Cats

John Seidensticker and Susan Lumpkin have been answering questions about cats for more than 30 years. They have answered questions from scientists, governments, concerned individuals, thoughtful children and conservationists. In the Smithsonian Answer Book - Cats, they have pulled together one of the most comprehensive collections of questions that cover every species of cat ranging from the world's largest and most enigmatic predators to the alley cats that sometimes catch the goldfish out of their garden pond in Washington DC. This Smithsonian answer book could stand alone just on the quality of 120 breathtaking photographs by Art Wolfe, yet the authors are masterful communicators. They have diligently labored to give us unprecedented access to two lifetimes of first-hand experience and information that has previously only been available in academic journals and obscure books. The perfect gift for the hard-to-buy-for cat lover, everyone who has ever owned a cat needs to read this book. It dispels many old-wives tales about cats, shows you spectacular images of the rarest cats in the world, how to save the world's wild cats and how to become a cat researcher. If you've ever wondered "if wild tigers use sand like your tabby uses kitty-litter?", or "why black cats are associated with witches?" you'll have to get this book to find out.