10 Books Cat Breeders Should Own

Here's a list of 10 books that cat breeders should have in their libraries.  The books range from genetics to care of kitten.  I wish to thank several of my breeder friends for make suggestions and comments on these books.

1. The Cat Breeder's Handbook  -- This is a collection of articles by various experts on everything from selecting cats for a breeding program to showing cats at a cat show.  There is a good article on cattery design.
2. Feline Husbandry -- One of the classics for cat breeders, which is still useful.  It covers diseases in a multicat environment, caring for kittens and mothers, and nutrition among other topics.  The book is fairly expensive as it is out of print, but it is available for free online through the UC Davis website.
3. Practical Guide to Cat Breeding (Royal Canin) -- I have not personally seen this book but it was highly recommended.  From the description, it sounds good as it has sections on genetics, reproduction problems, pediatrics, and even legal matters.  The down side of this book is the price -- it is out of print and routinely sells for over $100.
4. Robinson's Genetics for Cat Breeders and Veterinarians -- This is THE book on cat genetics and how breeders need to consider relatedness among cats.
5. Notes on Feline Internal Medicine -- This is a technical veterinary book, but one of the best books for clearly diagnosing internal problems, explaining bloodwork, and giving medication suggestions.
6. Veterinary Notes for Cat Owners, Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook, or Cornell Book of Cats -- PICK 2 -- These are more user-friendly books that the above book.  They provide the reader with more background information on disease processes without the technical terminology and the medication suggestions.  Each book explains topics in slightly different ways, hence the suggestion for 2 books.
7. Infectious Disease Management in Animal Shelters -- This book is invaluable to understand and help prevent diseases from spreading in a closed environment, such as a cattery.  While it is for animal shelters, and thus includes dogs, it is very applicable to catteries.
8. Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook -- This standard reference on veterinary drugs is invaluable for understanding the biochemisty of drugs as well as for dosages.  Sadly, the book is expensive and some newer drugs are omitted until the newest edition is published.
9. The Pill Book Guide to Medication for Your Dog and Cat -- This is a more user-friendly drug book which covers the most commonly prescribed drugs, discusses the pros and cons of using human medications, and provides a simple first-aid guide.
10. Raising Cats Naturally: How to care for your cat the way nature intended -- For breeders interested in feeding raw food, this is THE book to have.  Not only does it provide clear recipes, it provides the rational behind the ingredients with references to literature.