The Mythology of Cats: Feline Legend and Lore Through the Ages (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Loretta Hausman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

It is common knowledge that cats have been the familiars of witches and that they possess nine lives. But how many people know that Buddha and Muhammad had beloved feline companions or that throughout the ages cats have been regarded in a positive manner as healers, caretakers, spirit guides, harbingers of good luck, martyrs, and deities who confer fertility on the fields? The Hausmans, authors of The Mythology of Dogs (St. Martin's, 1997) and other books on mythology, spent two decades researching the lore of cats. The result is an entertaining compilation of legends from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Asia; folktales from medieval Europe; and literary references from modern poetry and fiction. Each tale concludes with a description of a specific breed that seems to typify the legend. An extensive bibliography is included. More comprehensive than Robert De Larouche's The Secret Life of Cats (LJ 9/15/95), this book is recommended for public libraries with large folklore or pet collections. (Illustrations not seen.)?Florence Scarinci, Nassau Community Coll. Lib., Garden City, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

There is an invisible danger attached to the Hausmans' paean to cats. It is extremely difficult to sift throuqh the 30 different personalities and almost as many breeds before succumbing to temptation and bringing home a mewing kitten. Other than that, the book is an ailurophile's delight, with literary excerpts and legends to remember. The Cheshire cat (aka British shorthair) evokes Alice in Wonderland memories, while good-luck cats--as exemplified by the Burmese, Chartreux, and Korat--effectively destroy myths of devil affiliations. After a while, the prose occasionally lapses into a sing-song rhythm; all in all, though, a reference for party chatterers, a browser for idle leisure time, and an homage to feline companion animals. Barbara Jacobs

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1st edition (August 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312186339
• ISBN-13: 978-0312186333
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,251,086 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars the archetypal cat, February 3, 2008

By	Linda "katknit" (CT, United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: The Mythology of Cats: Feline Legend and Lore through the Ages (Paperback)

Not a scholarly compendium, The Mythology of Cats is more an engaging collection of folkloric stories, drawn from history, literature, and religion. Organized into 25 sections by various breeds and filled with pithy quotes, this book covers such ideas as feline aloofness and self-containment, the portrayal of this mysterious animal in works by such notables as Steinbeck, Twain, and Yeats, and the role of the cat in various times and cultures. The evolution of breeds old and new, wild and tame, is briefly but informatively discussed, as are such traits as clairvoyance, intelligence, and loyalty. This is a book for readers who have experienced satisfying relationships with these wonderful creatures, informative and entertaining at the same time. Enjoy!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every cat lover should read this, January 25, 2000

By	Carlene H.BOTT (FISHER, ACT Australia) - See all my reviews

Select whatever cat you love in this book to read such interesting details of the personality and legends about your cat. Contains very accurate references to other cat literature and famous cat people. You will want to read these books too. There are fascinating and entertaining stories which will provoke you to read further into the "Mythology of Cats" about other cat types of your acquaintance. You will associate cats in your life with so many of the characteristics described.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars felicitous, July 9, 2003

By	Author Brian Wallace (Mind Transmission, Inc.) (Texas) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

an absolutely delightful overview of the wonderful world of feline.

This book is written in a very friendly style that starts off as a light read but moves into deeper territory akin to Joseph Campbell. Explores the rich life of cats with highly interesting forays into unexpected realms.

While I love this book, I was distracted from time to time by statements that I suppose were misprints, "This cat, though small at around eighteen pounds." I wondered why these were not caught and rectified for later editions.

Anyway, the two authors write with much authority, wisdom and respect that renders other books about cats inferior.

A great read in many ways!