According to the ASPCA, 6.3 million pets are adopted each year. Chances are that your dog or cat could be a strange amalgamation of different breeds. Find out your pet’s ancestry with these pet DNA tests, on sale at Amazon for Black Friday.

Wisdom Panel Complete: Comprehensive Cat DNA Test Kit $90.99 (Was $129.99)

SEE IT

This test identifies more than 70 breeds and populations. For your cat’s health, the company runs 45 genetic health tests to see if they are at risk for any genetic conditions. If you’re curious about why your cat looks the way they look, Wisdom Panel also runs more than 25 trait tests to track down where they got their physical features. There’s also a version for dogs if you want to test your pooch.

• Basepaws Cat DNA Test Kit 2 Pack- Comprehensive Breed $142.50 (Was $208)
• Basepaws Dog DNA Test $71.20 (Was $89)
• DNA My Dog Essential Test–Breed ID Test $61 (Was $79.99)
• Embark Breed & Health Kit-Dog DNA Test $127 (Was $199)
• Embark Breed Identification Kit $99 (Was $129)
• Orivet Genopet Dog DNA Test $75.95 (Was $94.94)
• Know Your Pet DNA by Ancestry $69 (Was $99)
• Koko DNA Test for Dogs Advanced $90.99 (Was $129.99)

In case you’re curious about your own DNA, here are some test kits for humans:

• 23andMe Ancestry Service-DNA Test Kit with Personalized Genetic Reports $79 (Was $119)
• 23andMe Health + Ancestry Service $99 (Was $229)
• 23andMe+ Premium Membership Bundle $129 (Was $299)
• AncestryDNA Genetic Test Kit $59 (Was $99)
• AncestryDNA Genetic Test Kit + 3-Month Ancestry World Explorer Membership $109 (Was $149)
• tellmeGen Advanced DNA Test $69.99 (Was $123)

The post Shop pet DNA kits at Amazon for Black Friday and find your dog or cat’s origin story appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best for large cats		FEANDREA Cat Tree for Large Cats		SEE IT	This cushy condo for big cats  is designed with anti-tipping technology for extra safety.
Best wooden		Vesper Modern Cat Tree		SEE IT	This eco-friendly modern design comes with a sisal scratching mat and memory-foam bed.
Best budget		AmazonBasics Cat Condo Tree Tower with Hammock Bed		SEE IT	Help your kitty get away from it all in this affordable hammock bed made with plush carpeting.

A cat tree is a wonderful way to keep your cat occupied, especially if they have a fondness for high places. The majority also come equipped with scratching posts, which keep claws away from your beloved sofa. If your cat hides in closets and under beds, a cat tree house with covered shelters will provide them a sense of security and personal space. And all these options come stacked in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. Do you need a towering kitty castle, or a cozy perch for a cat that just wants to loaf? Does your interior aesthetic call for a modern cat tower? From kitten to couch potato, we’ll go over the best cat tree for you and your feline’s specific needs.

• Best overall: Armarkat 77-inch Faux Fleece Cat Tree & Condo
• Best small: Frisco 32-inch Real Carpet Wooden Cat Tree
• Best for large cats: FEANDREA Cat Tree for Large Cats
• Best wooden: Vesper Modern Cat Tree
• Best budget: AmazonBasics Cat Condo Tree Tower with Hammock Bed

How we chose the best cat trees

When we’re not vacuuming up all the pet hair our cats leave behind (or letting a robot do it), we enjoy wrangling them from all the places they should not be. Cat hiding habits can be separated into two categories: tree dweller or bush dweller. A cat who is a tree dweller enjoys heights like shelves and windowsills, while bush dweller cats prefer low, hidden spaces, like under the bed. Our final picks ultimately have something for the most adventurous tree dweller to the coziest, most elusive bush dweller. Additionally, we looked at critical reviews and peer recommendations and conducted heavy research.

The best cat trees: Reviews & Recommendations

Does your cat enjoy scaling your cabinets and bookshelves? Do they spend every morning surveying their domain from the top of the refrigerator? Do they like hiding amongst the sweaters on your closet shelves? One of our picks should fit your feline’s hiding, climbing, and scratching preferences.

