Super Cats: True Stories of Felines That Made History

In this photo-filled outing, MacLeod touches on the evolution of domesticated house cats and notes humans’ changing perceptions of cats, from being worshiped in ancient Egypt to being associated with witchcraft in medieval Europe. A section on “inspiring cats” includes Macak, Nicola Tesla’s childhood cat, who helped spark his interest in understanding electricity one dry, staticky night. Cats have even worked as spies: in the 1960s, two Siamese cats responded to the high-pitched noise created by a Russian bug hidden in the Dutch embassy. Photographs, sidebars, a timeline, and other resources create a lively flow of information as MacLeod blends facts with anecdotes to create an entertaining and accessible dive into feline history. Ages 8–11. (Mar.)