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The Wild Cat Book

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Cats

With Photographs by Terry Whittaker
Buy this book: The Wild Cat Book
Cloth
$49.00
ISBN: 9780226780269
Published October 2014
pdf
$48.99
ISBN: 9780226145761
Published October 2014

The Wild Cat Book

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Cats

With Photographs by Terry Whittaker
From the ancient Egyptian cat goddess, Bastet, to the prophet Muhammad’s favorite cat, Muezza, and our contemporary obsession with online cat videos, felines have long held a place of honor in their human counterparts’ homes and cultures. But the domestic cat is just one of many feline species, and in The Wild Cat Book cat experts Fiona and Mel Sunquist introduce us to the full panoply of the purring, roaring feline tribe.

Illustrated throughout with Terry Whittaker’s spectacular color photographs as well as unique photos from biologists in the field—some the highest quality images ever captured of exceptionally rare species—The Wild Cat Book not only tantalizes with the beauty of cats, but also serves as a valuable and accessible reference on cat behavior and conservation. Comprehensive entries for each of the thirty-seven cat species include color distribution maps and up-to-date information related to the species’ IUCN conservation and management statuses, while informative sidebars reveal why male lions have manes (and why dark manes are sexiest), how cats see with their whiskers, the truth behind our obsession with white lions and tigers, and why cats can’t be vegetarians. The Wild Cat Book also highlights the grave threats faced by the world’s wild cats—from habitat destruction to human persecution.

From the extraordinary acrobatics of the arboreal margay—able to cling to a tree branch by a single paw thanks to its unusually flexible ankles—to modern declines in African lion populations, The Wild Cat Book is an instructive and revealing ode to felines of every size and color. Combining science, behavioral observations, and stunning photography, this book will captivate cat fanciers the world over.

See sample pages from the book (PDF format) and photographs of rare cats.


280 pages | 137 color plates, 34 halftones, 1 line drawing | 8 x 10 | © 2014

Biological Sciences: Behavioral Biology, Conservation, Evolutionary Biology

Reviews

“The cat family tree, DNA studies have shown, contains a total of thirty-seven species in eight related groups. All thirty-seven species are included here, complete with photos and maps showing the location of their natural habitats. Bizarrely, though, there’s no mention of lolcats. . .”

BBC Focus

“A definitive reference on the thirty-six species of wild cats of the world, some of which will be unfamiliar to many readers. The accounts of each species, accompanied by outstanding photographs and large distribution maps, are arranged in eight groups, from the largest cats in the oldest lineage, Panthera, through bay cat, caracal, ocelot, lynx, puma, leopard, and the most recent, the domestic cat lineages. Each account includes physical characteristics, range, habitat, social and hunting behavior, and other fascinating information not easily accessed elsewhere. Side boxes provide interesting insights into feline natural history outside of what is presented in the species accounts. An extensive bibliography for each species provides sources of additional information for interested readers. The clearly written text and attractive layout of photographs make this book a valuable resource for both academic and public libraries. . . . Highly recommended.”

R. L. Smith, West Virginia University | Choice

“The authors use a hyperabundance of color photographs to punctuate the pages of The Wild Cat Book. The images are bold, colorful, and large in size that result in a unique experience for readers and distinguish this volume from other treatments of the felids. The images are often incorporated into informational boxes within the account that address key topics, behaviors, or unique features of the species. For instance, the authors explore the significance of white tigers, why cats are obligate carnivores, the status of the jaguar in North America, and the use of livestock guard dogs to conserve cats. These half- to full-page insets explore an extremely diverse array of topics and provide great depth to the book and keep readers turning pages to see what topic will be included in the next species account. The Wild Cat Book appears at first glance to be a routine taxon-oriented treatment, but upon opening the volume, one is pleasantly surprised to find that it is more than a compilation of species accounts that serves solely as reference material. The text provides insight into what makes the Felidae unique and helps to explain our inordinate fondness with members of the family.”

John L. Koprowski, University of Arizona | Quarterly Review of Biology

Table of Contents

Introduction

Panthera Lineage

Lion

Jaguar

Tiger

Snow Leopard

Leopard

Clouded Leopard

Bay Cat Lineage

Bay Cat

Marbled Cat

Asiatic Golden Cat

Caracal Lineage

Serval

Caracal

African Golden Cat

Ocelot Lineage

Ocelot

Margay

Geoffroy’s Cat

Guiña

Andean Cat

Oncilla

Pampas Cat

Lynx Lineage

Eurasian Lynx

Iberian Lynx

Canada Lynx

Bobcat

Puma Lineage

Cheetah

Puma

Jaguarundi

Leopard Cat Lineage

Pallas’s Cat

Fishing Cat

Leopard Cat

Flat-Headed Cat

Rusty-Spotted Cat

Domestic Cat Lineage

Domestic Cat

Black-Footed Cat

Wildcats

Sand Cat

Jungle Cat

Acknowledgments

Bibliography

Additional Readings

Illustration Credits

Index

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