CATS: A MISCELLANY

 

Copyright © Anna Maria Espsäter, 2015

 

Illustrations © Shutterstock and Kath Walker

 

All rights reserved.

 

No part of this book may be reproduced by any means, nor transmitted, nor translated into a machine language, without the written permission of the publishers.

 

Anna Maria Espsäter has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

 

Condition of Sale
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

 

Summersdale Publishers Ltd 46 West Street Chichester West Sussex PO19 1RP UK

 

www.summersdale.com

 

Printed and bound in the Czech Republic

 

eISBN: 978-1-78372-596-0

 

 

 

 

Dedicated to two of my cat friends in London and Copenhagen, Oscar (1998–2014) and Oluf (1997–2014). RIP

CONTENTS

Cover

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Introduction

Chapter 1 – From Wildcats to Pets – the History of Domestication

Chapter 2 – What to Consider when Getting a Cat

Chapter 3 – Cat Language

Chapter 4 – Cat Behaviour and Communication

Chapter 5 – Cat Breeds

Chapter 6 – Famous Felines

Chapter 7 – Cat Care

Chapter 8 – Cats in Folklore and Mythology

Chapter 9 – Cats in Popular Culture

Chapter 10 – The Contemporary Cat

Further Reading

Useful Websites

INTRODUCTION

There are many reasons why we find cats so fascinating. Their individual personalities, their curiosity and sheer grace, plentiful purrs and ample affection (when bestowed) joyously enrich our lives.

That said, we know comparatively little about them. What cat lover wouldn’t want to climb into cats’ minds and find out exactly what they were thinking? Their very independence and aloofness, which sometimes come across as downright disdain, are interesting and appealing character traits. On the whole, our feline companions are discerning; they don’t just shower every Tom, Dick and Harry with their affections. Instead they take their time, check you out, sniff you, consider you and eventually decide whether they deem you worthy. Then, and only then, might they let you get a bit closer, stroke them, please them, but only at such times as suits them and for as long as they want. The Rudyard Kipling story The Cat that Walked by Himself might as well have been called ‘The Cat that Knew His Own Mind’.

This independent streak goes way back to when cats were anything but tame. Wildcats were calculating and clever, soon realising that spending time near humans provided a steady supply of food. Initially cats followed mice and other rodents flocking to the grain storages in human settlements, then later on, humans fed them directly, rewarding the hardworking rodent hunters and starting the long process of domestication.

The chapters in this book endeavour to capture some of the many joys that cats can bring, explain some of those quirky cat habits and cover a variety of others topics. Many cats, from the well known, well loved and heroic to the unknown, unsung and plain, wander through these pages. We look at the history of how our domestic moggies came to grace our homes and lives with their presence, the etymology of the word ‘cat’ and many of the popular cat phrases in use today and in the past. Other chapters focus on breeds, behaviour and communication, and advice on how to care for your cat. For budding cat lovers planning to get their first cat, there is also a chapter with practical advice on what to consider before taking the plunge.

The Egyptians might have started the trend of cat worship, but today we are arguably in the midst of a new era of cat worship, with an estimated half a billion cats sharing our lives around the globe. Several chapters look at cats in popular culture, literature and music, on the Internet and television, singling out some famous felines. Going back in time, there’s a brief look at historically famous cats and famed ailurophiles, as well as mythological felines. Cats abound in folkloric beliefs and superstition, with some surprisingly similar folk tales concerning cats in different parts of the world.

Above all, the book aims to be a celebration of all things cat, the four-pawed friend that we know and love. Sprinkled throughout the book are quirky cat facts and figures along with cat feats, cat celebrities and scientific information if you’re curious to find out more about your favourite moggy. Finally, the book includes a list of further reading and useful websites for follow-up.

Happy reading!