Cairo Cats [Paperback]

Lorraine Chittock (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2006

Far from being pampered house pets, the cats of Cairo are street-smart survivors who roam freely throughout the city. However, their ancestors in ancient Egypt were revered as gods and were so beloved that they were portrayed in statues and jewelry. In subsequent centuries,
the tradition of adoring cats continued and today, as Lorraine Chittock’s captivating photographs display, the mystique of the cat lives on. Discover your cat’s Egyptian heritage in this delightful gift book, which pays homage to the special and timeless bond that Egyptians have with the cat in the ever-changing city of Cairo.
Rambling through mosques and markets, Lorraine Chittock, a cat-lover-cum-photographer, searched Cairo’s nooks and crannies for city-savvy felines, becoming a wildlife tracker in an urban environment. The resulting photographs are remarkable for their spontaneity and often
whimsical sensitivities to both feline and human body language. Each intimate and thoughtprovoking photograph is complemented by an apposite literary passage, tempting the reader to explore tidbits of folklore, religion, and poetry from Egypt and the Arab world, while giving
insights into an animal that has inspired fascinating tales for at least five thousand years.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

LORRAINE CHITTOCK was born in California, lived in Cairo for seven years, then in Kenya for five. She is the author and photographer of Shadows in the Sand, about her trek along the legendary Forty Days Road. She now travels the world with her two Kenyan dogs, writing and photographing her adventures.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: American University in Cairo Press (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9771724312
• ISBN-13: 978-9771724315
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,094,451 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In Praise of Cairo Cats, November 17, 2006

By 

R. S. Nelson (SF Bay Area) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cairo Cats (Paperback)

Following is a verbatim passage from a recent e-mail message I sent to Cairo Cats mastermind and photographer, Lorraine Chittock. She suggested that I post it on Amazon, which I am happy to do. I actually purchased the earlier edition of Cairo Cats from Amazon, which is quite similar to the new 2006 volume, but not as good, in my opinion. There are some new images in the new edition, the text font and text color are better, and I even think the coloration on the wonderful images is more robust and eye-popping in the new edition. Also, the new edition is printed in Cairo, which adds character and authenticity as far as I'm concerned. The reason I became interested in the Cairo Cats volume was to provide background, reality, and a worldwide viewpoint to a Breed Booth display for a large, well attended international cat show. Our breed, the Somali, claims the North African geographical area and the ancient Egyptian culture as part of its "Creation Mythology". Cairo Cats helps present the Somali legend to the public, and provides context and an enjoyable reference book for the breeders represented by our display.

>These artful, captivating, intriguing images from a distant, exotic
>land will hopefully provide depth and background to our exhibit
>for the 2006 CFA International Show. Your volume illustrates
>a culture with perhaps the world's premier claim to a long and
>sincere Cat Fancy tradition. Both ancient and modern
>manifestations of Egyptian Cat Fancy are beautifully presented.
>Thoughtful readers can meditate on poetic Egyptian quotations
>spanning four millenia. There is much to value and appreciate
>in your Cairo Cats volume, Lorraine. I feel very lucky to be
>able to offer it to a broad audience, some of whom will
>deeply appreciate its rich cross-cultural offering.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Gift Book!!, August 5, 2006

By 

Nickersons "starfish" (Sugar Land, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cairo Cats (Paperback)

An inspiring book, that captures the true essence of Cairo, one of the world's most incredible cities. The pictures range from amusing, to awe-inspiring to poignant. Cat lovers and anyone with an interest in Egypt will absolutely cherish this one-of-a-kind book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Paradise for Cat Lovers. Plus, cat poetry, cat proverbs, cat prayers..., August 1, 2006

By 

Mohja Kahf "Ph.D., Comparative Literature" (U.S.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cairo Cats (Paperback)

Poetry by cool cats such as Naomi Shihab Nye and Nizar Qabbani, inscriptions from The Prophecies of Neferti, cat fiqh from Aisha and Imam al-Shafii (is that not delightful?), Persian folk sayings, Turkish proverbs, cat wisdom from Afghanistan, cat notes from Egyptian Nobel Laureate novelist Naguib Mahfouz. Cat calligraphy! "Qitt" with an inky tail!

All arranged amid lush, delightful cat photos: Cat among the Pharoahs, cat goddesses and gods, cat on a Persian rug, cats making careful cat-ablutions, cats on Cairo streetcorners, cat in a coffeeshop, the cat and the copper tray.

What a GEM!

I app-purrrrrr-rove.