Sometimes a friendly fireside companion, more often elusive and independent, the cat possesses an enigmatic appeal and unfathomable mystery, which have inspired writers poets, artists and craftsmen alike from the illuminations of the Lindisfarne Gospels to Rudyard Kipling.

A survey of the cat and its 7,000-year relationship with mankind. Using illustrations drawn mainly from the British and Natural History Museums, this book looks at the different roles cats have played in human life and how modern breeds have evolved from the original wild cat.

Cats in Egypt were probably domesticated by around 4000 BC from wild ancestors. Over the following centuries, they became popular household pets and are regularly shown in tomb paintings of family life. This volume draws on artistic and written sources to show how they became widely-esteemed and revered animals in Egypt.

The Gayer-Anderson Cat has been one of the most admired objects at the British Museum since its arrival in 1947. This book presents a detailed description of the cat and a discussion of its possible meaning and role in ancient times. Surprising new finds from scientific analyses are presented for the first time, shedding light on the cats somewhat traumatic modern history, from its acquisition by the British Army major and avid antiquities collector John Gayer-Anderson to its donation to the British Museum. The fascinating narrative is complemented by outstanding new photography.

When the museum's visitors are gone for the day, it's time for the kittens to come out and play! This new chapter book series by best-selling author Holly Webb is inspired by tales of real-life museum cats and follows the after-hours adventures of the Museum Kittens. Includes black-and-white illustrations throughout. One stormy night, a little black kitten named Peter appears on the museum steps. Tabby cat Tasha is delighted to show Peter the museum's hallways and secret corners, but her siblings, Bianca and Boris, aren't as happy to welcome the new arrival. Determined to prove that Peter is just as much of a museum kitten as the others, Tasha takes him on a hunt for rats. When there's a mishap in the Dinosaur Gallery, all of the kittens must work together to fix the situation. Can they do it? In this new series from best-selling author, Holly Webb, the Museum Kittens are brave, clever, and never more than a whisker away from adventure! When the museum's visitors are gone for the day, it's time for the kittens to come out and play!