author
Frances Simpson
1857–1926
Best known for writing vivid early books about cats, this English journalist helped turn feline enthusiasm into a serious hobby, with advice on breeding, showing, and care. Her work still offers a lively window into the rise of the cat fancy at the turn of the twentieth century.
1 Audiobook
The book of the cat
by Frances Simpson
About the author
Born around 1857, Frances Simpson was an English writer and journalist who became one of the best-known voices in the early cat fancy. She was deeply involved in the world of pedigreed cats not just as an author, but also as a breeder and show judge.
She is especially remembered for The Book of the Cat (1903), a substantial work that gathered practical knowledge, breed information, and the culture surrounding cat shows. She also wrote Cats and All About Them, continuing her effort to make the subject approachable for ordinary readers as well as dedicated enthusiasts.
Alongside her writing, she championed blue Persian cats and took an active role in exhibitions, including shows at the Crystal Palace. That mix of journalism, hands-on experience, and enthusiasm helped make her an influential figure in the organized cat world before her death in 1926.