Customer Reviews

Cairo Cats

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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.

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.

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.

Cairo Cats is highly professional but down-to-earth, with enchanting images, arresting quotations and an illuminating introduction. It helps us expand our understanding of the world and its creatures. Enough to make a non-cat person like me into a cat lover.

CAIRO CATS are street-smart, hold a fine lineage, and are not to be treated the same way as your typical Western cat: that's the message in the blend of history and pet insights of CAIRO CATS: EGYPT'S ENDURING LEGACY, which uses the backdrop of Cairo to explore the cats through verse and prose alike. Lovely photos display the cats against fine Egyptian scenes while descriptions draw readers in. Perfect for any cat lover who wants something a little different.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch