Rating: 
Summary: An enjoyable quick read for the cat lover
Review: If you are picking up this book, you are bound to be a cat lover, just like Jerffey Moussaieff Masson. He writes with a heart felt style when discussing the emotions that cats have. He has written many books about animals, and seems to have great insight as to what goes on inside their brains and hearts.You can quickly tell he is an avid cat lover, as he has many cats himself. Through years of observations of animals and through his own experiences he sums cats emotions into nine categories: narcissism, love, contentment, attachment, jealousy, fear, anger, curiosity, and playfulness. These nine emotions seem to work well in explaining why cats are they way they are. The book does not offer a bunch of scientific explanation behind his theories, but offers his hypothesis from his personal experience. A cat lover will enjoy his tales and stories, as some are quite entertaining. After reading this book you will certainly look at your cat through different eyes.
Rating: 
Summary: A Splendid and Important Book
Review: It almost seems to me as if the people who have written such negative reviews of The Nine Emotional Lives of Cats read a different book from the one I read. I found it to be fascinating and extremely informative, the usual fare I have come to expect from Masson. As in his other books, we get science, philosophy, psychological theory, literary allusions, narration, argument, and astute observations of animal behavior, all in one place.
Because I care so much about animals, I am grateful that someone like Masson is putting his good heart and considerable intellectual prowess into the important topic of animal emotion - and, thereby, greatly influencing a change in how we view and treat animals today. What Rachael Carson did for the environment in Silent Spring, Masson did for animal welfare in When Elephants Weep. Now by pointing out the intricacies of cats' emotions, he is adding still another piece to the work he has begun. Read the book if you'd like to understand what your cats may be telling you when they blink or purr or gather around to listen to Puccini. Read it if you'd like a front-row seat for the continuing, crucial dialogue about animal feelings. As with any of Masson's books, you'll be both entertained and intellectually stimulated. And you'll never look at cats in the same way again.
Rating:
Summary: Beautifully written and thought provoking ...
Review: Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson graciously offers us a glimpse into the mind and heart of our feline companions. As a former wildlife biologist, I find this exploration refreshing. Often, he qualifies his thoughts by writing "This is what I've heard." or "This is what I'd like to believe." I enjoyed the author's openess and willingness to let us in on what he really wants to believe while mixing in scientific fact. It was a balanced weaving of both. I had the opportunity to hear the author speak on his book tour and was moved by his insights. I was also impressed by his strong opinions. Bravo! He believes that cats can't be truly happy unless they are allowed to roam free (cat door or flap). They can be content if confined indoors, but not truly happy!
Rating: 
Summary: So-so
Review: The plus side.... I found it an engaging read, and it did make me study my three cats more than I normally do. I like his assessments that there are more to cats then what we see on a surface view, and I agreed with most of the emotions listed and how they manifest themselves. The writing style was well done, and I liked the contemplative style of his prose. The negative side... The author does not seem to realize that most of us do not live in rural beaches and rain forests, and for the vast majority of cats out there, the environment outside is hostile to small domestic animals. I am a volunteer in a cat shelter, and have been the unfortunate witness to many a bad situation caused by owners wanting their cats to be able to run free. I found it surprising that someone who was so anti-declawing (which I applaud) could be so naive as to the perils outside. Cats and toddlers alike may yearn to run into the street, but it doesn't mean those who are responsible for them should allow them to do so. I suppose it is not surprising; after all, it came from an author who was willing to give away a cat who had gotten somewhat cranky in middle age, as well as one who seems nonchalant at the end that his wandering cats were no longer spending their nights at home. But for someone who is truly concerned about their cat's welfare, the casual attitude was a bit hard to swallow. I am hoping that his current cats do not end up getting squished by a car like he admits the rest of them had in California. Buy the book? No. But it might be worth checking out at the library.
