Cats of the World

by Hannah Shaw, Andrew Marttila

Hannah “Kitten Lady” Shaw and professional cat photographer Andrew Marttila journey to thirty countries to bring you hundreds of photos and stories of cats from every corner of the world. Husband and wife team Hannah Shaw and Andrew Marttila have made cats their lives' they rescue and rehabilitate neonatal kittens, educate the public on cat and kitten care, and capture our feline friends' unique personalities through writing and photography. Now, in the project of their dreams, they've taken their passion for cats global. In Cats of the World, Shaw and Marttila journey across thirty countries to explore feline welfare and cat culture around the globe, documenting their travels with stunning photos and stories from each country. Journey to England's charming pubs and candle-lit cathedrals, Chile’s vibrant produce markets and colorful hillsides, Türkiye’s spice bazaars and ancient ruins, South Africa's bustling streets and lush mountains, and so many places in between with Shaw and Marttila as they learn from cats—and the people who love them most—that compassion truly is a universal language.

Genres: Nonfiction, Cats, Animals, Photography, Travel, Picture Books, Adult

310 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 2024

About the author

Hannah Shaw is a kitten rescuer, humane educator, author, and unwavering animal advocate who has dedicated her life to finding innovative ways to protect animals. Her project, Kitten Lady, strives to create global change in the way we perceive and treat the tiniest and most vulnerable felines: orphan kittens.

Kitten Lady provides educational media, training resources, and instructional workshops and consulting services that help individuals and animal shelters learn how to save the lives of kittens--in a fun and engaging format.

Shaw is the author of the upcoming book Tiny But Mighty (Penguin Random House, 2019) and the upcoming children’s book Kitten Lady’s Big Book of Little Kittens (Simon and Schuster, 2019.) She has been featured as a guest expert on Animal Planet's My Cat From Hell, and her work has been profiled in People Magazine, Cosmopolitan, and other media outlets around the world. Shaw was awarded the 2017 Advocate of the Year award by CatCon Worldwide and the 2018 Advocacy Award by Kitten Rescue LA. She was named one San Diego City Beat’s “People of the Year” for 2018.

Reviews

[Rosh ~catching up slowly~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: A meowellous collection of cats from around the world. Excellent photographs and even more outstanding anecdotes of cats and their people. Loved everything about this book. Pawsitively purrfect for ailurophiles!

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I had not heard of this book until I read ‘Cat Got Your Tongue?’ by this author and saw ‘Cats of the World’ mentioned in her bio. The title immediately caught my eye, and as my library had this in stock, I sprang to get it just as quickly as a cat might jump at a dangling feather toy. What a delight it has been!


Hannah Shaw, popularly known as ‘Kitten Lady’, is a kitten rescuer and feline educator. Her husband Andrew Marttila is a professional animal photographer specialising in cats. They write cat-themed books and also run a kitten welfare non-profit. The two of them travelled to thirty countries across the continents of North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. On their journey, their key focus was to see cats and interact with local cat lovers and charities. One of the outcomes of their trips is this amazing book.

The introductory note by the author sets the right tone for this kitty compilation. She highlights their (her husband’s and her) professional background and their intent over the journeys. I appreciate how the author clarifies that the pics are by no means representative of the entire country.

Then we move to the main content, which is divided in country-wise sections. The start of each section specifies the official language(s) of the country and what cats are called in that language. There is a further subdivision based on places that the couple visited in that country. Each section/subsection contains cat photographs, local beliefs and attitudes towards felines, cat rescue efforts (whether individual or institutional), and even some sites worth visiting.

With such a talented photographer as one of the contributors, it goes without saying that the photos are a joy to behold. It is such a treat to see so many breeds of cats from multiple countries, mostly glaring at the camera. 😹 Every single photo was stunning, doing justice to the location as well as the kitty. Of course, a few of the photos were visual challenges; I had to really peek in to locate the cat! 🐈

You might think that the kitty photos would be the main reason to get this book, and you would be right in that assumption. But to my surprise and delight, the photos proved to be just a part of the bonanza. The textual notes for each location and photograph were even better. It was amazing to read detailed notes for each place instead of just one-liner photo captions. Primarily being a compilation of photographs, the book gives images the pride of place on each page, and the text content never overpowers the visuals.

