Cats of the World

By: Hannah Shaw, Andrew Marttila

Narrated by: Hannah Shaw

Hannah “Kitten Lady” Shaw and professional cat photographer Andrew Marttila journey to thirty countries to bring you hundreds of photos and stories of cats from every corner of the world.

Wife and husband team Hannah Shaw and Andrew Marttila have made cats their lives' work: they rescue and rehabilitate neonatal kittens, educate the public on cat and kitten care, and capture our feline friends' unique personalities through writing and photography.

Now, in the project of their dreams, they've taken their passion for cats global. In Cats of the World, Shaw and Marttila travel across thirty countries to explore feline welfare and cat culture around the globe, documenting their travels with stunning photos and stories from each location.

Journey to England's charming pubs and candle-lit cathedrals, Chile’s vibrant produce markets and colorful hillsides, Türkiye’s spice bazaars and ancient ruins, South Africa's bustling streets and lush mountains, and so many places in between with Shaw and Marttila as they learn from cats—and the people who love them most—that compassion is truly a universal language.


* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF of over 100 photos of the cats featured in the book.

Critic reviews

"An amazing, beautiful endeavor to document felines around the world.” —Yahoo

"The perfect book for feline-loving travelers... During their travels, Hannah and Andrew explored the social and cultural significance of felines through interviews with locals, and observed how cats and humans interact...They brought all their stories back with them and included them in the book to delight and educate all the cat-loving travelers out there." —Matador

"Hannah and Andrew share heartwarming stories from feline advocates and cat lovers in all walks of life, exploring animal wellness; endearing cultural traditions and dangerous superstitions; the pros and cons of cat-driven tourism; and more." —WGN TV

"Cats of the World is full of pics every cat lover must see." —The Wildest

"Shaw's thoughtful and informative essays take readers to 31 different countries, sometimes hitting multiple cities within each... built around a fundamental belief in humanity." —KPBS

"Captivating... This visually stunning work takes readers on a global expedition across 30 countries, offering a unique perspective on cat culture around the globe... more than just a collection of beautiful images. It’s a heartwarming exploration of the universal bond between humans and felines, showcasing how these small creatures bridge cultural divides and inspire kindness on a global scale." —PawzHub

"Superstar cat couple Andrew Marttila, the renowned professional cat photographer, and Hannah Shaw, the author, educator, and rescuer better known as “Kitten Lady” to her 1.3 million-strong following, recently embarked on a trip of a lifetime. The couple visited 30 countries, documenting their cat-focused itinerary in their new book, Cats of the World. You’re going to want to get your paws on a copy." —Modern Cat

"Visiting 100 cities in total, [Shaw and Marttila] traveled the breadth of the world, from Japan, Malaysia, Montenegro, Athens, Nepal, to Dubai. They met with local animal rescuers, advocates, and volunteers in each destination to find out how they care for the cats in that area, and what they're doing to combat the challenge of strays." —Newsweek

Okay, but this book is EVERYTHING 🥹🐾

It’s like a first-class ticket around the world, but instead of boring tourist spots, you get cats. Lots of cats. Greek cats, market cats, ancient-ruins cats—all living their best lives. ✨🐈 Hannah Shaw & Andrew Marttila didn’t just give us cute pictures (which, btw, are stunning 📸💖), they gave us stories. Little glimpses into the lives of the sassiest, fluffiest, most majestic creatures on Earth.

It’s one of those books you keep flipping through forever because every single page is just that good. 10/10, would let my cat sit on it while I cry over how cute these kitties are. 🥹🐾💕

Beautifully written

I was encouraged that so many people love cats all around the world. I really enjoyed hearing the author read about all of her travels. The descriptions of the people, the countries and, of course, the cats were vivid. I could picture all of them in my mind, but even so, I had to also purchase the book, because I needed to see all the beautiful photographs!

loved it

I enjoyed learning about how other cultures live with cats. I also had fun Lee learning to say cat in multiple languages.

So proud of Hannah and Andrew 🩷💙

Full transparency: I am Hannah Shaw‘s mom. But even if that were not the case, I would be giving this my highest recommendation. The amount of heart, intellect, critical thinking, sociocultural analysis, and straight up badassery it takes to write a book like this cannot be overstated. The photos are sublime, and quite frankly if you are not getting this book, I feel sorry for you. There, I said it!