There are lots of things your cat would like you to know, and if we humans were better at translating meows, ear twitches, blinks, and tail flicks, we wouldn’t need a book like 250 Vital Things Your Cat Wants You to Know by PETA President Ingrid Newkirk, a renowned cat “auntie.” But the fact is that many of us are not nearly as good at translating “Catese” as cats are at understanding our language.

For example, did you know that cats “smile” by squinting their eyes? If they go a step further and close their eyes for more than a split second, they’re showing how much they trust you—a high compliment, indeed! And did you know that your cats’ “accidents” outside the litter box could be their way of telling you that they have a serious and potentially life-threatening illness? How about if one, heaven forbid, were to go missing? This book could help you get your cat back. Oh, and scratching your couch can be dealt with (and declawing is never, ever the solution).

With empathy, humor, and the humility that comes from being “supervised” by cats, Newkirk reveals just how much feline guardians can learn from the cat gods who deign to grant us permission to provide them with a lifetime of service despite our many faults.

Are two cats better than one? Can cats walk on a leash like a dog? Why do cats “make biscuits” on your lap? Newkirk answers those questions and addresses many more topics, including these:

• Why you might want to think twice about using clay-based, clumping kitty litter
• Which houseplants may be hazardous to your cat’s health
• How to make easy DIY cat toys that cost pennies or nothing at all
• Why declawing cats can harm them emotionally as well as physically
• How to make your home truly feline-friendly
• Why real men (and women) get their cats neutered or spayed
• How to turn a simple shelving unit into a cool catio
• Which are the best nontoxic, eco-friendly flea treatments
• How to choose the right cat-sitter
• Why you should never fly your cat in an airplane cargo hold
• Which holistic home remedies could save your cat’s life

Choosing a compassionate lifestyle that makes you feel good and positively impacts on the environment and on animals has never been easier. In this practical and accessible handbook, loaded with resources for all products that are mentioned, Ingrid Newkirk presents fabulous options that will not only enhance your life, but those of your neighbors, your community, animals, and the earth itself.

From comfortable home furnishings, to delicious foods, to fashionable clothing there are a myriad of choices to be made that can have a lasting positive effect on the well-being of animals and the environment, including:

- recognizing hidden animal ingredients in cosmetics and household products
- raising ecologically aware and animal-friendly kids
- creating healthy, environmentally-friendly meals for everyday and special occasions
- dressing with style without using leather or other animal products
- dealing kindly with mice, insects, and other 'pests' in home or garden
- adopting the right animal companion for you
- volunteering and investing in eco- and animal-friendly companies
- traveling with Eco-consciousness

With more than two million members and supporters, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the world's largest animal-rights organization, and its founder and president, Ingrid Newkirk, is one of the most well-known and most effective activists in America. She has spearheaded worldwide efforts to improve the treatment of animals in manufacturing, entertainment, and elsewhere.

Every day, in laboratories, food factories, and other industries, animals by the millions are subjected to inhumane cruelty. In this accessible guide, Newkirk teaches readers hundreds of simple ways to stop thoughtless animal cruelty and make positive choices.

For each topic, Newkirk provides hard facts, personal insight, inspiration, ideas, and resources, including:

• How to eat healthfully and compassionately

• How to adopt animals rather than support puppy mills

• How to make their vote count and change public opinion

• How to switch to cruelty-free cosmetics and clothing

• How to choose amusements that protect rather than exploit animals.

With public concern for the well-being of animals greater than ever—particularly among young people—this timely, practical book offers exciting and easy ways to make a difference.