A Cat's Tale: A Journey Through Feline History

by Paul Koudounaris, Baba the Cat

The first ever illustrated history of the world’s most noble species from prehistoric times to present day—as told by the cats who lived it

A Cat’s Tale will be the first true history of feline our origins; our exploits; the evolution of our relationship with our human companions; and the surprising ways in which our history parallels that of humanity. Heretofore, our ambassadors to the human world have been fictitious, lumbering louts like Garfield—or real-life cats simply esteemed for being cute, such as Lil Bub. I’m here to tell you real cats do not hate Nermal or Mondays—we don’t use a weekly calendar at all. And real cats don’t pose for selfies.

With A Cat’s Tale, I am here to correct the record and expose the reality of feline greatness. Our story spans tens of thousands of miles and many thousands of years. It is a story that humanity has so far stubbornly refused to learn, ignored in favor of a fantasy history beginning with a the absurd notion that you domesticated us. Really? If that’s what you believe, go find a bobcat and try.

From the prehistoric Felis (a large mammal from which all domestic cats have descended) to ancient Egyptian cat goddess, key cats of the Enlightenment to swashbuckling pirate felines and infamous American tabbies, the story of our kind is told here in its totality. And perhaps, dear reader, you will rightfully come to this book for the cats—but, I promise, you will walk away with a fun and interesting history lesson to boot.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Animals, Cats, Humor, Nature, Photography

276 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 10, 2020

About the author

Paul Koudounaris is an author and photographer from Los Angeles. He has a PhD in Art History and his publications in the field of charnel house and ossuary research have made him a well-known figure in the field of macabre art and art history. He is a member of The Order of the Good Death.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Cat’s Tale: A Journey Through Feline History by Paul Koudounaris is a 2020 Henry Holt and Co. Publication.

Fun, descriptive, and educational!

This is a non-fictional book about the history of cats, as told by Baba the cat, who narrates the text with the kind of dry wit unique only to cats. The artwork is great, and Baba is very photogenic! A beautiful feline!

Once you’ve completed the book you will certainly understand a cat’s true place in history and in our lives.

Cat’s rule- they know it and you know it- and this book just provides more proof of that fact!

Overall, this is a clever way to explore the history of cats. Cat lovers will love reading about their feline’s ancestors and will enjoy hearing the information from the viewpoint a cat.

Photos of Baba in various costumes are adorable and hilarious and adds much to the charm of the book. The author also provides a list of research resources if you would like to take a deeper dive into the world of felines.



Naturally, as a huge cat lover, this book is right up my alley- and I’m sure all other cat lovers out there will enjoy this book too!

4 stars

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely enjoyed walking through history featuring cats. Are cats the real heroes of history? If you follow the single chapters of the authors you might believe in it. The chosen pictures are brilliant. Couldn't stop smiling about all those proud mousers on display. Among many famous cats we also find Hodge, Dr Johnson's cat. You'll still find his statue in London. The classic advertising section with cats is also very well chosen. Did you know that some cats were war heroes? Highly recommended if you want to have a different view on history. The book was fantastic. A wild cat's ride for every feline friend!

[Gerhard · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Alas, humans overdo things, so I’ll let you in on a final secret before we part: we never needed the temples or the gods or any of the other claptrap! All we have ever wanted, from the very first days until now, was just a few gentle pets, some kind words, and a bit of dinner. It’s always been so much simpler than humankind has realized.'

Basically, this is a history of felines. As narrated, and illustrated by, a cat. Storyteller and photo model extraordinaire Baba was adopted from a Los Angeles animal shelter, author Paul Koudounaris recounts in an afterword.

A noted art historian and author specialising in the ‘visual culture of death’, Koudounaris’s original idea was a book about pet cemeteries. I can just imagine that conversation with the literary agent. Thankfully his research turned up a lot of stories about ‘forgotten felines’, which prompted him to change direction and write a book about cats in history instead. Well, to assist Baba in the Great Work.

As Koudounaris said: “It was more than just a book, it was a part of the continued process of bonding with my cat. It’s feline history, it’s cosplay, and underneath it, it’s a love letter to all the cats in all our lives.” So, be warned: If you are squeamish at all about anthropomorphising animals, then steer well clear. There is even a picture of Baba dressed as Andy Warhol, who legend has it owned up to 25 cats at a time. The pic rocks, by the way.

