Monday, February 6, 2017

Book Review: Cat Scene Investigator: Solve Your Cat's Litter Box Mystery by Dusty Rainbolt


From the publisher: Inappropriate elimination is the most vexing problem cat owners face, but there's good news. Dr. Carlo Siracusa, chief of the animal behavior service at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, says, "Among behavior problems, housesoiling is the problem with the best prognosis if the owner is educated." Enter Cat Scene Investigator: Solve Your Cat's Litter Box Mystery, the consummate inappropriate elimination guide. CSI approaches kitty crime scenes through the eyes of a detective to help determine your cat's motive and the remedy.

Award-winning behavior author Dusty Rainbolt uses humor and cutting-edge science-based research to bust feline myths and help you devise a practical strategy so you and Fluffy can live happily ever after.

This comprehensive handbook includes:
  • Veterinary and behavioral breakthroughs that will help you understand your cat's litter box needs
  • Setting up a litter box your cat will want to pee in
  • Insight into illnesses that can cause or contribute to litter box mishaps
  • Finding the culprit in a multipet home
  • Determining whether your cat is peeing or marking
  • The effects of stress or fear on feline litter box behavior
  • How to stop urine marking
  • Tips from people who have successfully been-there, done-that
  • Techniques to remove odor from soiled flooring


I guess I've been lucky because in nearly four decades of being owned by cats I've never had to deal with inappropriate elimination, but I can understand how frustrating it must be for everyone involved. Seeing as how it's one of the top reason why cats are relinquished to shelters it's a problem that cat owners need to be better educated on, because in most cases the human is causing the problem by not "listening" to what their cat is trying to say, yet it's kitty who pays the price. Hopefully this book will be able to repair the pet/parent bond in many homes.

For such a serious subject Cat Scene Investigator is laid out in an extremely enjoyable style. As a huge fan of reading mysteries I appreciated the "police procedural" style, and the adorable cat cartoons that begin each chapter add a touch of humor to the situation too. Sections entitled “Tails from the Trenches” describe true life cases and how they were overcome, loads of helpful products on store shelves that have been used successfully are outlined, and the various medical situations detailed can be helpful even when the potty isn't the problem!

Even if you're not currently experiencing an issue with inappropriate elimination, this is a book that should be on the bookshelf of every cat parent as one never knows when a situation may arise. Those of us who are fully enmeshed in the "cat world" are going to know someone someday having this problem that the book can be passed along to as well. So much research has been put into this invaluable tool that I have no doubt will save relationships, sanity, home furnishings...and most importantly, cat lives.


Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

8 comments:

Summer at sparklecat.com said...

My human and I both love Dusty! She is so smart and often has such a unique approach to her topics. We can wait to dig into (pun intended) this book too!

The Menagerie Mom said...

This sounds like such a great resource for kitty parents. I am also lucky in that most of my kitties have had not litter box issues. And those that are a bit different, you could say, such as Evan, have always had easy solutions. But this book still sounds like something that any kitty parent could use. Thank you for sharing this with us, Melissa and Mudpie!

Unknown said...

This sounds like a very useful book for any cat owner!

Momma Kat and Her Bear Cat said...

I was going to say I've never had issues ... but that's not true ... it just wasn't an issue for me. After I moved in with my ex-husband (SEPARATE BEDROOMS entirely ... we weren't married yet), Kitty peed in MY bed every day for a couple months. There was no chance in hell I was giving her up - so I never looked at it as a true problem. After the vet cleared her for physical issues ... it cleared up on its own. I was frustrated at times ... but sometimes kitties aren't happy - and often for a very good reason (she had me to herself before) - so you just do what you need to do. So many people don't realize the stress the cat is under the have a problem in the first place - which is why this book will help so many people. I'm always shocked when people say, "Oh. I didn't know I was supposed to do x."

The Swiss Cats said...

That sounds like a very useful book (and a nice book to read !) Purrs

Cathy Keisha said...

I should buy this for Aunt Pauline but she’s convinced that pee pads are the answer and we’re not going to argue.

Mickey's Musings said...

This book sounds awesome.
We have experienced litter box issues stemming from
litter box confrontations.This resulted in one cat(Georgia) holding everything in
until I got home. She ended up getting constipated.
Resolving litterbox issues ie SO important!
Purrs Georgia,Julie and JJ

pilch92 said...

That sounds like a great book. I love the cover :)