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The Cat Behavior Answer Book by Arden Moore Review: A Practical, Accessible Feline Behavior Guide
by Arden Moore
Arden Moore's The Cat Behavior Answer Book: Solutions to Every Problem You'll Ever Face; Answers to Every Question You'll Ever Ask (Storey Publishing, 2007) is a Q&A-format reference guide designed to demystify feline behavior — covering everything from catnip fascination and blanket kneading to hunting instincts and the many contradictions of cat personality. Drawing on Moore's animal expertise and current behavioral research at the time of publication, it earned praise from regional and national outlets as a handy, insight-packed resource well suited to both new and experienced cat owners.
LuvemBooks Verdict
Best for
Cat owners at any experience level — from first-time adopters to long-term companions — who want an accessible, expert-backed reference they can dip into whenever a specific feline behavior puzzles them.
Worth it if
You want a single, browsable volume grounded in behavioral research that explains the full range of feline quirks — from catnip fascination to hunting instincts — in a warm, readable voice you can consult as needed rather than read cover to cover.
Skip if
You need clinical depth on a specific behavioral condition or want the most current findings from animal cognition research, as the broad Q&A format and 2007 publication date mean individual topics receive condensed treatment and newer science may not be covered.
What readers & critics say
Retailer pages on hachettebookgroup.com and barnesandnoble.com surface press quotes describing the book as a great gift for new cat owners (Asbury Park Press) and praising Moore's voice as "wise, warm, witty, and friendly" across every page (Monadnock Ledger Transcript), while positioning Moore as a leading authority for cat owners seeking behavioral answers (The Desert Sun).
Sources: Hachette Book Group, Barnes & Noble4.3from 230 Amazon ratings— reader ratings, not a LuvemBooks score
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The Cat Behavior Answer Book by Arden Moore is a practical Q&A reference guide that demystifies feline behavior — covering everything from catnip fascination and blanket kneading to hunting instincts and the contradictions of cat personality. Praised by regional and national outlets including the Asbury Park Press and the Orlando Sentinel, it earns its place on any cat owner's shelf thanks to its wide behavioral range, expert grounding, and consistently warm, accessible tone. The key caveat: the broad Q&A format means individual topics get condensed treatment, and readers seeking the most current animal cognition research should note its 2007 publication date.
- Is it worth reading?
- For cat owners at any experience level who want an expert-backed, readable explanation of feline behavior, The Cat Behavior Answer Book is a well-regarded pick. The Asbury Park Press called it a great gift for anyone newly sharing their home with a cat, while the Orlando Sentinel described it as 'packed with insights and facts' — endorsements that speak to its density of practical content. The main limitation is that the broad Q&A format means individual topics receive condensed treatment, so readers needing clinical depth on a specific condition may need to supplement it. Its 2007 publication date is also worth noting for those tracking the most current veterinary behavioral science.
- Similar books
- Readers who enjoy The Cat Behavior Answer Book will likely find several companion reads rewarding. Jackson Galaxy's Total Cat Mojo: The Ultimate Guide to Life with Your Cat offers an immersive, personality-driven approach to understanding feline behavior from a well-known cat behaviorist. Mieshelle Nagelschneider's The Cat Whisperer: Why Cats Do What They Do — and How takes a similarly owner-focused perspective on decoding cat behavior. For those whose curiosity extends to canine companions, Patricia B. McConnell's The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs applies a behavioral science lens to dog–human interaction with comparable depth and warmth. Pam Johnson-Bennett's Think Like a Cat: How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat — Not a Sour Puss and John Bradshaw's Cat Sense: How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet are also frequently cited alongside Moore's work for readers seeking broader feline behavioral coverage.
- Who should read this?
- The Cat Behavior Answer Book is designed for cat owners at any experience level who want a readable, expert-backed explanation of why their cat behaves the way it does. The Asbury Park Press specifically highlighted its value for new cat owners, noting its accessible format and warm tone make it a low-barrier entry point for someone just beginning life with a feline companion. That said, the book's breadth and grounding in behavioral research — noted by the Monadnock (N.H.) Ledger Transcript — means experienced owners curious about specific habits or troubleshooting behavioral challenges will also find it a useful ongoing reference.
- Where should I start with Arden Moore?
- Arden Moore has authored more than two dozen books on cats and dogs, making her one of the more prolific voices in popular pet behavior writing. The Cat Behavior Answer Book is among her most recognized titles and serves as a natural entry point given its broad scope across feline behavior. The Orlando Sentinel noted that Moore published a companion volume alongside this book, describing both as 'handy guides packed with insights and facts,' so readers who find value here have a natural next stop within her catalog.
- How is the book structured?
- The Cat Behavior Answer Book is organized as a Q&A reference — readers can navigate directly to whichever behavioral topic is relevant to them without reading cover to cover, which prioritizes usability for owners dealing with a specific puzzle. The Monadnock (N.H.) Ledger Transcript highlighted that Moore's voice remains consistently engaging regardless of where a reader enters the text, a meaningful endorsement for a reference book likely to be consulted in fragments. The trade-off is that the broad format means individual topics may receive condensed treatment relative to a book dedicated to a single subject.
- Is the research still up to date?