Best overall: Armarkat 77-inch Faux Fleece Cat Tree & Condo

SEE IT

Specs

• Dimensions: 36 x 31 x 77 inches
• Weight: 58 lbs.
• Max holding weight: 80 lbs.

Pros

• Tall
• Lots of things to keep kitty entertained
• Sturdy and durable

Cons

• Not suited for small rooms

The Armarkat stands over six feet high and boasts 10 scratching posts, six platforms, and two comfy condos. This feline fortress is built to handle the more exuberant kitty personalities, with a weight capacity of 80 pounds and a sturdy plywood structure. Your cat can govern from the highest perch of this large cat tree or spend all day snoozing in the privacy of a faux fleece cube.

Best small: Frisco 32-inch Real Carpet Wooden Cat Tree

SEE IT

Specs

• Dimensions: 20 x 20 x 32 inches
• Weight: 29 lbs.
• Max holding weight: 50 lbs.

Pros

• Compact
• Multi-level
• Comes fully assembled
• Household-grade carpet

Cons

• Have to remove loose fuzzies upon opening
• Reviews note loose staples

The Frisco Cat Tree is a double-decker tower for your cat to stretch out on. This wooden cat tower is built to last all nine lives, with a handcrafted solid wood structure and two heavy-duty sisal rope posts. It’s wrapped in plush, household-grade carpet with a familiar texture that every cat can enjoy. This small cat tree comes fully assembled with two luxurious platforms and a hanging toy. The base of this tree measures 20 inches on both sides.

Best for large cats: FEANDREA Cat Tree for Large Cats

SEE IT

Specs

• Dimensions: 24 x 16 x 33 inches
• Weight: 22.4 lbs.
• Max holding weight: 44 lbs.

Pros

• Large perch
• Included anti-toppling wall attachment
• Easy to assemble
• Removeable and washable cushions and coverings

Cons

• Pillow at the top of perch not attached

The FEANDREA Cat Tree is a welcoming abode that won’t budge under pressure. The roomy cat condos and oversized plush perch provide ample space for big cat naps. Each post is wrapped in natural sisal rope and reinforced with battens at the tree’s base. It also includes an anti-toppling wall attachment if you are super wary of tipping.

Best wooden: Vesper Modern Cat Tree

SEE IT

Specs

• Dimensions: 22.1 x 22.1 x 47.9 inches
• Weight: 40.5 lbs.
• Max holding weight: 45 lbs.

Pros

• Replacement parts offered
• Lots of enticing nooks, crannies, and perches
• Machine washable components

Cons

• A little difficult to assemble

This cat tower is made with laminated MDF board and comes in three attractive shades: warm walnut, natural oak, and classic black. With a tall observation platform, cozy cat cube, and seagrass scratching posts, this modern cat tree will keep your cat occupied while complimenting your meticulously curated apartment. The sisal scratching mat and memory foam beds are easily removable for easy washing. Vesper Trees are built for lifelong use, and replacement parts for scratching poles, cushions, carpets, and toys are available.

Best budget: AmazonBasics Cat Condo Tree Tower with Hammock Bed

SEE IT

Specs

• Dimensions: 15.8 x 15.8 x 19.7 Inches
• Weight: 9 lbs.
• Max holding weight: 30 lbs.

Pros

• Secure base
• Dangling ball toy is replaceable
• Assembly takes minutes

Cons

• Hammock too snug for a chonky cat

This tower includes plush carpeting, an elevated hammock cat bed, two pillars wrapped in natural jute rope, and a hanging toy. The Amazon Basics cat tower is super easy to assemble and has a 15.7-inch base, but remember that this condo is best for small and medium-sized cats and might be too snug for a larger breed.

