The Cat: A Short History

by Adam Alasdair

This book is a short history of domestic cats, from pre-history to the present day. It covers the history of cats and people with a partially geographic focus, presenting the place of cats in various histories from around the globe. The final chapters of the book detail more contemporary issues regarding domestic cats, such as feral cat colonies and overpopulation in modern cities.

172 pages, Paperback

First published December 26, 2012

About the author

I have a Ph.D. in Roman and Mediterranean history. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, which is a marvelous place (if you're from there at least). I recently published my first book, entitled "The Cat: A Short History," which (as it sounds) is a brief history of the domestic cat from prehistory to the present. After spending four years writing a highly specialized dissertation about slaves and slave rebellions I decided to write some things purely for fun, and so I ended up with a book about cats. My forthcoming book is entitled "Weapons and Warfare in the Zombie Apocalypse." What can I say, I'm a nerd. I live with a variety of selfish cats who have kept me sane through graduate school. When not teaching or writing I read (usually history), play the guitar, cook, and think about what I'm going to write next.