The author’s passion for cats is demonstrated in ample quantity. I love how honestly she represents both the positive and negative attitudes towards cats in each country, and yet she somehow manages to end each write-up in a feel-good way with the right amount of joy or hope. The human-feline interconnection comes across strongly in all the places the author chose to highlight. I also appreciate how she referred to the exact cat breed such as dilute calico or tuxedo in her notes. Quite helpful for the likes of me who love cats but have only limited knowledge about the breeds!

With thirty countries being focussed on, the variety of their couple’s experiences and the information provided is quite stunning. It is tough to pick favourites as every place has so many amazing stories. A few places broke my heart as well with their residents’ and governments’ cavalier attitude towards pets. My favourites among the countries covered in this book were Chile, Netherlands, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, England, Tanzania, and Nepal. While these were not the only countries to have a positive (official or unofficial) system in place for stray cat care, these are the few places where the approach is more structured and organised, and of course, the people and the photos helped elevate the ranking. (Just in case my compatriots are curious: yes, India is also one of the included countries. I loved what the author said about Mumbai-meri-jaan. Unfortunately, the notes clearly prove that we have some way to go when it comes to treating cats the same way as we treat dogs. 😿)

I am more of a dog person, but cats come a close second on my list of favourite pets. I also love visiting new places. Our family vacations never involve idle R&R such as cruise travel or resort stays. (Nothing against those who enjoy these; just that we aren’t built that way.) We always try to take in as much of the natural beauty and local cuisine as possible in every place we visit and are constantly on the move. As such, this book was soul-satisfying to me in every way, being the perfect combination of cats and immersive travel focussed on getting the most of the local experience.

All in all, it should be quite clear that I relished this read. It offered me everything I wanted from that adorable cover and title, and went much beyond.

Much recommended to cat enthusiasts as well as travel enthusiasts! The hardcover edition would also make a pawsome gift to feline aficionados.

5 cattilicious stars! 😻😻😻😻😻


I love my library for having this gem!
I wish someone would write such a book about dogs! And if someone already has, please let me know its title!

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[The Belladonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Dedicated to the beautiful cats both named and unnamed, with whom we share our world."

What a cat-loving duo! It's hard not to adore this couple from California - Hannah Shaw (animal welfare advocate/rescuer) and her husband, Andrew Marttila (professional animal photographer), journeyed across 30 countries to document their travels, exploring the social, cultural, and welfare significance of cats. Their book highlights the shared theme of compassion for cats around the world, emphasizing how different cultures approach cat welfare. It features portraits of cats in their natural environments, accompanied by a story from the location. I admit, some had me emotional! My favorite cat was a yellow-eyed tomcat named Debeli from Kotor, Montenegro. He roams a mountain among ruins, in a crumbling medieval castle that he calls home.

"Thank you for loving animals."

[CatReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hannah Shaw (aka the Kitten Lady) runs a nonprofit and social media channels around her efforts to rescue kittens in need, and her husband, Andrew Marttila, is a professional cat photographer (an enviable profession I never knew existed). Their 2024 collaboration, Cats of the World, features the couple traveling the world to photograph cats (there are probably over a hundred of gorgeous photos in the book) and learn about how cats are viewed and treated in various countries and cultures. As a lifelong cat lover who's only ever cared for neutered/spayed cats, fed them commercial cat food (leading to many chunky cats), and kept them exclusively indoors, it was fascinating for me to learn about how many of the world's cats are not kept as pets but rather roam freely in nature or in urban settings and maintain large social structures with dozens of other cats and other species (and how antithetical it can be in certain cultures to keep a cat indoors as a pet). It was also encouraging to see how in many other countries, it's commonplace to have cats living in businesses, shops, and even places of worship, with people being trusted to interact kindly with the cats -- in the US where I live, there are occasionally bookstore or library cats but I don't think Americans would welcome cats in restaurants.

I'd definitely recommend this book to cat lovers. The photos are fantastic, and while the text is generally light, upbeat, and conversational, there are occasionally sad or upsetting stories, though largely grazed superficially.

My statistics:
Book 42 for 2025
Book 1968 cumulatively

[Megan Sanks]

The photographs in this book were gorgeous! And I appreciated that the author and photographer clearly connected with local activists in different countries to understand what unique challenges they were facing and what the local communities each needed. It is beautiful how people around the globe love and adore cats.

