Of all the domesticated species, cats have enjoyed the most complex relationship with people-one that still leads to arguments about whether you can label the cat asleep by your fire "tame." The Cat: A Natural History begins at the beginning, just like Kipling but with more scientific heft, with a section on the evolution of the species, starting with Pseudaelurus, the first cat ancestor. A complex story of migration and development brings us to the modern world, in which an eight-branch family features 37 species. The following chapters on Anatomy & Biology, Society & Behavior, and Cats & Humans, take different angles on matters feline, offering plenty of new insights. A directory of breeds, featuring gorgeous photography of some of the most striking examples, makes a worthy conclusion to a book that should enchant anyone with an interest in, or a love for, cats.