What to consider when buying the best cat trees

There are a few features to keep in mind when shopping for your new cat tree. It is a good idea to designate a space in your home for your cat and keep the limitations of that space in mind. Sprawling homes can accommodate a large cat tree, but a tight apartment might require a more compact design. Then, you will want to consider your cat’s activity level. Rambunctious kittens love to clamber up multilevel towers, but they are not as accessible for older cats; a cat with mobility issues will need a shorter model with wide platforms rather than a high-rise cat condo.

If your cat loves to scratch, it is important to choose a tower with a scratching post that they can’t wait to sink their needle-sharp nails into. The best cat tree will include a scratching material that you know your kitty loves, whether it’s sisal rope, jute, cardboard, or wood. And if your tabby loves to spread out, their dream tower will include ample space for afternoon catnaps. There’s a lot to choose from when it comes to pet products, so let’s break it down some more.

What’s the best for active cats?

The majority of house cats spend all day inside, and they need a place to exert their bundles of energy. If you’re looking to entertain a cat that seems hellbent on toppling your bookshelves, a tall cat tree is an easy way to redirect their attention. If you have multiple cats, a large cat tower can accommodate three to four felines and prevent territorial scuffles. Tall cat towers are also a good way to stimulate and challenge curious kittens.

The most important features to keep in mind when shopping for tall cat trees are durability and weight capacity. Yours will have to handle high-speed cat leaps, and you don’t want the tower to wobble or tip. If you have enough room for a larger cat tower, you will also want to ensure that it offers an assortment of interactive elements. The best cat tower will have scratching pads, a variety of perches, toy attachments, and condos to hide in.

What if I’m looking for a smaller cat tree?

If you live in an apartment or smaller home, you might not have room for a kitty skyscraper. Small cat towers are a great way to designate a spot for your furry friend without sacrificing precious living room space. Does your cat spend all day lounging by the window? The majority of small cat perches are window-level, which makes them perfectly suited for hours of cat contemplation. Although small cat towers are lower to the ground, you will still want one that won’t sway when jumped on. The best small cat tree will have a sturdy base, resilient scratching posts, and soft platforms for maximum relaxation.

What’s the best for larger breeds?

Your Maine coon might not fit on a regular cat perch, but that doesn’t mean he has to miss out on the fun. There are a variety of cat tower designs available that are built to lodge bigger cats. If your cat weighs over 15 pounds, their tower should be uniquely constructed to handle that extra fluff. When selecting cat towers for large breeds, you should ensure that the platforms are wide enough for them to fully recline and that they contain spare padding for optimal comfort. The best way to avoid tipping is with a two-pillar design, which prevents trees from leaning to one side.

What if I prefer a more modern design?

We know that your décor vision might not include a carpeted cat tower. Wooden designs are a sleek solution for those who prefer a more minimal aesthetic. Traditional designs might cause unwanted visual clutter, while a modern cat tower can blend seamlessly into a contemporary layout. Wooden designs may not be covered in plush fabric, but they are easier to clean and attract less hair. The best wooden cat tree will fit your modern style without compromising on kitty comfort.

What can I get for under $30?

We know that cat furniture can run you into the triple digits, especially if you’re shopping for a complex tower or a contemporary design. Luckily, there are options available for inexpensive single-platform trees. Cheap cat towers are sometimes made with flimsier materials, so you will want to ensure that what you pick is sturdy and claw-proof. The best cat tree on a budget will have durable construction, a soft bed, and tough scratching posts.

FAQs

Final thoughts on finding the best cat trees

• Best overall: Armarkat 77-inch Faux Fleece Cat Tree & Condo
• Best small: Frisco 32-inch Real Carpet Wooden Cat Tree
• Best for large cats: FEANDREA Cat Tree for Large Cats
• Best wooden: Vesper Modern Cat Tree
• Best budget: AmazonBasics Cat Condo Tree Tower with Hammock Bed

Cat towers are a smart solution for pet parents looking to keep their cats occupied and relaxed. The right cat products can resolve a scratching habit and entertain your pet while you’re away. From jungle-gym climbing trees to glossy wooden condos, the best cat tower will help your kitty feel truly at home.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

The post The best cat trees of 2023 appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best overall		SmartCat Pioneer Pet Ultimate Scratching Post		SEE IT	Sisal fibers and a wide base means this scratching post can handle it all.
Best cat tree		Vesper Cat Tree		SEE IT	Your cat can perch, hide, or scratch.
Best budget		Catit Cat Scratcher Boards with Catnip		SEE IT	Cardboard easily entices a cat, and also makes for a cheap scratching material.

