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The Encyclopaedia of Cats

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The Encyclopedia of The Cat A highly informative, highly illustrated guide to the world of cats. Text and illustrations combine to provide a comprehensive look at all aspects of the cat A one-stop reference guide to the main breeds, illustrated with 1,000 photographs and line drawings Easy-to -use icons provide information on size, coat care, and feeding Identification boxes list common name, other name, average height, and color variations Introductory sections give information about cat anatomy and history

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

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131 people want to read

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Michael Pollard

157 books3 followers

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5 stars
61 (44%)
4 stars
41 (29%)
3 stars
31 (22%)
2 stars
4 (2%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
540 reviews26 followers
May 1, 2020
Full of fascinating information, easy to read, beautiful photos and drawings to inform and admire.
Anyone who has a cat or is interested in these intriguing critters will love this book.
Pretty much a one-stop reference guide to all the various breeds and aspects of a cat's life which kept me pawing through all my nine lives. The little box of 'cat facts' which appear on every page are particularly interesting.
My alpha cat is featured on page 253!
Profile Image for Laura Hassebrock.
209 reviews24 followers
July 23, 2015
Great for anyone obsessed with felines -- although I imagine there are more up-to-date versions available. I used to take this with me everywhere.
1 review
February 16, 2014
I am a cat dork. I read this book in search of more knowledge. I knew most of the things inside, but it was still a fun read. If you are bored to death by non fiction, don't read this book.
1,355 reviews
February 20, 2020
Rather repetitive. Way too much about cat shows. Lots of typos and other editing issues.
Profile Image for Megan.
94 reviews22 followers
July 30, 2022
Extremely outdated and, for North Americans and people who don't show cats, overwhelmingly British and cat-show oriented. A lot of the pictures I had seen before in a 1987 cat resource I have, making me wonder if British publishers really can't be bothered to find more up-to-date images? Some of the information was fresh from the 60s! Overall it reads like a resource from the 80s, and if it weren't for the 2003 publication date, I would be a lot more generous. No, do not use clapping your hands and yelling "no" as a training tool. No, your pet cat should never be allowed to roam freely outdoors. No, it is not foolishly eccentric to make your own cat food. Yes, your concerns about cat food are warranted. Ultimately, the item is not as described. Keep looking.
2,702 reviews
January 26, 2020
While this book has some interesting information about cats, I was very disturbed by the extensive breeding programs for some species. If a cat does not meet some "standard", it is labeled "faulty". What happens to all those cats, particularly ones that are so inbred.
Profile Image for A. R. C..
25 reviews
October 7, 2022
THIS BOOK IS ABOUT CATS!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Isla Joy.
7 reviews
October 3, 2025
it has 1000 pictures of every breed of cat!! its great just look at that cover. in love.
Profile Image for Mary Ronan Drew.
879 reviews117 followers
February 22, 2012
The Encyclopedia of the Cat by Bruce Fogle. I've been paging through this book for a couple of years and finally got down to reading the text recently as well as looking at the splendid pictures. I don't usually notice the publisher of a book, but it's impossible not to be aware you're looking at a DK Publishing book, the quality is so outstanding.

I would like to get a kitten. Wilhelm, having spoken to Miss Darcy and Miss Woodhouse about this matter, says they do not. But I can dream about a blue Chartreaux, a seal point Exotic, or a sleek, lilac Havana Brown.

This is the book to inspire those dreams.

2012 No 30
12 reviews
May 3, 2016
I am the cat type rather than that dog type. I love absolutely adore cats. So, obviously I recommend this to all cat lovers. Even though I do not have my own cat, I found this very informational and a usable source for when ever I could get a cat of my own. Before I read this book, I did not know there was such thing as a cat that likes to swim. I found out the Turkish Van and the Turkish Angora love to swim. I find that interesting. So, to sum it all up this provides a vast amount of information of cats.
45 reviews1 follower
Read
November 14, 2008
This book helped me learn everything I needed to know when I got my cat a year ago. It's helped me with little things like, how to clean out her ears and big things like when she had an eye infection. I am a big cat lover and this book has given me ample resources to buff up on my cat knowledge. It is also just a fun book to look through. One of the things I love most is looking through it to see what different breeds are like.
Profile Image for Vanessa.
32 reviews
Read
September 25, 2016
This book was okay...although I admit I didn't read every single page. I basically skipped the whole cat show and pedigree breed sections. I learned a few things but nothing life changing. I believe this book was published in London. There were a few words that I didn't know like "cattery", I never did figure out what that was. Also, a lot of the stats came from the UK.

All in all it wasn't horrible.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews

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