Cats have been domesticated since prehistoric times, perhaps for as long as 5,000 years Throughout human history, they have been greatly valued as destroyers of vermin, as well as for their ornamental qualities However, considering our long and successful relationship with the domestic feline, the phenomenon of the pure-bred cat is a surprisingly ожтьа recent one How many breeds of cats could you identify? The chances are that you might recognize at least a few of the following: Persian, Maine Coon, Siamese, Abyssinian, Russian Blue, Tonkinese, Burmese These are, in fact, just a few of the 40 or so breeds recognized by the world's major cat registries There are a handful more that are quite new or rare and not yet officially recognized by many feline associations Cats have graced us with their presence since the time of the ancient Egyptians, possibly much earlier But it took the rise in popularity of cat shows in late 19th-century England to kick-start the selective breeding of the domestic cat into separate types All but a few domestic cat breeds are less than 100 years old, and most of them appeared on the scene far more recently Compare this to the dog world, where rudimentary selective breeding started several thousand years ago Иллюстрации Автор Louisa Somerville.  СодержаниеИздательство: Chartwell Books, 2007 г Мягкая обложка, 448 стр ISBN 978-0-7858-2264-6, 0-7858-2264-X Язык: Английский Формат: 215x165 Мелованная бумага, Цветные иллюстрации.