Carlie Sorosiak - A World of Cats
About Author
Carlie Sorosiak lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and her American Dingo, Dany. A bestselling children's author, her fiction titles include Waterstones Children's Book of the Month, I, Cosmo, as well as My Life as a Cat, Always, Clementine and Shadow Fox.
Carlie has a master's in English from Oxford University and another in publishing from City, University of London, and she currently volunteers at a cat shelter (just don't tell Dany!). She is the author of A World of Dogs and its follow-up A World of Cats.
Interview
September 2025
Surprising cat facts and unexpected stories in Carlie Sorosiak's A World of Cats
If you ever wondered how cats came to be pets, what they love most, how to care for them and enjoy surprising stories about real cats, then you'll find endless enjoyment in Carlie Sorosiak's A World of Cats, the perfect companion to her earlier book, A World of Dogs.
Read an extract from A World of Cats
Review: "A treasure trove of cat facts, stories, advice and information, A World of Cats is essential reading!"
Q&A with Carlie Sorosiak
"I hope that this book will arm kids with a greater understanding about our feline friends, so they can take that information
not only into their own homes, but also into their own communities."
1. What brought you into writing for children and what kinds of stories do you enjoy writing? Why do you often have an animal at the heart of your stories?
My first book for children was called I, Cosmo, and it was about a golden retriever who wanted to save his family through the majestic art of doggy dancing! I was hooked on writing for kids from then on out. I love anything with an animal focus. Growing up, animals were always my best friends, so I've carried them with me into adulthood - and into the heart of my stories.
2. Your new non-fiction book, A World of Cats, follows on from your earlier book, A World of Dogs. What kinds of things will readers find out about our favourite pets in each book?
Anything and everything they've ever wanted to know about cats and dogs! Just like A World of Dogs, A World of Cats explores fascinating facts and amazing-real life stories. For example, how do cats see in the dark? How were they treated in Ancient Egypt? How did cats play a role in scientific discoveries throughout history? In these pages, you'll find big-hearted cats, famous cats, war cats, cats with jobs . . . Everything, really!
3. Do you hope that a greater understanding of our pets will encourage children to look after them better? Has writing these books helped you with your own pets?
Oh, absolutely. There is a section in A World of Cats that is especially close to my heart - about what to do if you stumble upon a cat without a home. I hope that this book will arm kids with a greater understanding about our feline friends, so they can take that information not only into their own homes, but also into their own communities. Writing these books has definitely helped me appreciate the wonder of my own pets more. They really are magnificent, intelligent, caring beings!
4. How are the books organised? Are they for dipping into or reading cover to cover? How useful could the books be in classrooms - have you had feedback from teachers for your earlier book, A World of Dogs?
The books are grouped by questions I wanted to answer. For example, how well can a cat smell? You can dip in wherever you want. That's part of the beauty of them. And Luisa Uribe, who illustrated the book so beautifully, has created such accessible spreads. You can even just look at the pictures, and you'll get plenty of information!
Yes, absolutely - I think these books would make a great classroom tool. I've heard from teachers who used A World of Dogs in segments on biology and animal behavior, but it could equally fit into a history curriculum.
5. Are you a dog or cat person? Why did you want to delve into the history and mannerisms of our pets?
I am more of a dog person, to be honest . . . but don't tell that to the cats I work with at the shelter! I'm an adoptions counselor at a free-roaming cat shelter here in Georgia, USA, and I love every one of those kitties.
I think that the history and mannerisms of cats are both largely overlooked topics. Cats, in many areas of the world, are really poorly understood - which is a shame, because they're fascinating and complex animals. I definitely drew on my questions about my pets for both books. A World of Cats, in particular, features questions that I considered while working at the cat shelter.
6. There are some really interesting feline facts in A World of Cats - Can you share your top three unusual cat facts?
In Belgium, in the 1870s, cats were recruited to deliver the mail! I was particularly drawn to the legend of the Yule Cat (honestly, you'll just have to read about it!). And I love the fact that cats, in all likelihood, think that humans are just big cats.
7. How did you go about researching cats and their histories, especially as there are many gaps in our knowledge of their development?
I started with questions, and then I tore through the most current research studies and scientific articles about their behavior and development. Researching their cultural history was quite a bit easier - but just as rewarding!
8. What do the illustrations by Luisa Uribe bring to the books - did we spot you in the images? Any favourite spreads in A World of Cats?
I feel so luckily that I had the opportunity to work with Luisa on this project. Her illustrations really make the book. They're detailed but warm and accessible. She managed to capture so many different expressions, both human and animal. Yes, I'm in the opening pages, and the final pages, which was fun to see!
I have a soft spot for the 'Feral and Stray Cats' spread, alongside 'Are Black Cats Unlucky'. But all of them are gorgeous!
9. Are you planning to write any more non-fiction books, or fiction? What are you working on currently?
I would love to write more non-fiction books in the future - and more books for kids - but currently I'm working on my third adult novel. It's speculative fiction, and a big creative challenge for me!
10. What are your favourite animal escapades, and what do you enjoy doing to escape your desk?
I'm at the cat shelter every weekend, whether I'm working there or not. I often bring my son, Leo. His favorite kitty is named Coco, so we always give her some special attention. It's so fun to see his love of cats develop in real time.
A World of Cats: A Celebration of Fascinating Facts and Amazing Real-Life Stories for Cat Lovers
A World of Dogs: A Celebration of Fascinating Facts and Amazing Real-Life Stories for Dog Lovers