Rating:
Summary: So-so
Review: The plus side.... I found it an engaging read, and it did make me study my three cats more than I normally do. I like his assessments that there are more to cats then what we see on a surface view, and I agreed with most of the emotions listed and how they manifest themselves. The writing style was well done, and I liked the contemplative style of his prose. The negative side... The author does not seem to realize that most of us do not live in rural beaches and rain forests, and for the vast majority of cats out there, the environment outside is hostile to small domestic animals. I am a volunteer in a cat shelter, and have been the unfortunate witness to many a bad situation caused by owners wanting their cats to be able to run free. I found it surprising that someone who was so anti-declawing (which I applaud) could be so naive as to the perils outside. Cats and toddlers alike may yearn to run into the street, but it doesn't mean those who are responsible for them should allow them to do so. I suppose it is not surprising; after all, it came from an author who was willing to give away a cat who had gotten somewhat cranky in middle age, as well as one who seems nonchalant at the end that his wandering cats were no longer spending their nights at home. But for someone who is truly concerned about their cat's welfare, the casual attitude was a bit hard to swallow. I am hoping that his current cats do not end up getting squished by a car like he admits the rest of them had in California. Buy the book? No. But it might be worth checking out at the library.
Rating: 
Summary: Bad Science
Review: This book is to be avoided for two reasons. First, the author applies no valid scientific principles before drawing conclusions about cat behavior based on his observations of a few pets and, apparently, legends about the creatures. For example, he simply repeats the old idea that domestic housecats are solitary by nature, whereas serious biologists have lately concluded that these animals have a social structure similar to that of lions (e.g., female cats live together and raise one another's offspring). Second, and most alarming, the author is a threat to the environment, and his opinions should not be spread. He moved to New Zealand, acquired five cats, and has no remorse about letting them run free in a rain forest, where they frequently grab rare birds that have no experience fleeing predators. The author maintains that keeping cats indoors is cruel. But is it any less cruel to cause the suffering, death, and possible extinction of some birds? Please do NOT buy this book!
Rating:
Summary: Yawn
Review: This book is what a friend calls "Okay, honey, I'll be finished typing this chapter in five minutes" book. It's slipshod, reads like the author was on snooze alert for most of it, like he was rushing to get the second half of the book advance. He writes flattering things about big names like Desmond Morris in the book, then gets them to write blurbs praising the book--pretty tacky and not done by reputable writers. It's really disrespectful to readers, to type a bunch of stuff off the top of your head, slap it together, and charge 20 something bucks for it. I felt like I was supporting Masson's house payments, not reading.
Rating:
Summary: Bad advice
Review: This book should have been subtitled "How to raise feral cats while annoying your neighbors". The kindest thing I can say is that the author's cat care advice is irresponsible and would, if followed, result in short, painful lives for many felines. They deserve a more caring advocate.
Rating:
Summary: Finding your own answers
Review: This book was written in an interesting, almost philosophical way, asking more questions and not giving a whole lot of answers. That isn't a criticism, just an observation. The author will give an example of an emotion in cats, tell a story, then give his own opinion of what it means. Then he'll question it, and say, well, maybe it could also mean this. It's an interesting style because he doesn't just feed you information, rather he forces you to think about it on your own. It's quite enjoyable. Plus the anecdotes are hilarious, and any cat owner can relate to them. Yossie with the strategically-placed sponges, Minna and her banana leaf prey... a book any cat-fancier will enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Finding your own answers
Review: This book was written in an interesting, almost philosophical way, asking more questions and not giving a whole lot of answers. That isn't a criticism, just an observation. The author will give an example of an emotion in cats, tell a story, then give his own opinion of what it means. Then he'll question it, and say, well, maybe it could also mean this. It's an interesting style because he doesn't just feed you information, rather he forces you to think about it on your own. It's quite enjoyable. Plus the anecdotes are hilarious, and any cat owner can relate to them. Yossie with the strategically-placed sponges, Minna and her banana leaf prey... a book any cat-fancier will enjoy.
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