Feline - by Tim Flach (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

From the preeminent animal portrait photographer and the bestselling author of Dogs, Endangered, and Birds, a stunning collection over 170 photographs of cats, with text on the species, their evolution, and why we love them

For thousands of years, felines have captivated humanity with their beauty, intelligence, unpredictability, and fierce independence. In his latest work, world-renowned photographer Tim Flach explores this deep, sometimes one-sided but always enduring bond, revealing the many identities of cats--from their sacred status in ancient cultures to their viral superstardom in the digital age.

Featuring more than 170 photographs, Feline celebrates domestic cats while also highlighting their wild counterparts and the urgent conservation efforts to protect them and their habitats. Feline showcases the world's most extraordinary cats, show champions, and internet icons with millions of followers. From pedigrees like the classic British Shorthair and curly coated Rex breeds to the werewolf-like Lykoi and the humble moggie representing the majority, Flach's images capture the personality, character, and spirit of felines in a way never seen before.

Evolutionary biologist Jonathan Losos provides fascinating context, weaving together science, history, and human connections to explore what makes cats so compelling. He examines their evolutionary journey, adaptation to diverse environments, and the growing influence of human intervention on breeding. Meanwhile, neuroscientist Morten Kringelbach delves into the science of cuteness, unthreading why felines hold such power over us.

QR codes offer exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, providing insights into Flach's creative process and the authenticity of these unbelievable felines. From the untamed wild to the warmth of our homes, Feline is a mesmerizing tribute to the grace, mystery, and enduring presence of cats in our lives.

About the Author

Tim Flach is a photographer best known for his stylized portraits of animals, and for the originality that he brings to capturing animal behavior and characteristics. In recognition of his work, he has received numerous awards, including an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Photographic Society and an honorary doctorate from the University of Arts London (Norwich). He is also a senior research fellow (artist in residence) at Oxford University's Centre for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, and serves as president of the Association of Photographers. His photographs are showcased in books, exhibitions, and galleries around the world. Feline will be Flach's seventh book following Equus (2008), Dogs (2010), More Than Human (2012), Endangered (2017), his first children's book Who Am I? (2019), and Birds (2021). He works in London, where he lives with his wife and son. Jonathan Losos is an author and biologist renowned for his experimental research demonstrating that evolution can be studied as it happens. Losos has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society. He has received numerous awards including the Edward Osborne Wilson Naturalist Award as well as fellowships from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial and David and Lucille Packard Foundations. Losos is the author of The Cat's Meow: How Cats Evolved from the Savanna to Your Sofa (2023), Improbable Destinies: Fate, Chance and the Future of Evolution (2017), and Lizards in an Evolutionary Tree: Ecology and Adaptive Radiation of Anoles (2009). He is the William H. Danforth Distinguished University Professor at Washington University in Saint Louis, Missouri.