The Cat Fanciers' Association Complete Cat Book    edited by Mordecai Siegal Order:  USA  Can HarperCollins, 2004 (2004) Hardcover Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Hilary Williamson This official CFA publication is delightfully dedicated 'To the cats no longer with us who touched our hearts, to the cats with us who now enrich our lives, and to the cats who will join us in the future and keep us young at heart'. It goes into the Cat Fanciers' Association history, discusses member clubs, CFA judging, and advocacy efforts,and explains what a 'pedigreed cat' is (the nonprofit CFA is the world's biggest registry of pedigreed cats). Half of the book is dedicated to 41 CFA 'Breeds' from the 'Abyssinian' to the 'Turkish Van'. For each breed, there's a black and white photo and physical description, a detailed discussion of personality (for example 'Burmese' are described as 'velcro cats'), mention of grooming needs, the breed's origin and history, and CFA show standards. There are also gorgeous color portraits of all 41 breeds in the center of the book. The second half of the tome has sections on 'The Feline Experience' (how to choose a cat that fits well and where to acquire it); 'Knowing Cats' (feline behavior, new kittens, and breeding); 'Feline Nutrition'; and how to keep your cat healthy (with a home veterinary guide). Whether or not you ever plan to own a pedigreed pet, The Cat Fanciers' Association Complete Cat Book is the ultimate feline reference volume, whose purpose is (as stated by editor Mordecai Siegal) 'to help us understand our cats and treasure them'. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more NonFiction books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews