America loves cats. There are conventions entirely devoted to felines and the people who love them. The internet helped spur the mania with worldwide sensations like Grumpy Cat, who have forever changed popular culture. Despite our collective obsession with felines, they continue to be the animal most often killed in shelters. More than two-thirds of cats who enter shelters lose their lives.

Some programs have proven to be effective, but widespread increases in the lifesaving of cats continue to be elusive. Why?

From the ancient mythology around cats to the cutting edge programs that are saving lives more effectively than ever before, this week we explore the question, "what's the deal with cats?"