CATWATCHING

by DESMOND MORRIS

Paper Book, 1986

Status

Available

Call number

636.8

Genres

Collection

Animals

Publication

JONATHAN CAPE LTD (1986), Edition: 1st Ed., Hardcover, 106 pages

Description

"Desmond Morris answers 60 fascinating questions about cats- * Why does a cat purr? * How does a cat use its whiskers? * Why do cats interfere when their owners answer the telephone? * Why do we believe a black cat brings good luck? * Why do cats sulk? * Why are cats attracted to people who dislike them? * Why does a cat like being stroked? and many, many more. . . . The text is accompanied by beautiful colour photographs of cats of every variety, illustrating the behaviour Desmond Morris describes."

User reviews

LibraryThing member brendanus

In about 60 very short chapters, in question and answer form, Desmond Morris, explains the natural and adapted behavior of cats in terms that even dog-people can understand. Watching cats and trying to relate their behavior to basic science and bahavioral principles has been the famed zoologists

passion since childhood; the breadth and depth of his understanding of animals is evident. This is not a 'cat care' book, it is merely a collection of random bit of information - but fascinating and informative nonetheless. Except for a couple of inappropriate and irrelevant remarks (as on page 11)he makes the cats behavior understandable, hopefully to the benefit of both the cats and we, whom they let live with them. [** because it is not an organized text, just a collection of Q & A.]

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LibraryThing member izze.t

I was expecting more from this book. There were a few relivant tid-bits here, but I found it pretty light on usable information.

LibraryThing member giovannigf

Fascinating, convincing, and well written. My only complaint about this wonderful book about domestic cats is that it's so brief.

LibraryThing member dbsovereign

What we can learn about and from our feline friends and their ancestors.

LibraryThing member AngelaJMaher

Not a big book, but a gem of a book filled with information you don't see elsewhere. Even I learned things from this book, despite having a zoology degree of my own, and having lived in close proximity to my cat for the last decade. This book will renew your appreciation of what wonderful creatures

cats are, and you will probably find yourself watching them even more closely.

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LibraryThing member kaida46

Catwatching by Desmond Morris (4 stars)
If you are a cat or animal lover, you will probably like this book. This was an oldie I had sitting on my shelf for several years and I am glad I finally got around to reading it. Filled with interesting information about cat behavior, explanations for why

they do certain things and what different types of behavior represent from the study of animals. The author is a good observer of behavior and explains it in an interesting way to the reader. He’s written other books about dog and primate behavior, and even one about people watching. Older book, but still relevant.

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