12 Best Cat Care Books: Vet-Approved Recommendations

Being a cat owner is a wonderful experience, and while cats are often easier to care for than dogs, many of us worry about providing them with the best possible lives. Fortunately, many books cover everything that you need to know, from choosing your new pet to training them, with advice for nearly every topic.

If you are in the market for such a book, keep reading for reviews of some of the most popular publications, along with tips on finding the best one for you.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2026

Rating	Image	Product	Details
		Cats for Dummies	Accessible and expert guide User-friendly Offers valuable insights	Check Price
		CAT FACTS: THE PET PARENTS A-to-Z	Premium choice With lots of pictures and illustrations Provides practical information	Check Price
		Complete Cat Care Manual	Comprehensive guide Covers essential topics Offers lots of illustrations and pictures	Check Price
		How to Be Owned by a Cat	Entertaining read with lots of anecdotes Addresses common pitfalls Learn how to decipher cat behavior	Check Price
		The Complete Guide to Adopting a Cat	Amazing book by certified cat behavior consultant Practical tips Definitive guide to adopting cats	Check Price

The 12 Best Cat Care Books

1. Cats for Dummies

“Cats for Dummies” serves as an accessible and expert guide covering many topics, from cat behavior to the unique traits of different feline breeds. This user-friendly resource empowers readers to handle common cat challenges, such as scratching furniture and litter box issues while gaining a deeper understanding of their pet. Whether introducing a new kitten into the family or adopting a senior cat, the guide offers valuable insights to ensure a happy and feline-friendly life.

2.  2. CAT FACTS: The Pet Parent's A-to-Z Home Care Encyclopedia

“CAT FACTS: THE PET PARENTS A-to-Z HOME CARE ENCYCLOPEDIA” is a premium choice cat care book. It has over 200 entries and 160+ cat photos and illustrations that cover a wide range of topics, from choosing the right cat to understanding feline behavior and identifying signs of illness. It provides practical information on holistic care, preventive measures, and first aid for various conditions, supported by charts that detail signs, treatments, and preventive advice. There is even a poison first-aid chart, a signs/conditions table, and a Breed-At-a-Glance chart for comparing pedigreed cats.

3. Complete Cat Care Manual: The Essential, Practical Guide to All Aspects of Caring for Your Cat

“The Complete Cat Care Manual: The Essential, Practical Guide to All Aspects of Caring for Your Cat” is a comprehensive guide offering detailed insights into the day-to-day care of both kittens and adult cats. It covers essential things like feeding, training, handling, exercise, equipment, and grooming, along with common behavioral issues, providing practical tips for changing undesirable habits. It explains health concerns clearly with anatomical diagrams, diagnostic charts, and illustrations aiding in the identification of signs and treatments.

4. How to Be Owned by a Cat

“How to Be Owned by a Cat” is an entertaining read, containing anecdotes relating to the author’s own cat Theodore. This book equips you with a helpful checklist to ensure that you are well-prepared before your new pet even comes home. It addresses common pitfalls, like not protecting furniture from sharp claws, and offers effective solutions. You will also learn how to decipher cat behavior and minimize the risk of scratches or bites. Discovering a cat’s personality is made simple, which makes it easier to form a strong bond. Additionally, the guide provides crucial information on household items that may be toxic to cats, helping you create a safe environment for your cat.

5. The Complete Guide to Adopting a Cat

“The Complete Guide to Adopting a Cat” is an amazing book by certified cat behavior consultant Laura Cassiday, who uses her knowledge to guide you through finding the right pet for your home, what to do if you find a stray, getting ready to bring a new cat home, and much more. It also helps you tackle problems like biting, scratching, destructive behavior, and litter box avoidance.

6. Total Cat Mojo: The Ultimate Guide to Life With Your Cat

“Total Cat Mojo: The Ultimate Guide to Life With Your Cat” explores the concept of feline confidence. The book emphasizes that issues like litter box avoidance and aggression arise from a lack of this confidence and provides key advice to help cats get it back. From socializing kittens to caring for senior cats, the guide covers everything that you need to know, including grooming, nutrition, play, and stress-free veterinary visits. It’s packed with information and is easy to read.

7. A Kid’s Guide to Cats: How to Train, Care For, and Play and Communicate With Your Amazing Pet!

“A Kid’s Guide to Cats: How to Train, Care For, and Play and Communicate With Your Amazing Pet!” is a delightful and practical cat care book designed specifically for children. It offers a playful and engaging guide for kids on creating a safe, healthy home environment and establishing positive relationships with feline friends. It explains essential topics like understanding cat behavior, daily care routines, and fostering long-term connections with cats. There is also information on reading feline body language, litter box use, and fun details like cat-human relationship history and DIY cat toys, making the guide both informative and entertaining. With colorful illustrations and vibrant photography, this book is likely to be popular with any child.

