New Books in Popular Culture Jerry Moore, "Cat Tales: A History" (Thames & Hudson, 2025)
Dec 14, 2025
Dr. Jerry Moore, an anthropological archaeologist and author of *Cat Tales: A History*, explores the fascinating evolution of cats alongside humans. He discusses how big cats influenced early human evolution and unravels the journey from wildcats to beloved house pets. Moore highlights diverse cultural traditions of cat veneration, ancient pet burial practices, and the modern-day relationship with urban wildlife. He shares intriguing stories, including the captivating case of P-22, the Hollywood mountain lion, illustrating the complex bond we continue to share with these enigmatic creatures.
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Personal Curiosity Framed Scholarly Inquiry
- Archaeological anthropology links modern experience with deep past human-animal relations.
- Jerry D Moore used his living-room moment with a cat to frame a broad historical investigation.
Predation Shaped Human Evolution
- Early hominins faced predation by large cats, shaping vigilance and behavior.
- Modern primate studies show predator-specific alarm calls that model ancient human responses.
Continuity Of Cat Charisma
- Charisma of big cats spans Pleistocene art to modern conservation imagery.
- Humans have long favored depicting large cats, seen in cave art like Chauvet Cave.
