Engineering For Cats

Problem solving for cat people. Sure, your cat cleans itself, uses a litter box, and is happy to pitch in by ridding your basement of the occasional unwanted rodent. But she is also a barely domesticated wild animal whose compulsions might include shredding upholstery, knocking over plants, and trying to dominate the “territory” you call home. How to accommodate your pet’s feral instincts while reducing these problem areas in your relationship? Through engineering! Conceived by aerospace engineer Mac Delaney, here are ten ingenious DIY projects that address the quirks of cat behavior head-on, with results that will help both your cat and you to live happily—together—ever after. DIY projects include: cat shelf drinking fountain cat cave scratcher bunk beds treat slot machine cat door litter box cabinet cat wheel

There may be 100 million pet cats in this country, but who says that means they’re domesticated? Sure, they clean themselves, use a litter box, and hunt rodents, but cats are also territorial beasts who think furniture is meant for claw sharpening, and that running water is always better than still. In this inventive, surprisingly funny, and highly entertaining and practical book, Mac Delaney addresses the quirks of cat behavior through the mindset of an aerospace engineer (because that’s what he is!)—and gives us 10 projects that solve the most common sources of friction affecting cats and their doting owners. Take that preference for running water. Because cats don’t trust still water (in the wild, a stagnant pool can harbor disease), they’re often dehydrated and cranky. Here’s how to build not one but two different fountains that will provide fresh, moving water. Or another problem: Cats, diminutive in stature, can feel inferior around humans, causing them to act out in negative ways. The solution: Erect a cat shelf on your wall, giving your pet a prime perch and a height advantage. And that furniture scratching problem? Construct the Cat Cave—it has angled surfaces for optimal scratching, a curved top for ergonomic lounging, a carpeted interior for perfect napping, and an escape route out back for emergency exits. For any cat lover with a modicum of DIY skills, here’s a whole new approach to living happily ever after with your pet(s).

In this timely and controversial work, Sue Hubbell contends that the concept of genetic engineering is anything but new, for humans have been tinkering with genetics for centuries. Focusing on four specific examples -- corn, silkworms, domestic cats, and apples -- she traces the histories of species that have been fundamentally altered over the centuries by the whims and needs of people.

In this controversial new book, dedicated veterinarian Elizabeth M. Hodgkins, D.V.M., Esq. raises the alarm regarding the dry food we feed our cats and the nutritional diseases that result. Your Cat: Simple New Secrets to a Longer, Stronger Life turns today's conventional wisdom of cat care on its head with completely new, yet remarkably easy-to-follow guidelines for every cat owner. From kitten-rearing to the adult cat's middle years to caring for the geriatric cat, Dr. Hodgkins explores the full spectrum of proper cat care, as well as the many deadly feline diseases that are rampant. This indispensible manual belongs on every modern cat owner's shelf.

This self-help guide is for programmers who need to improve their management and leadership skills.

Pamper your pet while you save money by doing it yourself! This book shows you how to build inexpensive, functional accessories to make your home a pet paradise. DIY Projects for Cats and Dogs presents 20 simple projects that you can make in just a weekend, without any advanced skills or special tools. From a cat tree and a hide-away litter box to bowl stands, leash racks, and a Scandinavian bed platform, these stylish structures will take care of your pet's needs while preserving your interior décor. Built and pet-tested by the authors in their own home, each imaginative creation features step-by-step instructions, materials lists, and inspirational color photographs. Inside DIY Projects for Cats and Dogs Functional yet stylish furniture and accessories to make for your cat or dog. 20 simple DIY projects that anyone can make in one weekend without special skills. Save money by doing it yourself with scrap wood, simple materials, and basic tools. Modern, decorative designs let you show your love for your animals while embellishing your home. Step-by-step instructions, materials lists, and inspirational color photographs. Projects include litter boxes, dog house, bowl stands, bed platforms, travel basket, cat tree, leash rack, bedside table cabin, and more.

"Full of ideas and well-explained principles that will bring new understanding of everyday things to both scientists and non-scientists alike."—R. McNeill Alexander, Nature Nature and humans build their devices with the same earthly materials and use them in the same air and water, pulled by the same gravity. Why, then, do their designs diverge so sharply? Humans, for instance, love right angles, while nature's angles are rarely right and usually rounded. Our technology goes around on wheels—and on rotating pulleys, gears, shafts, and cams—yet in nature only the tiny propellers of bacteria spin as true wheels. Our hinges turn because hard parts slide around each other, whereas nature's hinges (a rabbit's ear, for example) more often swing by bending flexible materials. In this marvelously surprising, witty book, Steven Vogel compares these two mechanical worlds, introduces the reader to his field of biomechanics, and explains how the nexus of physical law, size, and convenience of construction determine the designs of both people and nature. "This elegant comparison of human and biological technology will forever change the way you look at each."—Michael LaBarbera, American Scientist

Written by an expert team of veterinarians, cat breeders, and scientists, this comprehensive reference-guide covers all aspects of cat care, health, psychology, breeding, and showing

Great engineers don't necessarily make great leaders—at least, not without a lot of work. Finding your path to becoming a strong leader is often fraught with challenges. It's not easy to figure out how to be strategic, successful, and considerate while also being firm. Whether you're on the management or individual contributor track, you need to develop strong leadership skills. This practical book shows you how to become a well-rounded and resilient engineering leader. Understand what it means to be the driving force behind your career Learn how to self-manage and avoid the pitfalls that many newer managers face Establish evolving practices and structures to best scale your team Define the impact of your team and its core mission and values

The ability to alter the genetic code is one of the most powerful aspects of modern science. With genetic engineering, scientists can make a mouse's muscles bigger, create animals that are virtually identical to one another, and cause mosquitoes to pass fatal genes to their offspring, halting the spread of disease-causing organisms. Advances in gene editing, the ability to directly manipulate DNA, have placed even greater power in researchers' hands and renewed ethical concerns surrounding the implementation of genetic engineering. This comprehensive volume explores these topics, describes the methods by which scientists produce genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and highlights ethical issues associated with GMOs.