is a great basic primer, but owners who have had particular problems with their cats may mutter "tried it; doesn't work" as Dibra and coauthor Randolph offer solutions to various offensive behaviors. As for getting the cat to retrieve or jump through a hoop (yes, literally), it's more likely to be the owners who are doing the jumping. Ilene Cooper
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