家猫，也就是你家的猫，从它们在非洲的进化起点出发，在相对较短的一段时间里就成了地球上最成功、最多样化的物种之一。乔纳森·洛索斯既是一位科学家，也是位“猫奴”，他在这本书中探讨了如今研究人员如何利用现代科技的各种工具——从GPS追踪（你会惊奇地发现后院的猫都跑到哪里去了）、基因组学（你口中的暹罗猫究竟是什么？）到考古学——来揭开猫过去、现在和未来的秘密。除了掀开猫的祖先的神秘面纱，《猫的多元宇宙》还让我们以猫的视角观察当今猫的栖息地，包括认识它们的野生近亲，这些野生小家伙的习性有时和你家里可爱的家猫出奇地相似。

狮子和老虎会喵呜叫吗？如果它们不会，这是为什么？为什么你的猫会把死老鼠丢在你脚边（或者枕头上）？把虎猫当作宠物是个坏主意吗？猫最早何时离开非洲平原的？埃及象形文字中的那些猫又是怎么回事？洛索斯以亲切的口吻，引用亲身研究调查和多猫家庭中的诸多实例，轻松地解读了复杂的科学和历史，探讨几千年来自然和人工选择如何塑造了当代的猫，让许多新品种在解剖结构和行为方式上都和它们的祖先大相径庭。但作为捕食者的猫，在野外似乎仍旧留了一“爪”，在它们占领世界各地的新领地时尤为明显。

人类改造着猫，猫反过来也改变着它们周遭的世界。这本引人入胜又富有知识性的书，描绘出了猫和人可能面对着怎样的未来。

作者简介

乔纳森·B.洛索斯（Jonathan B.Losos）

华盛顿大学的进化生物学家，也是“生命地球合作组”（Living Earth Collaborative）的创始主任，这个组织是由华盛顿大学、圣路易斯动物园和密苏里植物园合作建立的一个独特的生物多样性中心。他曾是哈佛大学生物学教授并兼任哈佛大学比较动物学博物馆馆长，曾荣获美国国家科学院、进化研究学会和美国博物学家学会颁发的奖项。现居密苏里州圣路易斯市。

译者简介

刘小鸥

科普作者、译者，科普公众号“原理”特约主笔，现就读于伦敦大学学院语言学系。硕士毕业于挪威科技大学地质工程与地质灾害专业，并在北极斯瓦尔巴大学中心挪威极地研究所完成学位论文。译有《如何从头开始做一个苹果派》《数学王国的冒险之旅》《漫画生物学》等。

吕同舟

非主流工科生，大学时期沉迷美剧字幕译制，险些无法顺利毕业。在美国炸过薯条，在东南亚开过皮卡，在非洲谈过生意，是毛尖、尼安德特和黑尾狗的“副铲屎官”。译有《动物奇葩说》《超纲冷知识》等。

From their evolutionary starting point in Africa, domestic cats, your family cat, have become one of the most successful and diverse species on the planet in a relatively short period of time. In this book, Jonathan Losos, a scientist and cat owner, explores how researchers are using the tools of modern technology - from GPS tracking (you'd be surprised where all the backyard cats go) to genomics (what is your Siamese cat?). Archaeology - to uncover the secrets of the cat's past, present and future. In addition to unraveling the mystery of cat ancestry, The Cat Multiverse also gives us a feline perspective on today's cat habitat, including meeting their wild Cousins, whose habits are sometimes eerily similar to those of your adorable house cat.

Do lions and tigers meow? If they don't, why not? Why does your cat drop dead mice at your feet (or on your pillow)? Is it a bad idea to keep a tiger-cat as a pet? When did cats first leave the African plains? What about the cats in the Egyptian hieroglyphs? In an affable tone, Losos effortlessly navigates complex science and history, citing first-hand research and examples from multi-cat households, exploring how thousands of years of natural and artificial selection have shaped modern cats, leaving many new breeds anatomically and behaviourally very different from their ancestors. But cats, as predators, seem to still have a paw in the wild, especially as they occupy New Territories around the world.

Humans transform cats, and cats, in turn, transform the world around them. This fascinating and informative book paints a picture of what the future may hold for both cats and humans.

About the author

Jonathan B.Losos

An evolutionary biologist at Washington University, he is also the founding director of the Living Earth Collaborative, a unique center for biodiversity established by Washington University, the St. Louis Zoo, and the Missouri Botanical Garden. He is a former professor of biology and director of the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology, and has received awards from the National Academy of Sciences, the Society for Evolutionary Studies, and the American Society of Naturalists. He lives in St. Louis, Missouri.

Translator's introduction

Liu Xiaoou

Popular science author, translator, popular science public account "Principle" contributing author, currently studying in the Department of Linguistics, University College London. He graduated from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology with a master's degree in Geological Engineering and Geological Hazards, and completed his dissertation at the Norwegian Polar Institute at the University Center of Svalbard in the Arctic. Translations include "How to Make an Apple pie from scratch," "Adventures in the Kingdom of Mathematics," and "Comic Book Biology."

Lv Tongzhou

Non-mainstream engineering students, university period addicted to American TV series subtitle translation, almost unable to successfully graduate. He has fried French fries in the United States, driven pickup trucks in Southeast Asia, negotiated deals in Africa, and is the "second shovel officer" of furry tips, Neanderthals and black-tailed dogs. He has translated "Animal Strange Words" and "Super cold Knowledge" and so on.