I wonder what Jonathan Franzen would think about this book, a noted anti-cat campaigner. Apparently, each year the 12 million or so domesticated cats in the UK kill about 275 million birds, mammals and amphibians. “That’s the figure actually found, not the number whose bodies weren’t brought home, or who escaped only to expire a little later,” Guardian journalist Catherine Shoard writes alarmingly. I suppose if you really dislike Franzen as a writer, you could always send him a copy of this book, now that I think of it.

Despite the ‘cutesy’ factor, this is a serious history, albeit written from Baba’s viewpoint, which entails quite a bit of condescending disdain at humanity’s own perception of itself as the planet’s alpha species. Cats have been with us forever, and will probably outlive climate change as well.

If you want to take a peek at some of the delightful photos from the book, check out:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/histor...

[Jess the Shelf-Declared Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an adorable journey through the history of cats. Much of it I knew, but I also learned tons of new interesting stories and factoids. Some of it, of course, was rough at times to read, but the resilient spirit of our feline friends shone through time after time. It was all the more special that I listened to most of this audiobook with my 15 year old cat in my lap, I'd like to think she enjoyed it too!

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The photos of Baba are amazing. So many different costumes -- including wigs and jewelry. The anticipation of looking at all those photos made me check out this book. It did not disappoint. The text of the book was interesting, but a bit too wordy for my taste. I did appreciate the comprehensive scope of the narrative and could not help but note the indispensable role cats have played in rooting out rodents throughout history. Thank you, Baba, for narrating and illustrating the epic tales of cats. I would love to see more books with Baba photos elaborating on different themes like travel or a specific event in history. We can never have enough cats and humor in this world.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

This book, while cute in spots, was just not for me. The difficulty with non-fiction books for me is that they end up making me hate humanity by highlighting what horrible things humans have done in the past/are doing right now and it just makes me angry.

This book not only made me angry, it made me sick to my stomach and I just couldn't go on past 43%. I love all animals and especially love cats. This book is about the history of cats, which sounds all well and good, until you realize that cats were considered to be the familiar or witches and evil and humans treated them as such.

Also, Shackleton is a JERK and other four letter words and worse and if he had told me that we were going to try to get to help and safety, BUT had to leave the cat behind to die in the cold (which they wouldn't have been stuck in if Shackleton hadn't been an IDIOT), I would have mutinied and left his rapidly cooling body on the ice floe. The cat weighs less than a stupid human, just saying.

So, this left a bad taste in my mouth. NOT the fault of the book, just the fault of my overly sensitive heart and distaste to read about poor helpless animals being hurt by stupid humans.

The book itself is written well, it just requires a strong stomach and heart, which I do not have apparently. Recommended for the right reader who is into history and doesn't mind the more gruesome and sad bits. History, ALL of it, needs to be remembered, taught and learned so we don't just keep repeating the same mistakes all over again. Definitely an important book. We can't shy away from the truth just because it's uncomfortable. I know it happened, that is enough for me.

2, most certainly not for me but I'm probably too sensitive for my own good, stars.

[Ellen Gail]

100% adding this because of the cover. Baba the Cat is glorious.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would’ve picked this up for the cover alone, but at a second glance it turned out that I was actually already familiar with Baba’s human, Paul Koudounaris, because he’s a member of the Order of the Good Death. I guess we not only share a love for macabre art, but also for felines! He faithfully wrote down what Baba dictated to him in order to educate us presumptuous humans—history doesn’t only revolve around us, after all.

