An animal behavior scientist explains where domestic cats came from, how they think and what they really need to be happy with us
The half-wild animal on your sofa
John Bradshaw, a biologist who founded the Anthrozoology Institute at the University of Bristol, has spent decades studying the relationship between people and their pets. In Cat Sense, he traces the domestic cat from its wild ancestors in the Middle East, drawn to early farming villages by the mice in grain stores, to its current position as one of the world's most popular pets. Along the way, he explains why cats remain only partly domesticated.
Who will enjoy it
Cat owners who want to understand their pets better, and anyone curious about animal behavior and the history of domestication.
What you will get
A fascinating, science-based portrait of domestic cats that explains how they think, what they feel and how to make them happier.
Cat Sense Facts: Pages, Genre and Setting
Genre
Nonfiction · Cat behavior · Animal science · Pet care
Length
336 pages · ≈ 10 h
More about this book
Much of the book is devoted to how cats perceive the world, from their acute hearing and remarkable sense of smell to the way they read the world through scent marks and body language. Bradshaw explains why the first weeks of a kitten's life are crucial for its relationship with people, why cats may treat us as large and clumsy fellow cats, and why living with other cats can be stressful even when they seem to get along. He also addresses cats' impact on wildlife.
The tone is calm, evidence-based and refreshingly free of mystical claims about feline nature. Bradshaw has clear, practical suggestions for owners: provide hiding places, avoid forcing cats into groups, play in ways that mimic hunting and take the needs of shy individuals seriously. His argument that cat breeding should focus more on temperament is thought-provoking.
The scientific detail can be dense, especially in the chapters on evolution, and readers looking for a quick training manual may prefer something lighter. For thoughtful cat lovers, it is essential reading. About 336 pages in the Basic Books paperback.
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