Bonners, Susan. Why Does the Cat Do That? Illustrated by Susan Bonners. Henry Holt, 1998. ISBN 0-8050-4377-2. $15.95. 32 pp. B 2-4 NF PB Reviewed by Rachael W. Galvez This book describes many cat behaviors through a story about a young man who is house-sitting for neighbors and becomes acquainted with their cat for the first time. He observes with curiosity and bewilderment many of the things the cat does. At the end of the story, the boy decides to find out about cat behavior by going to the library, but the readers of the book have already been given explanations by informational inserts throughout the book. Most of the explanations link domestic cat behavior to instincts inherited from their wild cat ancestors. As a new cat owner, I found this book fascinating, because I have observed most of the described habits in my own cat. The format of the book will likely make it very accessible and interesting to children.