“Archeological evidence offers hints that (…) the partnership between cats and humans is older than currency, older than man’s use of metals, and older even than written language. It dates to the very foundation of civilization itself…”

Baba takes us on a journey through feline history as it pertains to humans, beginning with how we came to domesticate them in prehistoric times, to the golden age of Ancient Egypt. Up to that point, the book was exactly what I had expected—a look at the history of the human-feline relationship through the ages—but then the more surprising and informative chapters began, and a whole new world opened up. After looking at how cats came to migrate to Asia (the legend of Gotokuji temple in Tokyo, which I’ve visited, gets a mention!), we reach the perhaps most eye-opening chapter: Cats’ rise and fall in popularity among Europeans in the Middle Ages. First blame Catholicism for turning cats into agents of evil, resulting in a mass feline genocide, and then blame it for the resulting bubonic plague that took out a third of the continent’s human population—there were no longer enough cats around to take care of the rats spreading it. If you’re a cat lover—which you probably are, if this book sounds appealing—be prepared to shed the occasional tear; people can be cruel, and Baba doesn’t shy away from writing about humanity’s darker moments.

The book ends on more wholesome (although occasionally still tear-jerking) chapters, going into the long history of sea-faring cats, notable or heroic historical felines, their renewed rise in our modern times, and how they made it to America. You’ll get answers to questions you never knew you had: Why is it said that cats have nine lives? Why is there no cat in the Chinese Zodiac? Why are so many nautical terms cat-related? Each chapter is further elevated by Baba posing for glamour shots in period costumes, and relevant historic photos and newspaper clippings—come for the cat pics, stay for the history! I expected a short, quirky book, which it was, but it was also incredibly well-researched, educational, and often poignant.

The one detractor is Baba’s contemptuous and lofty manner of writing. It might be believably cat-like, but I found it rather exhausting, and had to take breaks even within chapters. Plenty of people would find it grating, so I think this book is one that will fall into the “love or hate” category for most. You do get used to it as the book progresses, and the final chapter gave the book an unnecessary US-centric slant I could’ve done without—but it is still a charming book. I read most of this with my own lovely cat curled up on my lap, and while I was already what passes for a crazy cat lady before reading A Cat’s Tale, it has shown me how much we humans can really learn from these beautiful creatures we profess to love, but so often misunderstand.

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

As soon as I saw A Cat's Tale: A Journey Through Feline History, I knew I had to give it a try. I mean, just look at that cute kitty on the cover. I enjoyed this fun and funny history of cats. I couldn't resist. It's a great primer looking at cats and their roles and relationships with humanity since ancient times. It goes over a lot of fascinating information, but not much of it was news to me. However, it was presented in a unique way - through the eyes of Baba, the cat on the cover. Plus, Baba sits for some awesome pictures getting all dressed up in cute kitty costumes. I know my cat Finn wouldn't stand for that kind of nonsense!

[Dr. Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing an ALC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was a fun history of cats and I learned a lot about cats of the world. It was weird that this was "narrated" by a cat, but it didn't really take any of my enjoyment out of it. I enjoyed the different stories of cats throughout the Middle East, Asia, Europe, Egypt and North America. Besides Antartica there did seem to be a lack of stories about cats in the global south. Or I forgot them already because I am tired and it's been a 12 hour day.

I really liked seeing how pagan religions and Islam worshiped cats. I can't remember if Judaism was mentioned for or against them, but Christianity was definitely against them and like -.- not cool. Though it was cool to learn things like the vile Cardinal Richelieu loved cats and kept one hidden in his sleeves almost everyday.

Overall, fun and entertaining, with some cool history lessons.

[Sue Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in the voice of Baba the Cat, this book covers the history of the world as it relates to felines. And as we all know, according to any cat, the whole world always revolves around them. The history is solid with some new facts that I was not aware of before from prehistory through current. Thoroughly enjoyed the prespective and the voice, just snarky enough. Anyone who enjoys seeing cats dressed up will enjoy all the photographs re-creating the style of dress from all the eras, plus there are a lot of them and they are well done. Recommended for all feline fanciers who are interested in history. Recommended!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a lot to unpack here, so settle back.

My reading is done almost exclusively through audio books, and occasionally there comes along a book that is much more suited to a physical text. This is such a book. Not only did I miss the photographs of Baba in costume, I endured the mistakes of a first time audiobook narrator. I don't mean Baba, as I would never impugn the talents of a feline of such obvious beauty and intelligence. I mean the human who voiced Baba's words.

