Everything you need to know about cat care

“Your Cat: Simple New Secrets to a Longer, Stronger Life”

By Elizabeth M. Hodgkins, DVM

(Thomas Dunne Books, $29.95)

The recent pet-food recall made almost everyone realize just how important dogs and cats are to us.

Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins, a successful veterinarian for almost three decades, has written an easy-to-understand guide that focuses on the unique dietary needs of cats and explains how an inadequate diet can lead to many deadly feline diseases. She explains how cat owners can help their pets lead long and healthy lives, not just by improving their diets but also learning the essentials of kitten-rearing, monitoring a cat’s middle years and mastering the special care that is necessary for the geriatric animal.

Unlike dogs, meat and its nutrients are essential for cats’ survival. Their natural diet should be high in protein and low in carbohydrates, but most of today’s dry cat foods contain high levels of processed carbs with only modest amounts of often low-quality protein. This is why, Hodgkins explains, an upside-down diet for such a specialized animal as the cat can be damaging, and its consequences simply can’t be overstated.

Addressing the recent pet-food scare, Hodgkins says owners are unaware of the untested nature of claims on most pet-food labels. Labels can be misleading, making it difficult to choose products wisely. To avoid this problem, she offers a crash course in label reading.

There are also sections on the latest treatment options, litter-box problems, parasites, the importance of a cat’s oral health, whether to declaw, when (and when not) to vaccinate, the nutritional adequacy of raw meat diets, the importance of spaying or neutering kittens, and the 10 myths of cat care.

This is a revolutionary, 21st-century approach to understanding the cat’s unique needs and behavior and is essential if you share your home with one of these fascinating creatures.