Cats in Question

October 1, 2004
Seidensticker and Lumpkin, editors of Great Cats and Cats and Wild Cats, have compiled a fascinating, authoritative mix of information about felines, both wild and domestic. They cover cat biology, evolution, ecology, social life, diversity, and relationships with humans in an easy-to-read Q&A format (e.g., Why are wild cat numbers declining? When and where were cats domesticated?); answers range in length from a paragraph to several pages. While understandable to lay readers, the text also offers many examples and cites scientific studies for those who would like additional details. The book will prove useful to those who want to read the entire work and those who want to browse individual entries. Color photographs by Art Wolfe enhance the text. Recommended for public, high school, and college libraries.-Sue O'Brien, Downers Grove P.L., IL

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2004
Done in question-and-answer format," "this book" "includes every species of cat, from the domesticated ones we love to hug, to such predators as cheetahs, lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, lynx, ocelots, panthers, and pumas. Subjects dealt with include physical features and senses, diet and predation, social behavior, evolution, decline and recovery, diversity, distribution and abundance, and the cats' roles in various cultures. Did you know that a male and female lion mate repeatedly, as often as every 20 minutes for several days? Or that lions may sleep or rest up to 19 hours a day? The text is augmented by 120 color photographs by Art Wolfe, a world-renowned photographer, and a list of scientific and common names and a glossary.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)