Revered and Reviled

Throughout history the cat has had an indomitable influence on societies and cultures--first as goddess, then as demon, and now as hero and social media empress. As both mascot and muse to great adventurers, writers, artists, and statesmen, the cat has offered comfort and inspiration. Never obsequious or ordinary, always elegant and inscrutable, the cat has played a fundamental role in civilization through the centuries, and this is its story.