• Age: 8 to 12
• Grade: 3 to 7

Did you know that cats can smell over 200 million different scents? Or that you can communicate with your cat just by blinking?

These are just a few of the cat facts to discover in this ultimate companion book for young cat owners and admirers. How did cats and humans begin to live together? How were cats treated in ancient times? Why do cats like to bump up against you? How do you know if a cat is pedigreed? Here you'll find the answers to these and many more questions, plus lore, legends, superstitions, hero-stories, quizzes and cat training tips.

Feline Facts: • The Chartreux breed's rounded forehead and long, narrow muzzle make it look like it's always smiling • Famed English scientist Sir Isaac Newton invented the cat flap for his cat Spithead • Long ago in Burma, cats were owned by royalty and priests, and legends say that each cat had its very own servant • A cat's ear contains 32 muscles - compared to a human's 6 • A cat named Ninja once traveled more than 850 miles to find its old house • The Turkish Van cat actually likes swimming

Liz is one nosy author, which is why she loves writing non-fiction. She’s very curious about why people do what they do, and likes sharing with kids the amazing facts and secrets that she uncovers.As a kid in Thornhill, Ontario, the idea of being a writer never crossed Liz’s mind—she figured most authors were already dead and they definitely weren’t Canadian. Besides, it was science that interested Liz.But writing was already part of Liz’s life. After dinner on school nights, Liz and her two brothers would trudge up to their rooms, close their doors and start to do their homework—or so their parents thought. A few minutes later, a piece of paper would come sliding under Liz’s door. One of her brothers had drawn a picture, usually of some weird creature.Liz really couldn’t draw (still can’t!), so the only way she could respond was to write a short story, often about a mad scientist or space alien. She would slip the story under her brother’s door and—well, not a lot of homework got done.At university, Liz studied sciences—there was hardly any writing involved at all. But after university, she was hired as an editor at OWL magazine, where she could combine writing and her love of science. But it wasn’t long before Liz had a goal: to write a book. Her first one was about lions and since then she’s written more than fifty others.Royal Murder: The Deadly Intrigue of Ten Sovereigns (2008) is one of her favourite books because royalty has always fascinated Liz. She loved going behind the scenes with monarchs from Cleopatra to Dracula to find out just what they would do to hold onto power or protect their families.Bones Never Lie: How Forensics Helps Solve History’s Mysteries (2013) was the winner of numerous awards, including the Crime Writers of Canada 2014 Arthur Ellis Award in the Juvenile/YA category. Liz’s latest book with Annick Press, Galloping Through History: Incredible True Horse Stories (Spring 2015), combines, once again, her outstanding storytelling skills with her passion for history. This time her love of animals also shines through as she recounts the stories of six horses that changed the way humans live, travel, fight, work, and play.Liz lives in Toronto with her husband, Paul, and their cat Cosimo. While she writes, he is usually sprawled across her desk—often right on the book she needs for research!

Elizabeth MacLeod's profile page

• Winner, Best Books for Kids and Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre
• Winner, Best Bet for Children and Teens, Ontario Library Association

A handy resource for feline lovers of all ages

Books for Growing Minds

... is evidence of both the care and the sense of fun that went into the creation of this happy hodgepodge of cat facts.

Kirkus Reviews

This is clearly a book for fans, by a fan.

School Library Journal

Why Do Cats Have Whiskers?