Cats need to scratch, so the secret to keeping your stuff safe is giving them a scratching post they’ll want to sink their claws into even more. Felines are notoriously finicky animals, though, so it can be a little tough figuring out what they’ll want to scratch at. Your sectional may actually be a no-loveseat because your whiskered friend(s) keep tearing it up, but the right piece of cat furniture can be as attractive as white fur on a black sweater. Combined with some catnip, crunchies, and coaxing, and your pet will be purring in no time. The best cat scratching posts are designed for almost every cat and décor, and some are so cool that you might end up liking them as much as your cat.

• Best overall: SmartCat Pioneer Pet Ultimate Scratching Post
• Best cactus-shaped: PetnPurr Cactus Cat Scratching Post With Teaser Ball
• Best cat tree: Vesper Cat Tree 
• Best combination: ScratchMe Cat Scratcher Post & Board
• Best budget: Catit Cat Scratcher Boards with Catnip

How we chose the best cat scratching posts

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, over 31 million households in the U.S. own a cat. That’s a lot of places for a cat tree. To find the best cat scratching posts, we looked at critical reviews and peer recommendations, performed a hefty amount of research, and conducted user testing with our own fur-ends. We made sure they were durable, sturdy, and enticing to cats. You want to get them away from your furniture, after all.

The best cat scratching posts: Reviews & Recommendations

A cat scratching post is a great gift for the cat owner in your life. They’re also perfect if your precious pet is a little too good at their job at the biscuit factory. Don’t stop your cat’s need to scratch; per the Humane Society, it helps them express emotions, allows them to mark objects with their scent, removes the dead part of their nails, and lets them get a good stretch in. One of our picks is a suitable choice for making your feline smile, just like the Cheshire Cat.

Best overall: SmartCat Pioneer Pet Ultimate Scratching Post

SEE IT

Specs

• Dimensions: 32 x 16 x 15.75 inches
• Materials: Sisal; wood
• Weight: 16 lbs.

Pros

• Durable
• Sisal is longlasting
• Post doubles as a perch
• Wide bottom prevents wobbling

Cons

• Use depends on if cat likes it

If you’re looking for a great sisal scratching post that you won’t have to replace anytime soon, the SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post is the one for you. Its handsome design is backed up by strong, durable material, and, as an added bonus, your cat will look very elegant perched on top of it.

Best cactus-shaped: PetnPurr Cactus Cat Scratching Post With Teaser Ball

SEE IT

Specs

• Dimensions: 15.7 x 15.7 x 26.5 inches
• Materials: Sisal
• Weight: 6.5 lbs

Pros

• Stylish
• Easy to assemble
• Built-in toy

Cons

• Reviews note that sisal rope frays easily

This cactus cat scratching post will blend in purrrfectly (sorry) with your houseplants while giving your cat a place to play, scratch, and relax. The built-in teaser ball is a nice little addition, and the base of the platform is sturdy enough to let your cat climb the cactus and channel that inner jungle cat. 

Best cat tree: Vesper Cat Tree

SEE IT

Specs

• Dimensions: 22.1 x 22.1 x 47.8 inches
• Materials: Sisal, engineered wood
• Weight: 40.5 lbs.

Pros

• Included dangling sisal toy
• Places to perch and hide
• Memory foam cushions

Cons

• Expensive

Available in a variety of sizes and colors, this well-constructed cat tree sets itself apart with its modern design. Memory foam cushions offer the ultimate in cat comfort, and multiple perches make it ideal if you have more than one cat. As a bonus, almost every model comes with a fun dangling sisal toy. Not sold on this one? Check out more of our favorite cat tree picks.