There were two huge problems. The first was that the narrator adopted a lofty, superior tone (oh, those kitties and their superior attitudes) that I assumed would be dropped after an introductory chapter. No. The affected speech lasted for the entire book, and it did not take long for it to become grating and exhausting to listen to. The second problem involved errors in pronunciation. I desperately wanted to create a comprehensive list of them, but for the most part I was driving while listening, so I couldn't. It wasn't one or two words, though. It was at least a dozen, some used multiple times, for a grand total of way too much mispronunciation.

Was there no one else in the recording studio to notice and correct? I started to search for a way to make the audio experience less of a trial, and finally settled on speeding up the playback to the 1.3 setting, which helped mask the inflections, and at least made the mispronunciations go by faster. Thank you, Audible App, for that function, which I had never used before.

That said, I learned a lot about the history of cats' dealings with humanity. Some of it was difficult to listen to, because humans (being human) have done terrible things to felines, along with pretty much every other species we think ourselves superior to. Violence toward animals in novels will usually result in me abandoning the book. But this was non-fiction, and I figure if the animals had to endure the treatment, I could at least educate myself about it.

So, factored into my star rating-- Baba the Cat, all the stars. Text: 5 stars. Narration, 1 star. Lack of a pdf file with the pictures: no stars! Feeding all that into the Rate-O-Matic yields 3 ½ stars.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I generally knew I was going to love it (with Baba's pictures and Paul's words, how could I not?) but I learned SO MUCH. This is the escape book we need right now.

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny and entertaining. I enjoyed the first 3rd of the book the most. Learning about how cats first became domesticated and revered in the ancient world was very interesting. The later stories about cats in more modern times became a bit repetitive. I listened to this book and the narrator's voice was an acquired taste.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tend to have a difficult time reading non-fiction, however this book kept me thoroughly engaged. It was a cleverly written collection of lovingly curated stories that added up to a thorough history of cats. Also the pictures were fabulous. Highly recommend it if you love cats and history.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for all cat lovers. Beginning in Egypt and ending in the US, this book chronicles the lives of many famous cats as well as the reasons they are both beloved and misunderstood.

Interspersed with styled pictures of our narrator, Baba the Cat, we learn about how cats were worshiped, domesticated, tortured, spoiled, but most of all, how they were put to work: the main thread throughout history is how adept cats are at destroying rats, on land, at sea, and… well not quite in space yet, but they’re ready and willing!

In addition to the heroic tales presented here, this is also a beautifully designed book. It would make a nice gift for a cat-loving friend, and dare I say, should probably grace every household coffee table in America.

See more of my reviews: Instagram

[Syd]

I wanted to like it, but I just couldn't stomach the writing style. It also bothered me that some of the historical tidbits are misleading or inaccurate. The physical book is gorgeous; I wish the content were equally strong.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed almost everything about this book but I did not enjoy the incredibly annoying American patriotism. Yes, in a book about cats.

Anyways, will not be counting my books until the end of the year, so I will not be updating my current/finished reads until then. 👋

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had some interesting stories about the history of cats, some of which were interesting and some not so interesting. Liked the stories that were told about cats that were heroes in history. Some parts of the book I just skimmed through to find stories of interest.

Pictures of Baba in various costumes were cute. Liked the quote about the dedication of the book:

“This book is dedicated to all those indomitable cats who made history, and to the humans who had the the wisdom to stay out of their way and let them do so.”

― Paul Koudounaris

[Bill Powers · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love cats (or maybe even if you don't), A Cat's Tale is an entertaining, albeit fictional, history of cats of the world! We are much better off for them being here!

[MKF]

DNF.
Was struggling with reading this and finishing it seemed liked an impossible task. Though I disagree with pets in costumes the author's use of his cat in costumes was interesting. The cat was placed in different costumes that coincided with the different time periods being discussed. I'll admit that I only got this because it opened up on the page with the cat in a devil costume which looked cool. That being said I didn't finish this because it was overdue at the library. I'll probably get it again because I love the author's other works and know this will be fun to read.

[Tilen Markelj · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Cat's Tale is, as the phunny tittle quite obviously suggests, a short and sweet journey through the annals of feline history. Though quite enjoyable, the writing can get quite dry and meandering. Non the less, a fun read I would recommend to all cat lovers and enthusiasts!

[EuroHackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raise a paw to Baba, our feline narrator on a course outlining the cat's contribution to history. We are all familiar with the Ancient Egyptians' high regard for cats, and the adoration of various famous personages for their feline friends, but Baba takes us to the darker, sadder corners of cat history, such as the centuries of persecution they endured for being "familiars" of the Devil (and witches). We join the fleets of ship cats who experienced the age of exploration (sometimes against their will, such as poor Chippy, the ship cat on Shackleton's ill-fated journey to the South Pole) and who served with various human companies in various wars. We learn the stories of beloved, locally famous cats such as Black Jack and Room 8. (That there was no mention of Morris or Larry the Downing Street Cat was a bit of a disappointment, but alas - I quite enjoyed learning about unsung cats!)

Packed with photos from newspapers, paintings, illustrations, and of course Baba modelling numerous costumes herself, this is as delightful a book to look at, as it is to read. I knocked off a star for the propagation of the myth of American exceptionalism in the last chapter (American cats I find no fault with, of course, but human history isn't quite as rosy as what's painted here), but that's my personal opinion. Anyone who loves cats, or has been lucky enough to be chosen as a human companion to one, will appreciate this book.

[AltLovesBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You will always be lucky if you know how to make friends with strange cats."

This was a fun book to read! The format was more of a coffee table book, with easy to read chapters interspersed often with images, relevant newspaper clippings, and photos of the author's cat, Baba, in period-specific costumes. The book is written as if Baba herself is telling the tale (tail?), and it's very much a lighthearted journey through the ups and downs of feline history. Lots of stories are told about the many ways cats have distinguished themselves in history, and I particularly liked the chapter about cats on the high seas.

The afterword includes a message from the author about Baba's history, and even discusses how Baba took to being dressed up (very well, apparently!). I really appreciated the tone of this book, and it was really informative besides.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Narrated by an actual cat, Baba, this book leads us through a history of human-feline interaction, going all the way back to the first wild cats who self-selected to hang around human settlements for easy access to rodents. The narrative, while a bit plodding, is light-hearted and sprinkled throughout with interesting cat facts and tidbits. I, for one, had no idea the extent to which cats were persecuted during the Middle Ages (yikes!), nor that in the modern era cats have frequently been recruited to work at post offices to prevent mice from destroying all of the paper. The sweet story of Muhammad's cat provides historical support for what cat owners already know in their hearts: one must not disturb a sleeping cat for any reason, even if it means being trapped against one's will on the sofa.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a cat lover, I was instantly drawn to the cover of this charming book, and there are many more charming photos throughout (seriously, that is one photogenic feline, and the costumes and expressions the author was able to get her to pose in are are nothing less than remarkable) along with historical photos illustrating some of the historical milestones in the sometimes rocky (literally) history of cat and human relationships. It was hard to read some of the abuse and horrible deaths cats suffered when they were no longer worshipped but associated with wiches and demons, but it's good to see how cats have evolved to be some of the most esteemed and beloved pets on earth. Having the author's cat Baba "tell" the story was a clever idea, even if her writng voice is suspiciously similar to that of the author...My only complaint is that it is a fairly short book, and I wanted more!

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historic But Not Comedic

If you're a cat lover, you might enjoy this book.

The book offers a fun and light-hearted exploration of the role cats have played throughout history.

Although I didn't find it particularly funny, I still found some of the facts and stories interesting.

It's not a particularly deep or informative read, but it might make for a nice diversion if you're in the mood for something lighthearted.

Overall, it's a cute and charming book that any cat enthusiast would appreciate.

3.0/5

[Jacob Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great history of cats throughout the ages. I didn't know they had rough centuries due mainly to religion. Lots of individual heroics and stories of cats working in different fields and in different countries. Makes me appreciate our own kitties a little more. They're so lucky they were born now and not a few hundred years ago.

[Courts · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fun and well-researched book on the history of cats.

The America stuff at the end was a little too Uncle Sam propaganda for me and it detracted from the overall vibe of the narrative.

[Egat · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Everything from the audiobook to Baba's pictures was excellent. This feline journey made me 'feline' happy and all fuzzy inside.