- Published in 2007, The Cat Behavior Answer Book drew on the latest behavioral research available at the time — a point the Monadnock (N.H.) Ledger Transcript specifically noted as a strength. The behavioral fundamentals of feline psychology covered in the book are enduring, and the core practical content holds up well for everyday cat ownership questions. However, readers with a specific interest in the most current findings in animal cognition or veterinary behavioral science may want to supplement it with more recent sources, as the field has continued to evolve since publication.
Summarize this book
Is it worth reading?
Who should read this?
Where should I start with Arden Moore?
How is the book structured?
Is the research still up to date?
Summarize this book
The Cat Behavior Answer Book is a Q&A-format reference guide by Arden Moore — an author of more than two dozen books on cats and dogs — designed to explain the behavioral mysteries behind feline personality. It covers a wide range of topics including why cats are drawn to catnip, what drives blanket kneading, why the hunting instinct persists in pampered indoor pets, and dozens of other behavioral quirks. The Monadnock (N.H.) Ledger Transcript noted that the book draws on Moore's animal expertise and the latest behavioral research, delivered in a voice described as 'wise, warm, witty, and friendly.' Published by Storey Publishing in 2007, it is structured so readers can jump directly to any topic of concern rather than reading cover to cover.
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Age & Reading Level
Recommended age
Adult
Reading level
Adult
who it suits
Skip if you're looking for deep clinical analysis of specific feline behavioral conditions rather than a broad, accessible Q&A reference.
Our Review
A solid, well-sourced introduction to feline behavior that earns its place on any cat owner's reference shelf.
What the Book Is and What It Covers
The Cat Behavior Answer Book: Solutions to Every Problem You'll Ever Face; Answers to Every Question You'll Ever Ask by Arden Moore front cover
The Cat Behavior Answer Book is a practical reference guide — not a memoir, narrative nonfiction, or training manual in the traditional sense — structured around the questions cat owners most commonly ask. Arden Moore, the author of more than two dozen books on cats and dogs, sets out to explain the mysteries behind feline thoughts and actions: why cats are drawn to catnip, what drives the kneading of blankets, why the hunting instinct persists even in pampered indoor pets, and dozens of other behavioral complexities. The publisher's description frames the book's dual nature neatly: cats, it notes, are "lovable, funny, attentive listeners, and wonderfully cuddly" while also being "tenacious, persnickety, and maddeningly aloof" — and it is precisely that contradiction that the book is designed to untangle. The stated goal is to give owners a working understanding of what drives their cat's quirky personality so they can strengthen the bond and maximize quality time with their pet.
Moore's Credentials and the Book's Approach
A distinguishing feature of this guide is the depth of expertise behind it. The Monadnock (N.H.) Ledger Transcript noted that the book reflects "Moore's own animal expertise…as well as the latest research into animal behavior," and that the voice throughout is "wise, warm, witty, and friendly" — a combination that keeps the material accessible without dumbing it down. The Desert Sun of Palm Springs went further, positioning Moore as the go-to authority for confused cat owners. That expertise is channeled through an answer-book format, meaning readers can flip directly to a topic of concern rather than reading cover to cover — a structural choice that prioritizes usability for owners dealing with a specific behavioral puzzle. The Orlando Sentinel, reviewing both this title and Moore's companion volume, described the pair as "handy guides…packed with insights and facts," underscoring the density of practical content on offer.
Strengths: Tone, Breadth, and Gifting Appeal
The book's reception points to two consistent strengths: its tone and its range. The Monadnock coverage highlighted that Moore's voice remains consistently engaging regardless of where a reader enters the text — a meaningful endorsement for a reference book that may be consulted in fragments rather than read straight through. The Asbury Park Press called it a great gift for anyone newly sharing their home with a cat, while also noting it holds value for existing owners — a dual audience that speaks to the book's breadth. It does not narrow itself to a single behavioral challenge or cat type; instead it sweeps across the full complexity of feline behavior, making it a single-volume resource rather than a niche deep-dive.
Limitations: Scope, Depth, and the Publication Date
No reference guide covering this much ground can go deep on every topic, and readers seeking highly specialized or clinical detail on specific behavioral conditions may find the Q&A format too broad for their needs. The answer-book structure, while convenient for casual browsing, also means that nuanced topics may receive condensed treatment relative to a book dedicated to a single subject. Additionally, the book was published in 2007, and while the behavioral fundamentals of feline psychology are enduring, some readers with an interest in the most current research in animal cognition or veterinary behavioral science may want to supplement it with more recent sources. This is not a flaw in the book as originally conceived, but it is a practical consideration for a reader picking it up today.
Who This Book Is For
The Cat Behavior Answer Book is designed for cat owners at any experience level who want a readable, expert-backed explanation of why their cat behaves the way it does. The Asbury Park Press specifically highlighted its value for new cat owners, and that framing holds — someone just beginning life with a feline companion will find the accessible format and warm tone a low-barrier entry point. But the breadth of topics covered, and the grounding in behavioral research that reviewers noted, means that longer-tenured owners curious about specific habits or seeking to troubleshoot behavioral challenges will also find it worth keeping within reach. Published by Storey Publishing and available in both print and digital editions, it remains one of Moore's most recognized titles in a catalog built entirely around cats and dogs.
Sources & Further Reading
The key facts and claims in this review are grounded in the retrieved, verified sources listed below.
- Cited in this review
- 1
- 2
ardenmoore.com
- Further reading
- 3
hachettebookgroup.com
- 4
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