Fantastic Cats

Synopsis

This is Desmond Morris's first new book on cats since the bestselling classics Catwatching and Catlore . In it, he brings all his skills as a writer, his wit and erudition, to bear on the subject. Every famous individual cat, both real and magical, is recorded here. There are real cats such as Trixie, who voluntarily shared the Earl of Southampton's captivity in the Tower of London; Nelson, who performed a vital fuel-saving role during World War II as Churchill's hot water bottle; star cats such as Orangey who played a central role in Breakfast at Tiffany's; and Arthur, the white cat who became a household name through his appearances in cat food adverts. There are imaginary cats of magic and make believe, from Macavity to Graymalkin, and cartoon cats such as Felix and Sylvester as well as fictionalised ones from TS Eliot to PG Wodehouse. Illustrated throughout with photographs, paintings and engravings, Fantastic Cats also tells of all the famous cat owners and cat-lovers, from Florence Nightingale to Brigitte Bardot - and even cat-haters, such as Shakespeare and Eisenhower.