The Body Language and Emotion of Cats

Veterinarian Milani (The Body Language and Emotion of Dogs) is a behaviorist who ventures into the field of animal consciousness. Drawing upon recent scientific research, she demonstrates that animals, like humans, display individual variations in instinctual behavior, and that just as owners often think of pets as members of the family, pets bond with humans as if we were members of their species. Although overwritten, the work is replete with valuable insights and entertaining anecdotes that serve to demystify and, therefore, make more tolerable feline idiosyncrasies. For example, when a cat rubs its face against the edge of the open door or against your leg, it is leaving its scenta type of marking behavior. And when a cat suddenly attacks after being petted for a while, the cat is behaving as if it were terminating a mating encounterwhich ends with the female lashing out in pain and the male lashing out defensively. (September 25)