Domestic animals have served for centuries as man"s natural companions, though modern man is in danger of abandoning many traditional beliefs and modes of behaviour that have regulated and supported human existence for centuries. This book presents and discusses scientific evidence to show how essential to human well-being it is that animals remain a natural part of our daily life, and examines in particular, the role of cats as pets. It deals, in detail, with cats in art and culture, the personality of cat owners, how cats satisfy human needs, and what they can mean for old, lonely or troubled people. Cats emanate a quality that human beings seem to have lost - they create a calm, agreeable ambience and provide reassurance.