A long history of myth and superstition surrounds the domestication of the cat whose solitary nature, demanding personality and secret nightlife set it apart from all other domestic animals. The beauty, charm and beguiling character of these creatures have secured them a very special relationship with humans over the centuries.

This engaging book explores the place of the cat in cultures around the world, from ancient times to the present. It uniquely combines the natural history of the feline with the history of cats in the ancient, medieval and recent past, and reveals why the cat has become the much-loved creature it is today.

Richly illustrated with images from ancient Egypt, Greece, China and Japan, medieval manuscripts to modern drawings and photographs, The British Museum Book of Cats links cats in art with their real contemporaries, and is a must-have for anyone who loves cats.