The past, present and future of the world's most popular and beloved pet, from a leading evolutionary biologist and great cat lover. Jonathan B. Losos unravels the secrets of the cat using all the tools of modern technology, from GPS tracking (you’ll be amazed where they roam) and genomics (what is your so-called Siamese cat, really?) to forensic archaeology. He tells the story of the cat’s domestication (if you can call it that) and gives us a cat's-eye view of the world today. Along the way we also meet their wild cousins, whose behaviours are eerily similar to even the sweetest of house cats. Drawing on his own research and life in his multi-cat household, Losos deciphers complex science and history and explores how selection, both natural and artificial, over the millennia has shaped the contemporary cat. Yet the cat, ever a predator, still seems to have only one paw out of the wild, and readily reverts to its feral ways as it occupies new habitats around the world. Looking ahead, this charming and intelligent book suggests what the future may hold for the special bond between Felis catus and Homo sapiens.

How to Raise a Happy Cat focuses on the happiness to be found in the person/pet relationship and includes dozens of ideas for activities and hacks you can build into daily life with your pet, from spontaneous play and activities to making them the perfect sleep spot. We know how important happiness is for ourselves but when it comes to pets, making sure they’re happy – as opposed to obedient, say – is often underrated. Yet there’s plenty of fresh science that shows that a happy, engaged pet is easy to live with and creates happiness in its owners, too. How to Raise a Happy Cat shows what you can learn from your pet’s behaviour and body language, offer a mass of practical ways to raise your pet’s happiness levels, and show you how to connect with them in the way they’ll love best. Building on recent scientific developments into animal behavioural science, this book's methods aim to increase inter-species understanding and encouraging the behaviour you do want, while discouraging the behaviour you don’t. Divided into 6 chapters, each of which contains plenty of easy-to-follow activities which owners can carry out themselves, this book will become an invaluable resource for building and strengthening the bond between human and cat. Sections include: How you can get to know your cat better;  How to develop happiness in different areas, from exercising to playing;  A guide to different stages in a cat’s life and at how to tailor activities to a kitten or to an ageing cat   Perfect for cat owners who want to get to know their feline friends as individuals, this indispensible book offers a new angle that gives owners lots of customized ideas for having fun with their pet, as well as explaining behaviours that they may have previously found baffling.

Behind a thin veneer of respectability, life in a small English village is not all it may seem. Through the eyes of Chumleigh the cat, the rural goings on are recorded in this funny and poignant diary, with an element of adult humour. From a cats perspective, Chumleigh tells all about life in his house and the antics of his neighbours. From domestic disharmony to a cannabis farm in next doors garden shed, he sees it all and shares it all in his diary. This is a cat who enjoys the finer elements of feline existence like tuna, sleeping in the warm and cat treats. But life doesnt always pan out the way he would like. Supported by a rich cast of locals, as odd and individualistic as still found in many small villages, Chumleigh charts a year in his life. Traumatic visits to the vet, turf wars with the local ginger tom and a desire to eliminate a neighbours yappy dog are all set down with great humour and insight. If youve ever lived in a village or owned a cat, this will make you laugh. If youve never lived in a village and never owned a cat, this will be a wonderful insight into what you have been missing. The Secret Diary of Chumleigh the Cat is a year in the life of a cat who never ceases to be amazed at just what goes on around him!

Why do cats purr? How much can you learn about a cat’s mood from the direction it flicks its tail? How do cats show trust with their eyes? Why do cats rub against their owners’ legs? Arranged in chapters covering physical characteristics, senses, lifecycle and behaviour, Cats features a huge range of breeds from all around the world. From Siamese to Russian Blue, Manx to American Bobtail, Burmese to Bombay, the book expertly explores and celebrates this most beloved pet. With fascinating captions on every page, even cat lovers will learn something new. Cats is a brilliant examination in 150 outstanding colour photographs.

Mildred Drost has had the honor of meeting many wonderful beings-canine, feline, and wild. She has had comical interludes and been shocked and horrified. She has seen, met, and experienced miracles. Through it all, she has become part of the best career in the world. Dr. Drost is a veterinarian who, by her own admission, is completely fascinated by her patients.