Best combination: ScratchMe Cat Scratcher Post & Board

SEE IT

Specs

• Dimensions: 17.32 x 17.32 x 6.11 inches
• Materials: Cardboard
• Weight: 4.5 lbs.

Pros

• Made with recycled cardboard
• Doubles as a bed
• Can accommodate multiple cats

Cons

• Cardboard doesn’t last as long as sisal

Made with 100 percent recycled cardboard, this is a great pet product for the eco-conscious cat owner who is also looking for a cat bed. Although cardboard doesn’t last as long as sisal, this cat product is well-made and won’t get torn to pieces overnight. Its circular design is perfect for cats that love to curl up while they nap, and it’s big enough to accommodate one large cat or two smaller ones. 

Best budget: Catit Cat Scratcher Boards with Catnip

SEE IT

Specs

• Dimensions: 17.5 x 7.5 x 2.87 inches
• Materials: Cardboard, paper
• Weight: 1 lb.

Pros

• Cheap and easy to replace
• Enough room for even the biggest of stretches
• Also doubles as a lounge

Cons

• Cardboard doesn’t last as long as sisal

Cardboard attracts cats just like light entices moths. This no-frills cat scratcher board is a great option if you’re trying to save money. It’s big enough for even a large cat to lounge on and inexpensive enough that you won’t break the bank when you inevitably have to replace it. Another plus: it’s recyclable, too.

Things to consider when shopping for the best cat scratching posts

You know all those cute little things your cat does that make them so special and unique? Well, not only is destroying your furniture and clogging the vacuum with pet hair probably not one of them, but neither is how picky they can be when you’re trying to find them the best cat scratching post. Just as it can take trying a few different brands of food to find something they’ll eat, finding a scratching post can require a little trial and error. The best cat scratching post is the one your cat loves using.

Fortunately (or unfortunately, as the case may be), you may already have the most important piece of information you’ll need to help guide your search for these cat supplies. After all, If you’re reading this article, there’s a good chance your cat already went to town on something they weren’t supposed to. Luckily, the material and the texture of your (formally) beautiful sofa can tell you a lot about what your cat likes to scratch at. So, if you can find something that’s similar, you and your cat will be very happy. 

Finding a cat scratching post with as many lives as your cat

The marks of a great scratching post (besides the ones your cat makes!) are durability and design. Most cats love to scratch at sisal, and a high-quality cat scratching post will be made of sisal fabric as opposed to sisal rope. Sisal fabric lasts longer than rope and will become softer the more your cat uses it. Conversely, when sisal rope breaks down, the fibers become sharp and dislodged, creating a texture your cat will turn its nose up at. Sisal scratching posts need to withstand aggressive pawing, so look for ones with sturdy bases. For obvious reasons, you don’t want your cat to be able to knock it down, so look for one that’s a little on the heavier side, especially if you have a big cat that loves to scratch.

Tame your cat’s claws with a funky cactus cat scratching post

Looking for a cat scratching post that also doubles as a conversation piece? Who can say why, but there’s something particularly adorable about a cat going to war with a cactus. In addition to providing your cat with all the benefits of a regular scratching post (exercise, relaxation, territory-marking), cactus scratching posts add a touch of green to any living space that can be relaxing for humans, too. Cactus scratching posts are all the rage right now, so watch out for inferior pet products that have been rushed to market to keep up with demand. Look for models with a durable base that are made with high-quality sisal fabric. Cactus scratching posts may be a bit of a novelty, but the best ones will work and hold up just as well as any standard model. 

A tree your cat will love (no fire department necessary)

Cat trees (also known as cat condos) are designed to satisfy a variety of your cat’s needs in one place. Amenities include scratching posts, perching areas, built-in toys, and boxes for your cat to hide in when you have to use the vacuum cleaner. Like that of their human counterparts, cat real estate runs the gamut from modest one-bedrooms to enormous mansions. Factors to consider when shopping for a cat tree include size (seriously, some cat trees are huge), durability, and style. After all, cat trees are usually much bigger than standard scratching posts, so you’re going to want your cat’s new home-within-a-home to match your own décor. 

