Sandy Meyer

I've already raised one kitten into adulthood--Avery. He's ten now, and since he fell head over heels in love with my conniving grandmother, he remained in Mississippi with her. With me he broke my crystal and used my head as a launch pad. With my grandmother he sits in her lap and eats cookies and watches soap operas.

It's been so long since I've raised a kitten that when I decided to adopt another cat I felt I needed a little help. Here comes Kittens by Sandy Meyer, a delightful little book about choosing a kitten, bringing the kitten home, and raising that kitten into adulthood.

Most of the book's info I knew about already. Avery had literally put me through the wringer in his upbringing, and I feel I did a pretty great job handling him. I will disagree with Ms. Meyer, however, when she states that cats are not spiteful by nature. Yes. They. Are.

We adopted Rosie Pie two months ago. She's pretty spiffy, and very bouncy. She didn't have a very great beginning, and there was some neglect involved, so we had fleas, conjunctivitis, and bad manners to deal with. Everything in the book I already knew about positive and negative reinforcement.

I guess what I really wish was in the book since I've been living with Rosie Pie for two months is: "Why does my cat think she's Batman?" and "What is the purpose of climbing into the leg of my pajamas when I'm still wearing them?"

This book is great for the kitten novice, but since I've raised one baby monster into adulthood and am working on a second baby monster, I feel like I've known this all along. Still, with cats you never can tell. They aren't exactly predictable.… (more)