Here is the story of the domestic cat, a creature that has been our neighbor, ally and companion from the first glimmerings of civilization in the ancient Near East to the concrete catacombs and convolutions of twenty-first century cities. All across this expanse of time cats have coexisted with man in a mutually beneficial and often complex relationship. Along the way cats have been persecuted, worshipped, linked with the unseen evils of man's imagination, and adored as members of human families. This volume covers the story of the cat from the origins of feline domestication to contemporary issues regarding urban overpopulation, feral cat colonies and the pitfalls and pleasures of living with housecats. The Cat: A Short History is a chronicle of cats, people and human civilization from across the globe, meant for cat lovers everywhere.