However, ideologically, I found it very frustrating that this book purports that cats belong outdoors. They argued that it's wrong that cats are being treated like dogs now in the United States and like... what?! I understand it's hard in different countries with different cultures and resources, but in the U.S., cats are an invasive species that cause great harm to native songbirds!! Pet cats should be indoors unless they are on a leash or directly supervised. It's bad for cats, too!!! And I was infuriated that the only time they mentioned the ecological harm cats cause was during the Australia portion. But they only brought it up to argue against the country's policies outlawing TNR. And then the activist they talked to ALLOWS HER CATS TO GO OUTSIDE. They can still be harming wildlife!! Irresponsible. I love cats, but they should not be placed above the needs of other species.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gorgeous book is full of engaging stories of cats and those who care for them from around the world paired with the enchanting photos that capture the unique locations and their feline residents. It is like Hannah and Andrew have welcomed you on their journey to understand the challenges and the triumphs of caring for cats in various cultures and countries. This book is an ideal gift for the cat people in your life. A book the whole family can enjoy and learn from. With empathy and respect for how things once were, celebrating the hard work of animal advocates around the globe, this book gives us all a sense of hope for the future. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this book, but especially to Hanna and Andrew for bringing us along for the ride.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I’ve taken my fair share of cat photos in foreign countries, I loved this book! Interesting to learn how different places handle cat communities. Some small countries have much better approaches, it seems.

[Danielle Zimmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating look at how communities view, take care of, and build communities around cats all around the world. The photography is gorgeous and the writing is really thoughtful in word choice and evocative. It's a great read as well as the perfect coffee table book.

[jesse]

This book rocked so hard. I love cats so much, and I am so touched by the millions of people everywhere who are finding new ways to care for them. I think this is a testament to humankind, as silly as that seems in a review for a book about cats. But it filled me with so much hope and so much care, reaffirming that people are good.

My favourite throughline in this is that most people with cats tell the same story: they just walked in one day, and now they've been here for years, they're my baby, and I love them so much.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this! The photos of all the cats as well as their stories, you couldn’t ask fit a better book!

*this is a message to the person who wrote the review saying they wished this book covered all the countries of the world- are you dumb?? There are over 20 (forgive me if that number is wrong, I didn’t count) countries visited for this book. That’s pretty extensive already if you ask me, so sorry they couldn’t afford to travel to every single country in the world and every single city in those countries to interview every single cat there as well. Think logically please.

[Scott Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable! Y'all should should read this right meow.

[Goth Radio Hour · Rating 3 out of 5]

Came for the cat photos stayed for the cultural information.

I felt conflicted while reading about all the places that have healthy community cat populations. While, I do think it is wonderful so many places welcome cats and care for the populations in diligent ways, here in the USA it seems out of place. I, unfortunately see the remains of cats that have been hit by cars way too frequently to even think about letting my house cats be free roaming.

Another talking point, that Australia also brings up is about the local bird population, as well as other creatures that all the feral cats feed on. Are the citizens other countries able to feed the roaming cats enough that they don't need to hunt at all?

I agree not all cats want to be indoors, especially if they've lived a life outside away from humans for most of their life. TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) programs are extremely important and absolutely necessary care for feral cat colonies. Though the notion that it is wrong to keep a cat indoors all the time is misguided. Many cats, including my own thrive being protected and loved inside a domicile.

[Carolina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, but this book is EVERYTHING 🥹🐾 It’s like a first-class ticket around the world, but instead of boring tourist spots, you get cats. Lots of cats. Greek cats, market cats, ancient-ruins cats - all living their best lives. ✨🐈 Hannah and Andrew didn’t just give us cute pictures (which, btw, are stunning 📸💖), they gave us stories. Little glimpses into the lives of the sassiest, fluffiest, most majestic creatures on Earth.

It’s one of those books you keep flipping through forever because every single page is just that good. 10/10, would let my cat sit on it while I cry over how cute these kitties are 🥹🐾💕

[Natalie Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

The photos alone are 5 stars!

