The winds of Altair
From back cover Tor trade paperback May 1983:

**MORALITY VS. SURVIVAL...**

Even before the human scientists arrived at the sixth planet of Altair they knew they had their work cut out for them.  Star probes had long before informed them that Altair VI had flourishing ecology with one very tough beast at the top of the food chain, a beast that would have to be dealt with before the human colony ships arrived.  What they didn't know was that the beast was not only tough, it was as smart as a man -- and that the only human capable of real communication with the wolfcats of Altair would want to become one...
Imagination, Juvenile fiction, Play, Brothers and sisters, Fiction
Ben Bova
Benjamin William Bova is an American science-fiction author and editor.

Bova has drawn on his experiences to create fact and fiction writings rich with references to spaceflight, lasers, artificial hearts, nanotechnology, environmentalism, fencing and martial arts, photography and artists.

As of 2010 Bova has written over 115 books - non-fiction as well as science fiction. In 2000, he attended the 58th World Science Fiction Convention (Chicon 2000) as the Author Guest of Honor.

([Source][1])


  [1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Bova