Clever Magazine, Vol. 6, #2 " Is Your Cat too Fat " (www.clevermag.com)

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Book Review...

Is Your Cat Too Fat?
by Bronwen Meredith and Graham Oakley, Illustrator

Reviewed for Amazon in 2000
by Dianne Kochenburg

Yes, I'm Afraid My Cat's Too Fat

Is your cat too fat? is a straightforward diet and fitness book for cats, in spite of its cover illustration, which might lead would-be readers to conclude that it is a humor book.

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! Birds 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 inevitable diet suggestions which we've all heard before. Ta Da: diet and exercise art good for our cats too. Well, who knew? 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.