Feline Behaviour and Welfare
by Andrew Fraser, Rhona Loptson
Providing a veterinary perspective as well as an ethological one, this book looks at the feline genus as a whole. Focusing on identifying normal behaviour from the cat's perspective, it has a welfare theme running throughout; as normal behaviour provides evidence of good welfare, abnormal behaviour can be an indicator of poor welfare.
Paperback
English
Brand New
Publisher Description
Cats are the world's most popular domestic pet, as well as being wild animals. This comprehensive book on feline behaviour explores both the familiar domesticated animal and wild relatives such as the leopard, tiger and lynx to examine the Felidae family as a whole, allowing for fascinating comparisons between wild and domestic species and explanations of behaviour in pet cats with evolutionary origins. Fraser's work helps increase readers' understanding of cat behaviour - why they behave as they do, for what purpose and why. The focus is on identifying normal behaviour from the cat's perspective, with a welfare theme running throughout; as exhibitions of normal behaviour provide evidence of good welfare, and abnormal behaviour can be an indicator of poor welfare. Providing a veterinary perspective - by including coverage of feline physiology, life stages and reproduction - as well as an ethological one, this is an important read for veterinarians, shelter workers, animal behaviourists and students of veterinary medicine and animal welfare, while also being of interest to pet owners.
Table of Contents
1: Introduction 2: Well-being and Its Roots 3: Feline Neuroethology 4: Play and the Steps Through Life 5: Basic Activities 6: Association and Reproduction 7: Giant Wild Cats 8: Principal Species of Wild Cats 9: Minor Wild Cat Species 10: Common and Comparative Feline Features 11: Abnormal Behaviour and Training 12: Health Monitoring 13: Points of Welfare 14: Review of Well-being
Review
"Fraser (formerly, Memorial Univ. of Newfoundland, Canada) presents a commonsense discussion of feline behavior and welfare. The book largely focuses on domestic cats, although three chapters are devoted to a general discussion of a wide selection of wild species. In the context of this work, welfare primarily refers to general care of domesticated cats in the home setting--including some basic information on health care--as it pertains to an animal's overall well-being. Readers should appreciate that this is not a book about the ethics of animal rights. General audiences will easily understand most of the text, although the writing tends to be rather verbose and needlessly repetitious. The author does a good job of putting details of feline behavior into perspective to the overall mental and physical health of the domesticated cat; however, the brief discussion of anatomy and physiology is of more limited value, especially for laypersons, and is not well tied into its underlying role in driving behavior. A selection of 90 black-and-white photographs varies widely in quality. This book offers a general primer on cat behavior and home care and will primarily interest cat owners and feline enthusiasts. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers and lower-division undergrates and two-year technical program students in veterinary fields."--D. A. Brass, independent scholar "Choice" (4/1/2013 12:00:00 AM)
Promotional
Providing fascinating comparisons between wild and domestic species, this comprehensive title explains feline behaviour from a perspective of evolutionary heritage.
Review Text
Felines are creatures that give special biodiversity to the world, and have their natural roles in balance of nature in virtually all parts of the world. This book is another enrichment of the literature on behaviour of cats. It shows the urgent need for their protection worldwide; it improves our knowledge and understanding of their special life styles. - Eva Baranyiova, AGRICULTURA TROPICA ET SUBTROPICA, 46/1, 34, 2013 "Fraser presents a commonsense discussion of feline behaviour and welfare. Recommended" - CHOICE "The strengths of this book are the information provided regarding comparative behaviour among wild and domestic cats and welfare-related issues." - JAVMA
Review Quote
"This book is another enrichment of the literature on behaviour of cats. It shows the urgent need for their protection worldwide; it improves our knowledge and understanding of their special life styles."
Promotional "Headline"
Providing fascinating comparisons between wild and domestic species, this comprehensive title explains feline behaviour from a perspective of evolutionary heritage.
Description for Reader
Companion animal veterinarians, veterinary and animal welfare students, veterinary nurses, shelter workers, animal behaviourists, cat owners and breeders.
Details
