Mews and Views for the Curious Cat Lover

In a rather bizarre twist of fate, the ancient Egyptians and their mummified pets may have the last word, so to speak. Are the molecules of ancient Egyptian cat mummies embedded in our morning cereal? What strange contents have scientists discovered within the linen wraps of cat mummies? Modern technology allows us to peek inside methods used in the ancient animal funerary industry. Why are black cats often the last to be adopted from your local animal shelter? Answers and more questions await the reader within this engaging smorgasbord of short articles. Author and career public school librarian Elyse Cregar shares her personal stories, research and commentary on everything from recent findings about feline adaptations to how lost cats might find their way home. Like the legend of cats having nine lives, beliefs have persisted throughout the centuries that cats' spirits may outlive death. The dark spirit world of prehistoric cave artists may offer clues about our human-feline connections. Did you know that the ancient Egyptians built a city dedicated to the worship of cats? The City of Bubastis! Ruins of this great city and temples can still be seen on the banks of the Nile River Delta. The Egyptians revered cats as living links to the gods and viewed humans as their devoted servants. To harm a cat could earn you a death sentence. From the history of the man-eating lions of Tsavo to the evolution of toe beans, those adorable feline slippers, the subjects about felines offered here are as diverse as the colors and personalities of cats everywhere. Arguably one of nature's most efficient predators, domestic cats have become our loving furry friends, even soulmates. Evolved from wild desert felines, perhaps bred to be less savage and small enough to be human companions, our feline pets carry mysteries deep within their inscrutable selves. So, invite your pet to join you in your easy chair as you read.