Book excerpt: Why do cats cry to come in and then cry to go out again? Why do they chatter silently at the window? Why can't they be trained to fetch your slippers? Where are the most unusual places they've been employed as mousers? Why are there so many cat superstitions? This cat compendium educates and entertains with facts about everything from wild cat ancestry and cat physiology to cat worship and cat movie stars. We'll investigate how cats experience the world and what they think of their human companions and explore why cats have inspired both reverence and fear throughout history. Drawing on the vast body of knowledge belonging to the world's most famous dogs and cats home, the book contains numerous snippets that readers can dip into as well as longer essays and stories that can be enjoyed at leisure. Attractively designed, with charming illustrations, and beautifully packaged as a hardback gift book, this is the ideal present for every cat lover.