Catwatching

Desmond Morris is a professional zoologist and studied animal behaviour with the famous Dutch ethologist Niko Tinbergen at Oxford University.He then moved on to become Curator of Mammals at London Zoo, where he established his own behaviour research group. Although for the past twenty years he has in his books (from The Naked Ape to Bodywatching) concentrated on the human species, his professional eye has constantly been focused on animals and their fascinating behaviour. The most recent fruits of this interest are the bestselling Catwatching ('No cat lover should be without it." – Doris Lessing, New Scientist) where he answers the following questions and many more:Why does a cat purr?Why does a cat like being stroked?Why does a cat tear at the fabric of your favourite chair?Why does a cat roll over to lie on its back when it sees you?Why does a cat rub up against your leg when it greets you?Why do some cats hop up on their hind legs when greeting you?Published by Jonathan Cape Ltd, 1986 This disk version of 'Catwatching' has a hard page break before each new question. Your computer's search facility should enable you to find the title of a question.
From Library JournalIn each of these books by the author of Bodywatching an introductory essay is followed by a question-and-answer section (items one to four pages in length). The questions include ones about mating, hunting behavior, and physical characteristics. Morris writes very well, and his answers are often witty as well as informed. Nearly any reader would find these books interesting. Unfortunately, all of Morris's information is available from such other sources as encyclopedias and general dog and cat books, so a purchasing library is getting little new for its money. If your budget permits "extra" buying in the pet area, do acquire these books. Your readers will like them. But if the budget is tight, they are marginal purchases. Susan Matusak, Wilson Coll. Lib., Chambersburg, Pa.Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. Product DescriptionThis book, the first in the popular Watching series, explains everything from why cats purr to why we say it's raining cats and dogs. 26 black-and-white photographs.