Once upon a time, the enchanting creature that is the cat infiltrated our lives – and our folklore.

Cats have a long association with the supernatural – from being worshipped as gods in ancient Egypt to vilified as witches’ familiars in Europe – and they appear in countless fairy tales throughout history.

Every part of the world has its own stories, 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 companions, guides or demons; they are contrary, malevolent, enigmatic; they are both friends and foes, beloved and reviled. But whether winning kingdoms, falling in love, or outwitting giants, they are all the epitome of what we know the cat to be: mysterious, roguish and endlessly lovable.

The Cat’s Tales is a beautifully illustrated collection of fairy tales from around the world, bringing together much-loved classics and more unfamiliar gems – the perfect companion for cat lovers everywhere.