Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book. A really cute, funny look at cats. I loved the artwork too. A recommendation for all cat lovers.

This book is both incredibly revealing and beyond cute!

The illustrations compliment the book perfectly. I loved, loved, loved this!

Not long ago, I saw that my Goodreads friend Sue Em (whose cat is so adorable) had read and reviewed this, so I requested an advanced copy right away. I had lost track of how old my cat, Paisley, is, and when I went back and checked the date I rescued her (although she is quite indignant over that idea, she insists she rescued me), I realized this October she will be 14 years old. Time does indeed fly. Paisley is half Maine Coon and is a big girl, and her long calico hair only adds to the impression that she is large for a cat.

I didn’t think I would get quite as much ‘new’ information on this as I did, since I’ve had a cat or cats for most of my life. I was wrong. This is, indeed, an excellent guide for new cat owners, but I learned things I never knew before, and as she is bordering the geriatric age for cats (how did that happen so fast?) I have new things I now know to be aware of, as well as reinforcements for things I knew, but are more important to pay attention to. Other things I can’t really change – like Story, my one-year-old puppy, who loves to rush up to Paisley and try to kiss her, or sniff her …. But Paisley isn’t quite as fond of Story, thus the love is not reciprocated.

Written by Dr. Yuki Hattori, one of Japan’s top cat veterinarians, and his expertise shows in the variety of topics he covers. From being a wonderful guide for new cat owners, or better yet, for those thinking about bringing home a cat or kitten for the first time, as well as those of us who have shared their home with a cat or cats (with perhaps some lukewarm approval from said cat/cats) for many years, this was well worth reading. I would have been fine without the illustrations, but I thought they really did add to the appeal of this. Paisley wasn’t quite as impressed, but she was hoping for at least a mention of her name.

I never thought much about, from a cat’s point of view, naming any of the cats who I’ve shared my life with over the years, but Dr. Hattori shares a theory that cats can only distinguish vowels, and not consonants, so avoid names that sound too similar if you’re thinking of adding a new cat, or getting two or more to start.

One of the other tidbits I picked up from reading this - ”Touching noses is a sign of affection between cat. If your cat touches you with her nose, you’ve won her trust.”

This last was most notable to me, and I suppose to Story as well, since Paisley does, occasionally now touch noses with Story, so maybe there’s hope for love, yet.


Pub Date: 27 Oct 2020

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Bloomsbury USA / Bloomsbury Publishing

#WhatCatsWant #NetGalley

Written by a top Japanese cat veterinarian Dr. Yuki Hattori, What Cats Want is an adorable guide to raising and caring for your cat. This an especially great introductory guide to new cat owners as it breaks down a lot of facts clearly and informatively, and it has a lot of good reference information about cat health and cat behavior for people who have had cats for pets for years. It's fun, informative, and accessible. I hadn't expected to read it in one sitting but I did, and I found myself learning a few things as well!

The illustrations alone make the book worth a look through, and I'm looking forward to purchasing my own physical copy once the book releases in October! The illustrator captures cat behavior, moods, and emotions <I>perfectly</i>, and I found myself recognizing several of the cats in my life in the pages. I especially loved the illustrations of cat moods, cat meows, and cat body language!

One thing I kept thinking while reading it was that this would make a perfect gift for new cat parents or longtime cat parents.

This book is written by a top Japanese vet and includes a wealth of information to help owners in understanding their felines.  It comes with charming illustrations as an added bonus. 

There are sections on cat biology,  a cat's well-being, how to speak cat, decoding behavior, living together, making your cat happy and more.  I learned so many things that I did not know, even after having had cats as pets.  For example, did you know that cats don't have the best eyesight?  Did you know that a slightly damp nose helps them in smelling? I did not. This book will be welcomed by cat folks  who will learn a lot and is highly recommended.

I’ve been a devoted Kitty Mom for decades, so didn’t expect to learn as much as I did from this terrific guide.

Written by Japan’s top cat vet, it features a host of helpful tips on felines’ health and happiness, with the cutest illustrations.

Now I know what my kitty Grace wants when she meows a certain way, wiggles her tail, has her ears back or eyes wide open, or if she’s hunched down like a cat loaf. I learned something new on every page, and read it through in one setting.

Highly recommended for kitty lovers of all ages!

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 27 Oct 2020

Thanks to the author, Bloomsbury USA, and
NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#WhatCatsWant #NetGalley

As a longtime cat lover and owner (but does anyone really ever own a cat), I believe that I know quite a bit already. However Dr. Hatton's book managed to teach me a few new things. If I were going to recommend a book for new owners, this would be the one. Extremely clear and concise cat facts partnered with excellent minimalist illustrations walk a fine line inbetween snarky and cute educate and entertain. Bravo!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
As I type this review, my cat came along to head butt me and purr in my ear. So I know he approves this book too. This is a fun, fact filled book all about cats and their behavior. A very thorough review of cats. I'd recommend this to adults who don't know much about cats and even children who want to know more about their furry friends.