[Danis Miller-Bucholz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful and informative coffe table book! I received a signed copy of this book almost a year ago from a friend and I've taken my time reading and enjoying this text over a period of months. The author and the photographer are married, and both have an extensive resume in the work of rescuing cats and kittens. Additionally, this collaboration brings together their talents in writing and professional photography to highlight how various countries and cultures work to provide care for cats and kittens. This is a really lovely book - a must for any animal or cat lover. This couple visited 30 countries to research and document how cats are viewed and cared for all over the world. The book is organized by country and really reflects their passion to immerse themselves in a variety of cultures and to bring to light the compassion, humanity and care people all over the world give to cats in their midst. There are folks doing remarkable work in the area of rescue and rehab for cats and kittens - this book reminds us all, in the words of Maya Angelou, that we are "more alike than unalike" and nothing highlights this more than the connection we as humans have when we care for another species.

[Machaia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the idea of this book, but I didn’t love the execution. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think there were too many photos. Many of them were too small, and they overwhelmed the page. Likewise, the story jumped around so much, it was difficult for me to stay engaged because there was no real storyline to follow - just tons and tons of vignettes. I could see this book really appealing to others, it just didn’t work for me personally.

[Jennifer P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful book but it didn’t hold my attention so I quickly skimmed the countries I wanted to read and moved on.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book about how cats are part of our lives and our cultures all over the world.

[Almendra]

gorgeous!

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great pictures of cats around the world and cat rescue, spay/neutering programs around the world.

[Pamela Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures and hopeful prose.

[Artnoose McMoose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I requested this book from the library mostly because I know the author but also because I love cats.

I had thought it would be a coffee table book with beautiful pictures of cats in stunning scenery. What I didn’t expect was the thoughtful descriptions of cats in different parts of the world and how the humans and cats there live in harmony. It was also a testament to the work of many different cat rescuers and how their works depend so much on their country’s cultures and animal welfare laws.

And the photos are truly magnificent.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous book. I took my time reading, mostly to help quiet my mind before bed. Some of the pictures were like I Spy to try and find the cat. 🐱 So that was fun (whether intentional or not).

[Traci · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up because I do love cats, and I could tell there would be gorgeous photos of felines. What I did not expect was to read it from cover to cover. Shaw does a very good job of offering a snapshot of life for cats in different countries. Of course, she and her husband didn't go to EVERY country, but they went to 30 in varying parts of the globe, getting a good sampling (in my opinion, anyway).

I found it wonderful and amazing that several cultures see cats as community pets, not personal ones. Also how many think it's wrong to cage cats (keep them indoors). I learned that cats are considered "clean" by several cultures as well, as their presence means few if any rodents. As an American, cats are seen as a threat to birds and other small outdoor life, and sadly, many colonies are considered a nuisance and something to be rid of. It was very heartwarming to read about small towns and/or villages that help care for colonies, keeping the population down and healthy.

One of the most interesting facts I learned is that white cats, if they spend their entire lives outdoors somewhere such as Greece, can suffer sunburns damaging enough that they lead to cancers on their noses and ears. Never really thought about that before, and there's no way to get a cat to wear sunscreen. It was very cool to read that a local shelter/cat-caring place does their best to rescue these kittens and get them adopted out to good homes in foreign countries where the sun won't do such damage.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute! Lovely photos, and just the right amount of text. The author and photographer do wonderful work to help save cats, and you can learn from them.

[Lizzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautiful photos, a fun travel adventure looking at different ways people care for cats worldwide. However, the passage about the USA was misguided nonsense, and surprisingly bleak. Cats are an invasive species in many places, and cause huge amounts of harm on native wildlife. This magical world for outdoor cats puts them at a huge risk to death by car and misadventure in many environments. I did love seeing the love people had for cats and how different cultures interact with cats, but it quickly got repetitive and it works better as a photo book to flip through then a nuanced look at the world’s relationship with cats. The author cries with joy over the UK’s cat adoption policies but seems oblivious to her hypocrisy— in some countries the bare minimum care is charming and wholesome and in the UK you can’t adopt a cat without at least a catio?? That’s a very privileged stance that denies many wonderful potential cat owners from pet parenthood. As if cats need to go outside to live fulfilling lives. There also isn’t room here for a diversity of opinion- actual veterinarians aren’t interviewed, people who are anti-outdoor cats obviously aren’t given a chance to support their side, and the only discussion of the potential issues of outdoor cats in large scale is in the Australia section, and the discussion is so biased and ridiculous that it’s not worth mentioning more. This is a book for people who like a happy instagram story, a cute photo op, and not thinking too hard about complex issues

