THE CAT'S MEOW

Not just another cat book, this enthusiastic study traces the evolution of the domesticated house cat from the African wildcat and explores the scientific questions it raises.

An evolutionary biologist who specializes in how lizards adapt to their environments, Losos shows how cats have evolved both by natural selection and by artificial selection done by humans interested in breed development. The author taught classes to Harvard undergraduates on the science of cats, considering issues of ecology, evolution, and genetics, and that pedagogical experience informs this book. Though Losos delves deeply into evolutionary diversification, genetics, DNA research, ancient history, and archaeology, he steers clear of academic jargon and describes complex evolutionary changes in simple language. In order to explain selective breeding, he chronicles his visit to the Cat Fanciers' Association's International Cat Show (“the World Series of cats”), where the sheer variety of cats provides ample evidence of "the power of selection to rapidly alter the anatomy and behavior of a species." We meet feline geneticist Leslie Lyons, who helped create the first "map" of the feline genome, which can identify the genes underlying some cat diseases. We follow the Cat Tracker project, which examines the home ranges of pet, feral, and wild cats worldwide. Losos also takes us inside the contentious indoor versus outdoor debate: Conservation organizations advocate keeping cats indoors, but cats' natural tendency is to explore the outdoors. The author leavens the scientific information with personal anecdotes of living with his own house cats. In the final chapter, Losos speculates about the future of cats. Will genetic engineering produce a saber-toothed house cat, or will we be able to create a truly allergen-free cat? Beautifully drawn illustrations by Tuss, sprinkled throughout the text, help readers picture various landmarks on the evolutionary timeline as well as some of the most aesthetically pleasing cultivated breeds.

A vivid, well-rounded treat for anyone interested in cats.