The Natural Cat: The Comprehensive Guide to Optimum Care

My Thoughts

The book is really long—more than I expected. Chapters 1–9 are insightful and practical, even though there aren’t any research references. But chapters 10–12 bored me; I mostly skimmed through to the end.

Summary

The Natural Cat is a holistic guide to cat care, focused on nurturing both physical and emotional well-being through natural methods. The tone is empathetic and experience-driven, advocating for respect and intuition in how we care for cats.

• Ch. 1–3 - cover cat behavior, diet, and litter habits. Frazier emphasizes species-appropriate feeding (like raw/home-cooked food) and stress-free litter setups.
• Ch. 4–5 - deal with scratching and family integration. It explains feline instincts and offers tips for a peaceful home.
• Ch. 6–7 - encourage spaying/neutering and compassion for feral cats.
• Ch. 8–9 - discuss grooming routines and ways to “communicate” better with your cat through observation and gentle handling.
• Ch. 10–12 - go into healthcare—choosing treatments, home nursing, and common illnesses. These chapters lean more anecdotal and general, with little scientific backing, which may feel less useful to some readers.