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful and educational book!
I've been following Hannah and Andrew for many, many years on Instagram and I've donated to their non-profit organisation Orphan Kitten Club a couple of times as well. I've also bought Hannah's children's books (Adventures in Fosterland) and Andrew's Cats on Catnip, because I'm just a fan of their work and I like to support them.
They are both so passionate about cats and animal welfare in general, so I was very excited when I heard that their many travels would be put into a book about cats around the world. The fruit of their labour has turned out to be fantastic!
Andrew's photograpy is stunning and Hannah's texts are truly informative. To read how many different nations love and care about (feral) cats is heartwarming. I have to admit that I shed a few tears whilst reading.
The cats shown in the book are all cute, although I do have a soft spot for the kittens, ginger or tabby cats. ♥ If anyone counted all the cats inside this book: bravo to you, I gave up after a couple of pages.
My one tiny complaint is the lack of a map: Hannah and Andrew visited thirty different countries and a world map with the marked places would have been cool to get an even better idea of the scope of their project.
Still, if you are a cat lover and/or know one, this book would be the perfect (Christmas) gift! It also looks lovely as a coffeet table book.

[Ayesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

"As we marvel at the beauty of cats in all their myriad contexts, may we each be inspired to contribute in our own way, bound by the universal compassion that unites us all."

I am absolutely awe-inspired by the scope of what Hannah Shaw and Andrew Marttila have accomplished here. This book is something of a travelogue slash a collection of observations, stories, anecdotes, and insights into the life of cats and the depth of the relationships between them and the individuals that care for them all over the world. Hannah Shaw, perhaps better known as Kitten Lady (and a longtime hero of mine), has beautifully captured the essence of the feline-human dynamic, coupled with hundreds of gorgeously composed and professionally shot photographs of cats against the lively backdrops of their respective locales by Andrew Marttila.

This book encapsulates the ubiquitous nature of human compassion towards our furry feline friends and it was truly inspiring and touching to read the accounts of dozens of industry professionals, rescuers, concerned individuals, and other people who simply share their communities with cats and open their doors and hearts to them.

I'd give this book 10 stars if I could and I recommend it to everyone, especially if you don't like cats.

[Migdalia Jimenez · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this part travelouge, part glossy coffee table book, and all cat enthusiasts’ delight, the famed ‘Kitten Lady’ Shaw and a professional photographer Marttila, travel the world, featuring cities and other exotic locales where community cats thrive.  

This book has a broad appeal: cat-lovers will adore the many photos showcasing cats being their elegant, playful, independent and affectionate selves.  Armchair travelers will appreciate the thoughtfully curated journey around the world, while international travelers may find inspiration for their forthcoming adventures. Architectural buffs will thrill to the breathtaking settings, and animal welfare advocates will enjoy learning about the efforts to care for and live harmoniously with the animals around us.

Accompanying the stunning photos are local anecdotes, historical facts and cultural insights that are as entertaining as they are enlightening.

Readers of all kinds will come away astonished at the sheer beauty of community cats around the world and a deep respect for the people who dedicate themselves to their care. 

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Cats of the World” is a must-read for cat lovers or anyone interested in animal welfare. The photographs are stunning and the text is engaging. I loved the vignettes of the countries authors Hannah Shaw and Andrew Marttila visited. In each section, Hannah describes and Andrew shows the state of cat rescue and welfare around the world.

The takeaways are numerous. First, in cat welfare and everything else, do the best you can with what you have. Second, be patient. Many cat advocates in the book talked about how it has taken years to change hearts and minds about supporting cats. Third, be kind. There are so many examples throughout the book of people being kind to cats and to other humans. The most surprising thing for me is the role that cats play in religious belief. In some groups cats are revered and in others they are reviled.

“Cats of the World” is a must-read for cat lovers everywhere.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an extraordinary and beautiful book. Andrew’s photos are spectacular - so many times I would turn the page and gasp in awe at what he created with light, background, and cats, cats, and more cats.

Hannah’s words are mostly uplifting - people around the world adore cats and do what they can to help them, even when money and resources are scarce to nonexistent. In so many countries, volunteers are trapping and sterilizing cats to curb population explosions, all except Australia where TNR is, astonishingly, outlawed in a misguided attempt to protect native animals.

I can’t recommend this highly enough. It’s a gorgeous book and any cat person will fall in love. I’m envious that they got to snuggle with so many cats!