8. Ultimate Encyclopedia of Cats, Cat Breeds, and Cat Care

“Ultimate Encyclopedia of Cats, Cat Breeds, and Cat Care” is great to read because it contains more than 700 high-quality images. There is a picture of almost every cat breed, which makes it easy to find your favorite. It’s also packed with how to raise a cat from a kitten to an adult and provides many breed-specific tips that will help keep your pet healthy. The hardcover makes an especially good gift and will look great in any library.

9. Cat Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook

“Cat Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook” is an extremely comprehensive cat care resource that features an index of clinical signs for quick information retrieval, offering clearly written, step-by-step directions for managing common feline ailments. It’s illustrated with hundreds of photos, drawings, and tables and provides valuable insights on recognizing and addressing issues to ensure optimal care for your cats. There are anatomical drawings and diagrams and information on genetics, geriatrics, drug sensitivities, raw diets, arthritis medications, and dental disease. Additionally, the guide explores supplements, nutraceuticals, and holistic treatments, presenting proven beneficial options.

10. Understanding Cat Behavior: A Compassionate Guide to Training and Communication

“Understanding Cat Behavior: A Compassionate Guide to Training and Communication” is a comprehensive guide that looks into the intricacies of feline actions, offering insights into the reasons behind your cat’s behaviors and practical techniques to manage them. This resource is a treasure trove of information, with training methods designed to enhance the bond between you and your cat, covering aspects like communication, play, grooming, and feeding for cats of every life stage, from kittens to seniors. It also provides advice for multi-cat households, including introducing new cats and maintaining harmony.

11. Think Like a Cat: How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat--Not a Sour Puss

“Think Like a Cat: How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat--Not a Sour Puss” is a fun read that attempts to show cat owners what it’s like to think like a cat, and it can really change one’s approach. It covers everything from understanding a cat’s emotions and medical needs to appreciating their preference for both horizontal and vertical living spaces. The importance of a well-maintained litter box, the significance of cats marking their territory, and the nuances of feline behavior, such as signs of fatigue during petting, are highlighted.

12. The Everything Book of Cats and Kittens (Everything About Pets)

“The Everything Book of Cats and Kittens (Everything About Pets)” is a delightful book tailored for cat enthusiasts, whether they’re seasoned or new cat owners. It invites readers to learn more about their cat’s subtle body language, understand their outdoor adventures, and interpret the messages that they convey. There are plenty of interesting pictures and adorable cat facts, with a lively exploration into the playful and curious personalities of these amazing animals. It’s especially great for children but has plenty of interesting facts and tips that will surprise even adults.

Tips for Finding a Cat Care Book

• Look for books written by reputable authors, preferably veterinarians, certified cat behaviorists, or experts in feline health and care.
• Choose a book that covers various aspects of cat care, including nutrition, grooming, healthcare, behavior, and communication.
• Consider your specific interests or concerns, such as dealing with behavioral issues, introducing a new cat, or caring for senior felines, and ensure that the book addresses your unique needs.
• Books with clear illustrations, photographs, or diagrams can be helpful, especially for practical demonstrations of grooming techniques, health checks, feline body language and other hands-on aspects of cat care.
• Check if the book provides information on maintaining a cat’s overall health, preventive care, and recognizing signs of illness. Understanding common health issues and vaccinations is crucial.
• Look for guidance tailored to different life stages, from caring for kittens to addressing the specific needs of senior cats.
• Choose a book with a user-friendly format, clear organization, and easy-to-follow instructions. A good layout is particularly important for quick reference and practical application.

Why Trust Catster?

Catster has been a trusted online brand since 2001, so we know a thing or two about care books. We’re a team of cat-loving writers, editors, and veterinarians dedicated to helping you make the most informed decision for your feline. We deeply believe in providing the best information for cat owners to help their cats live their best life possible. We look at reviews from the most trusted sources available, and this, combined with our veterinary team’s experience and expertise, helps us gather the best options on the market. Our team is invested in the welfare and health of cats around the world, and believe that expert knowledge is one of the best ways to achieve this.

Conclusion

For an easy-to-follow comprehensive guide to keeping your cat healthy and happy “Cats for Dummies” is a great choice. You can read it cover to cover or cherry-pick the information that is relevant to you. If you are looking for fun and practical books for you and your children to look at together both “A Kid’s Guide to Cats: How to Train, Care For, and Play and Communicate With Your Amazing Pet!” and “The Everything Book of Cats and Kittens (Everything About Pets)”, are excellent. They are full of information that helps kids to understand and bond with their feline friends.

See Also: 

• The 10 Best Cat Coloring Books

• Fiction Books about Cats

Featured Image Credit: Sushitsky Sergey, Shutterstock