In Until One Has Loved an Animal, Dr. Drost shares all the amusing and heartwarming ways that pet affect all of our lives. She recalls the ninety-pound Malamute who spontaneously decides he wants a live chicken for lunch while on a jog with her; the German shepherd who makes any other ornery dog look like an angel; and the cat who, seemingly possessed at night, steals geraniums. Providing an entertaining and informative glimpse into the lives of pets and their owners, Dr. Drost also explores animal emotions and health, proving that these creatures, both large and small, often feel the same sentiments as humans.

The stories of this collection offer an intriguing look into the animal psyche, the importance of pet rescue, and all the reasons why we cannot help but love animals unconditionally.

A stunning new children's novel from the Costa Award-winning author of Asha & the Spirit Bird. PRAISE FOR ASHA AND THE SPIRIT BIRD: 'An evocative debut novel ... satisfyingly classic in feel' GUARDIAN 'A heartfelt and mystical children's adventure story.' TELEGRAPH Xanthe loves visiting her gran in her flat with its rooftop garden. But Nani is becoming forgetful - and Xanthe wishes she could help her, if only she knew how. A mysterious cat shows her a way. It leads Xanthe to clues about Nani's childhood, and how, long ago, she had to escape her old life in Africa for a new one in Britain ... The fourth novel by bestselling, Costa Award-winning author Jasbinder Bilan; author of Asha & the Spirit Bird, Tamarind & the Star of Ishta and Aarti & the Blue Gods Follows archaeology-obsessed Xanthe as she uncovers her family's secrets A tale of secrets, family, refugees, belonging and love Set in a tower block in Nottingham, bringing Jasbinder's trademark magical realism to an urban, everyday setting

OUR CATS AND ALL ABOUT THEM: THEIR VARIETIES, HABITS, AND MANAGEMENT; AND FOR SHOW, THE STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE AND BEAUTY. By Harrison Weir. A READ COUNTRY BOOKS CLASSIC REPRINT. Originally published in 1889 this rare book has long been considered a classic among cat books. It is now very hard to find in its first edition. READ COUNTRY BOOKS have republished it, using the original text and illustrations as part of their HISTORY OF THE CAT series. The author spent over fifty years carefully researching the history, and observing the nature of the cat in preparation for writing this important work. He noted their habits, watched their ways and found lasting pleasure in their companionship. The book abounds with Harrison Weir's beautiful engravings of cat varieties and associated subjects. Two hundred and sixty pages contain many comprehensive chapters on the ways of the cat, its habits, instincts, peculiarities, usefulness, colours, markings, forms, etc. Other chapters deal with the folk and other lore, including superstitions and proverbs, both ancient and modern, connected with the cat. Of much interest to the serious cat enthusiast will be the notes and descriptions on the various varieties of cat: Long Haired Cats - The Angora. - The Persian Cat. - The Russian Long Haired Cat. - The Tortoiseshell Cat. - Tabby Cats. - The Abyssinian. - White Cats. - Black Cats. Blue Cats. - Siamese Cats. - Manx Cats. Wild Cats. - Various Others. Also included is information on breeding, mating, diseases, showing, points etc. This is a fascinating and well illustrated read for any cat lover or historian of the breeds, but also contains much information that is still useful and practical today. Many ofthe earliest cat books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. READ COUNTRY BOOKS are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

If you have always wanted a cat but are put off by their reputation of being snooty, uncaring, and messy, then it's time to learn more about possible feline ownership by picking up "So! You Want to Get a Cat."

As someone who has lived with cats most of her life, Audrey Fox Frederick knows about the joys they can bring. But she also understands that they can cause sleepless nights and be expensive. Frederick delves into the world of frisky felines and explains that being the owner of a cat does not simply consist of putting down a dish of food and water. She teaches you how to address problems that take cat owners by surprise, explains why cats behave in strange ways, and helps you understand how they think.

Dog owners and cat owners alike will enjoy this informative look at one of the world's most beloved creatures. "So! You Want to Get a Cat" is a straightforward guide about cat ownership that will help you decide whether or not to become a cat owner.