cover image Cats Behaving Badly: Why Cats Do the Naughty Things They Do

Cats Behaving Badly: Why Cats Do the Naughty Things They Do

Celia Haddon. St. Martin’s, $23.99 (256p) ISBN 978-1-250-00372-0

Pet advice columnist Haddon (The Joy of Cats) offers not just an animal care manual, but also a witty, book-length answer to her opening question: “Why cats?” Despite an undeniable love for her subject, she clear-sightedly admits that cats are not as ready or happy as dogs to accommodate their owners. Haddon provides an array of tips for making cohabitation easier on both human and cat (“Forget expensive cat toys”), bolstered with anecdotes from pet owners and contributions from serious research. Arguing that people too often look to dog ownership as the default model for pet care, she also urges owners not to rely on punishment to get their way. Gracefully written and pleasingly illustrated with black-and-white line drawings, Haddon’s book offers a heartfelt tribute to felines, suggesting that it is humans who need to accommodate their cats, and not the other way around. Agent: Rae Shirvington, Ebury. (May)