When Louis Wain's wife, Emily, was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in 1884, the couple's cat, Peter, was a great source of comfort to her.
The Victorian artist would sketch photos of Peter's antics to amuse his wife, and after her death, Wain continued to draw cats. His anthropomorphized depictions became so popular that he achieved worldwide fame for creating an endearing cat world that put the animals in a new, positive light.
In celebration of December being National Cat Lover's Month, we're taking a closer look at the illustrator who is credited with changing people's feline feelings, from viewing them as contemptible feral pests to cute