How Cats Clawed Their Way Into Our Hearts

That cuddly cat on your lap is an apex predator who can probably survive without you.

There are an estimated 600 million house cats on the planet today. To some people, they are beautiful, almost mystical creatures. To others, they are feline psychopaths responsible for the murder of billions of songbirds each year. In The Lion in the Living Room: How House Cats Tamed Us and Took Over the World, Abigail Tucker traces our long love affair with—and sometimes hatred of—cats. (Feral cats should be removed from the wild “by any means necessary,” according to some.)

Speaking from her home in Ridgefield, Connecticut, Tucker describes how Egyptian priests were the first to raise domestic cats, why YouTube sensations like Maru demonstrate typical feline behaviors, and how having a cat is one of our few

Unlock this story for free
Create an account to read the full story and get unlimited access to hundreds of Nat Geo articles.

Unlock this story for free

Want the full story? Sign up to keep reading and unlock hundreds of Nat Geo articles for free.
Already have an account?
SIGN IN

Read This Next

What bacteria lurk in your city? Consult the bees.
Is melatonin giving you nightmares?
Why are these orcas killing sharks and removing their livers?

Go Further

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet