Encyclopedia of Cat Breeds | 
 enlarge | Author: J. Anne Helgren
Publisher: Barron's Educational Series
Category: Book
List Price: $29.95
Buy New: $15.28
You Save: $14.67 (49%)
New (8) Used (12) from $4.97
Avg. Customer Rating:  12 reviews
Sales Rank: 131568
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 224
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.3
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 7.4 x 1.4
ISBN: 0764150677
Dewey Decimal Number: 636.8003
EAN: 9780764150678
ASIN: 0764150677
Publication Date: October 1, 1997
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: new, some shelf wear. warehouse direct shipping in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Here is a handsomely illustrated descriptive directory of virtually all major cat breeds available to prospective owners in America--a "must-read" reference source for cat lovers and breeders everywhere. Opening chapters include a survey of feline history and evolution, a detailed description of the qualities that make a purebred, a summary of feline genetics, and a discussion of conformation, color, and coat. Following are alphabetically arranged profiles of 40 different breeds, from Abyssinian through Burmese, Manx, and Scottish Fold, to Turkish Van. Remaining chapters provide detailed discussions of the American domestic cat, experimental breeds, choosing the right breed for the right household, pricing and judging quality when buying a purebred, descriptions of cat associations and shows, and advice on showing purebreds. Supplementary information includes a glossary of terms and a list of helpful books and periodicals.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 7 more reviews...
 Another Must-have for Cat Lovers June 3, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I spent days looking at this book before I was able to send it off to the person I bought it for. I had read similar reviews when I purchased it and thought, "Ya, right." Well, they WERE right. It's hard to part with!So, this is another book I will be purchasing for myself. Sigh. Would make a great coffee table book, too. People who saw it in my home before I shipped really enjoyed it, too.
An Excellent Book! September 16, 2007
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
I own and I've read this book from cover to cover several times -- it's a very well written and accurate book on purebred and mixed breed cats, a bargain for the price. The preface is an excellent intro to a book about purebred cats, and also includes thoughtful and well-balanced coverage of both points of view regarding the overpopulation problem and the role pedigreed cats play (and don't play) in it. When you don't take parts of the preface out of context it makes valid points. People SHOULD think long and hard before embarking on breeding any kind of cat, and even one unplanned or unwanted litter IS too many. Below is the entire preface:
"To us cat lovers, nothing is more natural than loving our feline friends for their grace, beauty, independent personalities, and myriad other attractive qualities. The fascination of cats is hard to define -- if you are a cat lover, you understand, if you are not, no amount of mere words could intrigue you. Since you are reading this, I have to assume that you are acquainted with the charm and joy of having a feline companion.
In the six years that I've been researching and profiling pedigreed breeds, I've developed a real love for these beautiful and intriguing cats. Exploring their histories, personalities, and myriad colors, patterns and fur types have been a personal journey into the mystery and magic that is the feline. In this book I'll try to share that journey with you.
The fascination with purebred cats is easy to understand since these beautifully colored and coated examples of the species seem to legitimize our feelings about felines. It's natural to want others to look at our beloved kitties with as much admiration as we do ourselves. These cats, with their colorful coats, histories, and temperaments, fascinate the novice and experienced cat fancier alike. Still, the cat fancy -- the common term used to describe the people involved with showing or breeding cats -- has become so much more than that. For many of those involved, it's a way of life -- a community of people dedicated to breeding, showing, and loving cats.
We must remember, however, that purebred cats comprise only an approximate five percent of the total cat population in the United States today, and cat lovers are of two minds when it comes to our feline friends. In one camp, cat lovers wish to retain their right to breed the cats they have worked so hard to protect, promote, and perfect. In another, cat lovers watch helplessly as an endless tide of equally beautiful and worthy cats are euthanized because there aren't enough homes for them all. Do purebred breeds contribute to the overpopulation problem? Yes. Would the overpopulation problem go away if all purebred breeding stopped tomorrow? No. Purebreds make up too small a percentage. It will take an effort on the part of all of us cat owners to put an end to what is most certainly a national tragedy. I offer this book as a modest tribute to the lovely purebred and random-bred members of the species Felis catus, and urge that you think long and hard before you decide to breed cats -- pedigreed or otherwise. Even one litter is too many."
 Comprehensive, but some questionable statements January 15, 2007
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
This is a great cat book for cat lovers of all types. The history, personality and conformation of each of the breeds is comprehensive and well-researched. The writing is always clear and easy to read. And the photos, though small, are exceptional in capturing beautiful poses, color patterns and expressions of the different cats. The book also gives some insight into the world of cat associations, which was a refreshing surprise.
Unfortunately, the book is somewht marred by the conflicting views stated in the author's own preface. In the final paragraph, she claims that purebreed cats contribute to the overpopulation problem. Yet, with only a little research, it can be ascertained that purebred cats contribute little or nothing toward the overpopulation problem. On the question of breeding, the author "urges you to think long and hard before[you]decide to breed cats - pedigreed or otherwise. Even one litter is too many." Even one litter is too many? Where does she think that the cats in her book have come from? While this may be sound advice in many contexts, it has no place in a book devoted to exploring cat breeds. I can't help but wonder if the author shouldn't have thought longer and harder before accepting payment on a project which apparently conflicts with her moral views!
 Not as good as the dog breed book May 16, 2005
5 out of 8 found this review helpful
I have to agree with another reviewer, if you get the dog breed book first, then you're likely to be disappointed in the cat breed book. In my opinion, it's still one of the best cat breed books out there.
Mediocre photos July 20, 2004
12 out of 15 found this review helpful
I had previously bought Barron's Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds, and was looking forward to the same sort of large, high quality photos in the cat encyclopedia. Boy, was I disappointed! The photos are small (average size is 2 1/2 X 3 1/2). Some are murky or dark. Some are against poorly chosen backgrounds (e.g. a dark cat against a dark background). Some are mislabeled. (The largest photo of a Siamese is clearly NOT a Siamese.) And speaking of Siamese, they get so wrapped up in trying to show the difference between Traditional and Extreme that they never bother to show photos of all or even most of the colorpoints. (i.e. Sealpoint, Lilac Point, etc.) All in all, the photos are better in one of those $2.49 pamphlets that you buy at your local pet store!
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