Is Your Cat Too Fat? [Hardcover]

It begins by telling us some interesting cat history. For example, did you know that cats were persecuted during the Middle Ages? Next, the author explains what it is that cats really like to eat -- NOT BIRDS! Bird are way down on the cat's list of favorite things because the feathers must be plucked before eating. Yuck. Cats like mice of course, but according to a study the author cited, cats prefer canned or prepared food, if it's available. Also, cats can tell when food is beginning "to turn." They prefer it fresh.

The book contains ways to figure out if your cat is too fat, including a weight chart for different breeds. (Mine weighs 12 lbs which is okay for an American short-hair, but she feels fat to me.)

Then comes the part we all know will follow -- the inevitable diet suggestions which we've all heard before. Ta Da: diet and exercise. The author has included lots of clever ways to engage our cats in playful games designed to trim them down a little. And the exciting thing is that we ourselves must become the primary entertainer.

But the most interesting part of the book is the recipe section. Yes, indeed. How about whipping up a batch of chicken liver mousse for your kitten? Or scrambled eggs with haddock for a Sunday morning brunch (for the cat, of course). The recipe section is divided into categories: Sauces, Savories, Sandwiches, Eggs, Game, Meat, Poultry, Fish, and Pasta. (What, no dessert?)

The illustrations are charming, it's easy to read, and full of interesting facts, with a small dose of guilt designed to help us keep our cats healthy and happy. This book belongs on the bookshelf of every cat-lover.

The whimsically illustrated book discusses a brief history of cats and goes a bit into why commercially prepared cat foods are not a healthy staple for your cat. There is some information, for the most part based on observation, about how to tell if your cat is too fat. The correct ratios of protein to fat to carbohydrates are discussed, as well as some actual recipes to cook for your cat.

This book really convinced me that feeding dry kibble just doesn't cut it and may explain why my cat has always been overly plump and yet still (always!) clamoring for MORE FOOD. The only drawback is that it just didn't give me all the information I needed to make the switch. Aside from some recipes for vitamin and mineral supplements, there were no specific mixes for basic foods. While the recipes are cute and, I'm sure, tasty for cats, they seem too labor-intensive to prepare day after day. I would have liked to see a few basic recipes that would make a larger quantity which could be frozen in meal-size portions and used for daily meals.

Overall, I think the book was a good purchase, but it left me starving for more.