How do you distinguish a British Shorthair from a Chartreux? And a Maine Coon from a Norwegian Forest? Unlike dog breeds, where size is a very important distinguishing feature, in domestic cats, with the exception of a few cases, size is not an instantly perceptible determining factor. The vast range of recognised colours and the difference in coat length, only complicate matters further. As you leaf through this book, you will learn to recognise the traits, the nuances that differentiate breeds, enabling you to recognise them at first glance. And to help you to do this, this book features striking original pictures by Fabio Petroni, a professional photographer specialised in still life photography and a great animal lover. Thanks to his professional skills as a photographer and his emotional proximity to the subjects portrayed, the true essence of cats emerges with effectiveness, accuracy and the right degree of sensitivity. Detailed fact sheets examine more than 40 of the most well-known breeds, giving an in-depth description of the breed standards recognised by the most important international cat associations, and they are complemented by splendid illustrations of the finest specimens on the international cat scene. AUTHOR: Fabio Petroni has worked with some of the most famous names in international photography since 1984, as well as some of the top advertising agencies. He has been involved in campaigns for well-known national and international brands. The books Horses: Master Portraits (2010) and Mutt's Life (2011), published by Edizioni White Star, feature his pictures. He lives and works in Milan. Flavia Capra works for the Associazione Nazionale Felina Italiana (ANFI) (Italian National Cat Association), the only association recognized by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, where she is involved in the registration of cat breeds in the Italian genealogical registers. ILLUSTRATIONS: Colour throughout