What Cats Want is a charming take on a cat care guide. While the book is filled with adorable illustrations, each provides vital information for cat owners. I would recommend this to new cat owners, since it is comprehensive and easy to read. But even seasoned cat owners may enjoy this book for its illustrations and content.

This delightful title by veterinarian Dr. Yuki Hattori does it's best to explain cat psychology and physiology. Great for cat owners and cat-sitters and people who love cats. While this is classified as an adult title, it is appropriate for precocious children who want to understand their furry family members better.

Thank you Bloomsbury Publishing for sharing a copy of What Cats Want by Dr. Yuki Hattori for review,

What Cats Want is an adorable but also very informative guide to living with your cat. There is information about all kinds of things including how to read their body language and tail language to some common illnesses and what kind of things they like. I did love the illustrations, they were so cute and helped describe some of the situations.

Easy to follow and a must read for any new cat owner!

This book is so cute! I downloaded it yesterday and I couldn't put it down until I finished. What Cats Want by Dr. Yuki Hattori (from the Tokyo Cat Clinic) is a book that gives an overview on cat behavior and has cute little illustrations to help you visualize the text. It's the perfect book for both first time cat owners and people who have had their cats for a while.

What I really enjoyed about this book is its conciseness. It's both detailed in that he covers all the aspects you will need to know about your cat (ie. from birth to old age, meows, common diseases and symptoms, etc) and describes each section concisely. He won't take you down any rabbit holes, so what you read is what you need to know. An example of this is certain behaviors that indicate that your cat is unwell. Instead of describing all the possible illnesses, he tells you to record the behavior, and take your cat to the vet as soon as possible. Easy and concise, and really all you need to know. Although for the curious bunch, there is a list of common illnesses in the back of the book with descriptions of the symptoms. He even covers some of the common illnesses and particularities of certain purebreds.

I think it is a good book for every cat owner to have, and the only one you need. Plus, who wouldn't like the cute drawings? As an aside, I saw a lot of books like this in Japan where they have cute illustrations inside and I desperately wanted to buy one, but I couldn't read Japanese, so I'm really happy that What Cats Want is being translated to English, with all the original cute drawings and diagrams inside. I'll definitely want a physical copy of this on my shelves when it comes out.

The only book you need as a cat parent.

I used to have cats as a child but never got along with them; I have some horrible experiences with being scratched and bitten. For this reason, whenever I visit a cat owner, I get really cautious whenever I'm around anywhere near the animal. So when I saw Dr. Yuki Hattori's book, I was excited to figure out why cats are so mean to me.

Turns out it's not just them - it's me! I've learned that it was my behavior that provoked their defensive reactions, as well as what I can do to change this. "What Cats Want" is simply a wonderful resource if your experiences are anything like mine, or if you want to be an understanding owner of a happy cat. But the best thing is probably the fact that it's beautifully illustrated which not only makes the learning experience more fun, but also more digestible with bite-sized pieces of information laid out neatly for the reader.

There's nothing I didn't like about this book, so I'm compelled to give it 5 stars. I highly recommend this book if you want to learn about the psychology, biology and care of felines.

*Thank you to the Published for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This little illustrated guide tells you most of everything you’ll need to know about your feline companions. I’ve had cat companions since birth, and I even learned a few things in this handy guide. It’s not a web comic, but I enjoyed the illustrations immensely.

It’s broken up into larger chapters, including the cat body, behavior, everyday care, making your cat happy, creating a cat-friendly home, and how to help you cat live a long/healthy life. Each section combines cat psychology with cute, helpful illustrations to create the best environment for and care of your friend. Therea re things I didn’t even think about in here, and I picked up some tips for caring for my old lady. I also learned that in human years, she’s in her 70s (but still thinks she’s a kitten).

This one is out in the fall, and whether you’re thinking about adopting your first cat, or you’re already a crazy cat lady, there’s something for every cat lover in this book.

Full of good basic advice and charming illustrations, this book is an excellent introduction to having a cat as a oet.

I have lived with cats all my life. I don't know what they want. I try really hard to make them happy because the consequences are dire if you make them unhappy. They know how to get you back. Someone once told me you either don't like cats or you have too many. I have two very spoiled elderly indoor male cats. This book told me how to keep them amused and healthy in their golden years. This book is concise and very easy to understand. It leads you from kitten stage to geriatric stage on how to care for your cat from feeding and litter to healthcare. It is very to the point so you can not misunderstand what the author is saying. It has cute little drawings to keep the book from being too serious. I did not know cats had such poor eyesight which explains why I put a treat in front of my cat and point to it and still my cats cry for treats. Also, cats have a very light bodyweight (though mine seem very heavy) so they can sleep in the same position for hours on end and not get bed sores. This book has all kinds of interesting tidbits about cats. Loved it! Your cats will thank you for reading this book. This book is excellent for new cat owners and prospective cat owners. This book also brings up the cost of cat ownership which people do not give enough consideration too. Also, if you do get a cat remember the author notes feral cats live 3-5 years, indoor/outdoor cats live 5-7 years and indoor cats live 15 years. Remember to spay or neuter. The author is a vet. My cats and I thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book for a review.