The Love of Cats

Title: The Love of Cats
Genre: Science, Nature & Pets
Author: Christine Metcalf
Publisher: Octopus Books, Ltd., London, United Kingdom
Year: 1973 (first American edition of British book)
Pages: 96
Format: Hardcover, large-format with (damaged) dust jacket.
Provenance: Unknown
Chapter Titles: Some Characteristics of Cats; Kittens; Cats on the Roof-top; Long and Short-haired Breeds; The Well-cared for Cat; Siamese and Oriental Cats; White Cats; Dedication to Cats; Index & Acknowledgments.
Opening Sentence: “‘A cat is a lion in a jungle of small bushes.’”
Random Passage: “There is usually a working cat to be found on board ship; this is a very old tradition. Many legends have arisen from the cats that have traveled widely in this way. Sailors have several superstitious fears concerned with cats on ships. A cat that attaches itself to a ship is certain to be well-cared for, sailors are well known for their kindness to animals.” (from Cats on the Roof-top)
Goodreads Review Excerpt: “The author, Christine Metcalf, has written several information books on cats. An experienced judge and breeder of cats, her particular slant does come through quite strongly. She is obviously an expert on their behaviour, and writes about the pleasures (and difficulties) of living with cats, but she is more concerned with the latest developments on breeding at the time than a general reader may be. On the other hand, her sections on the different breeds of cat are informative, and much more attractive to look at than most factual cat books. It therefore has quite broad appeal. The sheer size of the photographs is impressive, with most taking up a whole page, and some a half. It is a ‘coffee table’ book, which also includes useful information.” — Bionic Jean, August 10, 2016.
Notes: This extravagant book sports several nice photographs of cats, buffeted with dryly informative text. Two beautifully detailed illustrations of cats appear on the front and back covers of the book itself. Seen above and below, they are much too nice to be covered up with a (rather ordinary) dust jacket.