Once upon a time, a magician plucked a flicker of fire, a coil of smoke, and two sparkling stars from the sky. He moulded them together, muttering words of enchantment. Soon a small animal formed, with fur the colour of smoke, eyes bright as stars, and a tongue like a flicker of flame. It was a kitten -the first in all the world. Cats have been with us for millennia: kept as beloved companions, used as supreme hunters or feared as supernatural beings - and they appear in our folktales in all these guises. Every part of the world has its own fables, whether it's 'Dick Whittington and His Cat' in England; the Irish 'Demon Cat'; Japan's 'The Boy Who Drew Cats'; or the Icelandic story of 'The Cottager and His Cat'. These felines might appear as guides or demons; they are contrary, enigmatic, malevolent; they are both friends and foes, cherished and reviled. But whether winning kingdoms, falling in love or outwitting giants, they are the epitome of what we know the cat to be: mysterious, roguish and endlessly lovable.

The Cat's Tales is a charming collection of stories from around the world, bringing together much-loved classics and more unfamiliar gems. Both beautiful and surprising, this is the perfect companion for cat lovers everywhere.