Beautiful cats : portraits of champion breeds preened to perfection

Cats were revered by the ancient Egyptians, beloved by the witches of Salem - and now find themselves celebrated in this delightful tribute.

Sashaying in front of our photographer's lens are 40 of the world'd most remarkable and best-loved breeds, from the Bengal to the Birman, the Rex to the Ragamuffin.

Each of the stunning portraits of these prize-winning felines is accompanied by a description of the breed, and a succinct introduction charts the history of the cat, from animal worship to prize-winning glamour puss.