Cat

by Phaidon Press, Hannah Shaw (Contributor), Leila Jarbouai (Contributor)

A whimsical visual survey of the house cat in art and popular culture, exploring humanity’s enduring connection to one of our most loved animal companions

Cats have been beloved and depicted by humans for millennia. These captivating animals appeared as worship statuettes in ancient Egypt, in anthropomorphic illustrations in Victorian England, and, today, in contemporary artwork, on fashion runways, and as social media memes.

Cat celebrates how our feline friends have been depicted in art, popular culture, and history across time and around the world. This vibrantly illustrated book features more than 210 full-page images artfully arranged into playful pairings. Filled with famous artworks, vintage advertisements, classic animations, high-end fashion designs, and more, the book presents a stunning array of imagery, from maneki-neko lucky cats to artists’ pets,and ancient mosaics to contemporary couture.

Readers will find iconic pop-culture characters, including Puss in Boots, the Cheshire Cat, and more; renowned artists, such as Andy Warhol, Tracey Emin, Judy Chicago, and Utagawa Hiroshige; and famed creatives, including street-style photographer Jamel Shabazz and fashion designer Thom Browne.

Balancing style with substance, the book includes a foreword by Hannah Shaw, also known as Kitten Lady, who declares that celebrating the cat in images empathetically connects us to this beloved animal, and an enlightening essay by curator Leïla Jarbouai, who traces humanity’s symbiotic relationship with cats through the lens of art history.

Featuring an elegant and irresistible cover design depicting a curled-up black cat, this charming volume revels in the undeniable appeal of this captivating animal.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Cats

232 pages, Hardcover

Published February 11, 2026

About the author

Phaidon Press is a global publisher of books on art, architecture, design, fashion, photography, and popular culture, as well as cookbooks, children's books, and travel books. The company is based in London and New York City, with additional offices in Paris and Berlin. -wikipedia

Reviews

[KathleenB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool art book on the theme of cats. More painting than not but some decent variation in medium and time period.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I was on the advisory panel for this book. I love how it validates the cat-human relationship through art history.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book and it would make an excellent gift for someone who loves cats. I have spent a couple of months going through all the pictures and will go through it again. Every time I think I found my favorite picture in the book, I find another. The print is quite small and I found it challenging to read at times

I did enjoy the ending sentence in A Brief History Of Cats In Visual Culture: "The pages that follow demonstrate how human beings have taken our lead from cats' own innate philosophy; be ourselves, whatever happens; remain true to our own being; and stay free without servility."

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful full color pages full of 🐈‍⬛s from both old & modern times, and from all walks of art and history. From Dr Seuss’s The Cat in the hat, Garfield, old Masters, Impressionism, and so much more, this book surveys the wide, wonderful world of art with cats and cats in art and our complex relationship with the feline enigmas that we so adore. Life without a cat would be quite boring. I want this book to browse again and again.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating for the cat lover, interesting for the art lover. Study the beautiful picture, then read the commentary, always informative, often I was sent to the computer to find out more! Ancient to 2025 pieces.

[Dianelys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every page of this book shows the dedication and care that went into creating it. It’s such a beautiful book, and I liked that it’s not just filled with amazing art, but also gives you a little bit of information about each piece.

[Chanel Chapters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Art pussy galore 🖼️ 🐈‍⬛

[ROBERT · Rating 3 out of 5]

enjoyable survey of cat pictures

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting collection of cats in art. From inky footprints across a manuscript to a bathing suit with cat heads for bra cups. Fun to look at.

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating to see all the cats represented throughout time and cultures in art, sculptures, comics, advertisements, fashion, etc. Beautiful images and descriptions.

[Shobnom]

Cause it's colorful