5Cat traces the relationship between humans and the cat from its original domestication in ancient Egypt circa 2000 BC, through centuries as a utilitarian rodent catcher, its gradual acceptance as a charming and amiable pet, and on to its present status as a companion on a par with the dog--and the subject of infinite online videos and memes.

Long before people placed such value on cats, however, we recognized something special about them. Their graceful, fluid movements, and their self-detachment even as they live in our homes, seems to indicate strange, even supernatural powers. Indeed, our peculiar fascination with the cat seems rooted in the diversity of images it projects--at once sweet and ferocious, affectionate and independent, elegant and earthy, cozily domestic and eerie.

Offering substantial and accurate information about the history of cats and their presentation in literature and art, this highly illustrated book will give cat lovers of all stripes and spots something to purr over.