Scratch, nap, repeat

Scratching and napping are among a cat’s greatest pleasures, but if you live in a small apartment, you might not have room for a towering cat condo. Not to worry, though! Almost every home has space for a combination cat scratching post and bed. These are an excellent choice if you’ve noticed that your cat tends to scratch where they sleep, or you’re just trying to reclaim your bed as your own. The cat scratching material will attract your cat like a magnet, and once they realize they can curl up and nap there, it will likely become their new favorite hangout. 

Save your furniture and some cash at the same time

Budget cat scratching posts are usually made out of low-grade cardboard or sisal rope as opposed to compressed cardboard or sisal fabric. Inexpensive designs are a great option when you’re low on cash (perhaps because you just paid to have the couch reupholstered), but they probably won’t last as long as a more expensive version. They will almost certainly lack the bells and whistles of a cat condo, but they may suit your cat just fine if they aren’t picky about where they scratch. Keep an eye out for cheap material that looks like it might dislodge and pose a hazard to your cat. And if you’re buying a cheap vertical cat scratching post, make sure the base is heavy enough that your cat can’t knock it down. 

If you’ve implemented a scratching post and need a new couch, some say that velvet is a pet-friendly material, as it hides scratches easily and has no threads to snag. It lacks the woven, tactile feel cats love, so it can also deter them from scratching. This is only backed up by testimonials, so do keep that in mind. If you can’t buy an entirely new couch, see if you can at least buy a new couch cover.

FAQs

Final thoughts on the best cat scratching posts

• Best overall: SmartCat Pioneer Pet Ultimate Scratching Post
• Best cactus-shaped: PetnPurr Cactus Cat Scratching Post With Teaser Ball
• Best cat tree: Vesper Cat Tree 
• Best combination: ScratchMe Cat Scratcher Post & Board
• Best budget: Catit Cat Scratcher Boards with Catnip

The best cat scratching post is the one your cat loves to scratch at, whether it’s the $50 SmartCat Ultimate scratching post or a $6.99 piece of cardboard. Different cats like to scratch at different surfaces and in different directions, so keep an eye out for how your cat is already scratching to get an idea of what to buy for them. More expensive sisal scratching posts will last longer than cheaper ones, but none of them will last forever. Extra features like built-in toys and cubes for them to climb in are fun, but not essential. Scratching is a basic need for cats, and a basic but well-made post will often do the trick for them.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

The post The best cat scratching posts in 2023 appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Among domestic cats, feline obesity is the most frequent nutritional disorder veterinarians in the United States see. Defined as a body weight that is 20 percent or more above a normal weight of eight to 12 pounds, it can impact a cat’s longevity and lead to diabetes and chronic inflammation among other health problems. A study published in the Journal of Animal Science in September found that overeating has some observable effects on feline gut microbiota and digestive system. 

[Related: A new shot can be a safe and effective alternative to surgical spaying.]

According to study co-author and University of Illinois nutritional scientist Kelly Swanson, about 60 percent of cats in the US are considered overweight. 

“While many studies have investigated feline weight loss, there has been little focus on the opposite process, which is also important. In this study, we wanted to learn more about the metabolic and gastrointestinal changes that occur as a result of overeating and weight gain in cats,” Swanson said in a statement. 

Complex changes

In the study, 11 adult spayed female cats were fed a standard dry cat food for two weeks. Baseline body measurements were taken and they were then allowed to eat as much as they wanted. The researchers also collected blood and poop samples at regular intervals and monitored their physical activity. Weight gain was assessed using a body condition score (BCS), which is similar to the controversial body mass index (BMI) in humans. BCS is measured on a 9-point scale where anything 6 or above is considered overweight. Like in humans, BCS is a quantitative, but also subjective, method for evaluating body fat in pets.

The cats immediately increased their food intake when they were allowed to overeat and they began to gain weight. When the study began, their average BCS was 5.41. Their BCS increased to 8.27 after 18 weeks of overfeeding. This corresponds to the cats being about 30 percent overweight by body mass. 

