The domestic cat is arguably the most popular pet worldwide. And it shows: Cat videos are among the most-watched on the internet, there are endless resources devoted to cats (like state-of-the-art hospitals, cat festivals, film festivals and even museums) and the rise of celebrity cats has boosted the value of a billion-dollar industry. But none of this should be a surprise — as we all know, cats are awesome!

Ubique Film has released a three-part docuseries called Cat Empire that delves into our obsession with cats and explores the unique bond we have with them. You’ll be introduced to cat lovers, enthusiasts, researchers and even detractors that show us an animal that, despite its huge popularity, remains enigmatic and misunderstood.

The first episode, “Lion in the Living Room,” explores the relationship and the science behind our love for cats, going back in time to learn about the origins of the domestic cat.

The second episode, “Priceless Love,” dives deeper into the relationship we have with cats. The filmmakers headed to cat-related festivals around the world to meet cat people and talk about how we can make life better for both us and our cats.

The third episode, “Cat-Astrophe” shows that our love for cats is not without consequence. Our meat-eating friends’ carbon footprint is huge, and their ability to reproduce quickly has led to a serious overpopulation problem and the fight to save homeless cats from euthanasia. But it’s not all gloom and doom — you’ll be able to spend time with some of the internet’s most famous cats and learn the reason for their online fame.

The docuseries is available to rent or buy on vimeo.com. For more information, visit catempiremovie.com.