Photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand attempts to capture the charm and elegance of the cat with a series of portraits, with and without their owners and in all their moods. Arranged by breed, the book begins with short-haired cats, including the sturdy British shorthair, the curly-coated Cornish Rex, the elegant Abyssinian and the hairless Sphinx - so ugly that only its owners could love it. Further chapters look at medium and long-haired cats such as the Scottish Fold and the Maine Coon, and the Oriental breeds, including the fabulously fluffy Persians. The "casting" for these pictures was done by an international cat show judge to select the best representatives of each breed. As well as giving full descriptions of each breed to accompany the photographs, the text explores the history and mythology of the cat.