The researchers also analyzed changes in how much the felines pooped, their gastrointestinal transit time, how well nutrients were being digested, and changes in the build up of their gut microbiome over the 20-week study.

“We found that as cats ate more and gained weight, gastrointestinal transit time was reduced, and so was digestive efficiency. When the body gets less food, it will be more efficient in extracting nutrients. But when the amount of food increases, it passes through the digestive system faster and fewer nutrients are extracted in the process,” Swanson explained.  

A cat-specific bacteria shift 

During the 18 weeks of weight gain, the composition of the cats’ gut microbiome also changed. An anti-microbial bacteria that helps stimulate the immune system and inhibits pathogens called Bifidobacterium increased. At the same time, a bacteria that degrades fiber and has been linked to pro-inflammatory disease called Collinsella decreased. According to Swanson, these results are the opposite of what has been measured in overweight humans and suggests that their association to weight gain is complicated.  

[Related: Your cat probably knows when you’re talking to it.]

“The change in the gastrointestinal transit time was a novel finding and a potential reason for the change in fecal microbiota. Future studies should consider measuring transit time to better explain modifications to the microbiome of pets,” Swanson added. 

The more the cats ate, the more they pooped. At the same time that the cats were putting on pounds, fecal pH decreased, meaning that their poop became more acidic. A low fecal pH in humans indicates that the body isn’t absorbing fat or carbohydrates well. It appears that a lower fecal pH with higher food intake also reduced digestibility for cats. 

To measure activity level, the team used special collars. The cats were kept in a group setting where they could interact with one another and play with toys, except on the days when stool samples were collected.

“We expected that weight gain might lead to decreased physical activity, but we did not observe any consistent changes in activity level. However, this could vary with individual cats and their environment, and how much their owners interact with them,” said Swanson.

At the end of the study, the cats were put on a restricted-feeding diet that helped them return to their previous weights. A better understanding of the gastrointestinal and metabolic changes that occur with obesity in domestic pets could help with future prevention and treatment plans. Another new study co-authored by Swanson, demonstrated that restricted feeding can promote safe weight and fat loss in cats. 

The team also suggests that pet parents encourage regular physical activity with their cats. They can make it fun for the cats by stimulating foraging by placing food around the house, or using food puzzles during mealtime. Both of these strategies promote engagement and mental enrichment, according to Swanson. 

The post Overfeeding cats will mess with their guts and poop appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best overall		Topmart Pet Cat Window Seat		SEE IT	Give your pet a perch right at the window with this easy-to-install and removable pick.
Best heated		K&H Pet Products Heated Hanging Bed and Hammock		SEE IT	This plush window perch has the option to be heated, so your cat can stay cozy even in colder months.
Best bed		K&H EZ Mount Window Bed		SEE IT	This curved cat bed attaches to the window using industrial-strength suction cups and machine washable fabrics.

Just ask any cat about their favorite activities, and they’ll tell you perching by the window is definitely in their top five. Luckily, the best cat window perches can support this beloved hobby. The fact that so many pet products are available is great—there is something for everyone to enjoy, but it can also be stressful trying to narrow down the best options for you and your cat. To get appurrrrval for these cat accessories, you’ll want to find something comfortable, but you also want to ensure it’s safe. We’ve rounded up the best cat window perches that accomplish both.

• Best overall: Topmart Pet Cat Window Seat
• Best heated: K&H Pet Products Heated Hanging Bed and Hammock
• Best for climbing: PetFusion Ultimate Cat Window Climbing Perch
• Best bed: K&H EZ Mount Window Bed
• Best budget: PEFUNY Cat Window Perch

How we chose the best cat window perches

We’ve covered the best cat beds, so it’s only right that we go from low to high. We looked at critical reviews and user recommendations and conducted heavy research in order to find the best cat window perches. We also consulted cat owners to find cat window perches that are proven to be cat-approved.

