Cat

Cat traces the relationship between humans and the cat from its original domestication in ancient Egypt circa 2000 BC, through centuries as a utilitarian rodent catcher, its gradual acceptance as a charming and amiable pet, and on to its present status as a companion on a par with the dog—and the subject of infinite online videos and memes.

Long before people placed such value on cats, however, we recognized something special about them. Their graceful, fluid movements, and their self—detac...