When Cats Reigned Like Kings

Chasing a mystery across the globe, journalist Geyer conducted exhaustive research into the puzzle of how cats came to occupy their unique position in the lives of humans. Geyer's curiosity about her own cats inspired her to study the history of human-feline relations and especially cats' exalted status among the ancients as royal or sacred beings. In Egypt, Geyer learned of the cat-goddess Bastet and of the cat's role in the transmigration of souls. In Myanmar she saw Leonardo DiCaprio, Ricky Martin, and the other incongruously named cats of the Nga Phe Kyaung monastery, trained by the monks to jump through hoops. She even met a family who dutifully guards the heritage of the Japanese bobtail, cultivating the line in--of all places--rural Virginia. Illustrated with photos from Geyer's journeys, the book also describes the 38-40 recognized modern cat breeds, including photos of each.--From publisher description.