The best cat window perches: Reviews & Recommendations

The world of pet products can be an overwhelming one to navigate, but by deciding which features are most important for you and your cat—from hammock, bed, or seat to installation process to space-saving perches—you should have no problem narrowing down the options. Once you do, your cat will thank you by staring longingly at you because that’s how they show that they love you.

Best overall: Topmart Pet Cat Window Seat

SEE IT

Specs

• Dimensions: 13.6 x 13.5 x 5.5 inches
• Weight limit: 20-35 lbs.
• Installation method: Velcro and screws

Pros

• Folds for easy storage
• Brackets adjust to different window depths
• Can move to different windowsills

Cons

• Metal screws more permanent solution over velcro

Not only is the Topmart Pet Cat Window Seat comfortable for your cat to sunbathe and (cat)nap on, but, as your cat’s human, you can rest assured knowing it’s safe, too. You can choose from two installation methods: Velcro, which is a super simple process but is only recommended for cats under 20 pounds, and metal screws, which require slightly more legwork but allow up to 35 pounds. The brackets are adjustable to accommodate different window depths so you can easily move it to a different window to offer your cat a change of scenery. Another perk is that the foldable design allows for easy storage when not in use.

Best heated: K&H Pet Products Heated Hanging Bed and Hammock

SEE IT

Specs

• Dimensions: 24 x 14 x 12 inches
• Weight limit: 40 lbs.
• Installation method: Adhesive strips; screws

Pros

• No tool installation
• High weight limit
• Machine-washable cover

Cons

• Adhesive can mess up walls more than screws

The K&H Heated Hanging Bed offers a stylish oval design that will blend into your home decor. The only requirement for the installation process is a 2-inch window sill as the adhesive hook and loop, or if you prefer a more permanent addition with screws, are included in the package. Comfortably supporting cats up to 40 pounds, the removable dual-thermostat heating pad is layered within the orthopedic foam, covered by a washable soft faux-lambskin cover. The heater is pre-set to 12 to 15 degrees above the room temperature range so your cat can enjoy the warm surface while relaxing in the sun. This product is under a one-year warranty and has been tested and certified by MET Labs to ensure USA/CA electrical safety standards.

Best for climbing: PetFusion Ultimate Cat Window Climbing Perch

SEE IT

Specs

• Dimensions: 21 x 21 x 45 inches
• Weight limit: No weight limit
• Installation method: Suction cups

Pros

Cons

• Sisal posts need replaced frequently

Consider the PetFusion Ultimate Cat Window Climbing Perch a four-in-one interactive treat. It combines the best parts of a cat tree with the space-saving benefits of a window perch. Between the scratch post, the climbing pole, the perch, and the view out the window, you can be assured your cat will never get bored. Designed with your cat’s safety in mind, the 42-inch sisal post has a base for added security, and the perch comes with three heavy-duty suction cups that you can easily attach to your window for added stability. Depending on how high your cat likes to climb, you can adjust the level of the scratch post and move it around the house for different views.

Best bed: K&H EZ Mount Window Bed

SEE IT

Specs

• Dimensions: 27 x 6 x 11 inches
• Weight limit: 50 lbs.
• Installation method: Suction cups

Pros

• Height weight limit
• Provides privacy for your cat
• Machine-washable cushion

Cons

• Suction cups need to warm up in hot water or the sun to stick

If your cat enjoys privacy and loves to keep an eye on the outside world, the K&H EZ Mount Window Bed is a no-brainer purchase. The installation process includes suctioning the large powerful cups, which can support up to 50 pounds, to your window. For extra comfort, this cat window bed has a removable Amazin’ Kitty Pad that insulates your cat’s body heat and retains dander so that you can keep some of your furniture fur-free. It’s also machine-washable. The only downside is your camera roll will soon be filled with adorable pictures of your cat lounging in their mounted window bed.

Best budget: PEFUNY Cat Window Perch

SEE IT

Specs

• Dimensions: 25.6 x 14.6 x 23.3 inches
• Weight limit: 40 lbs.
• Installation method: Suction cups

Pros

• Durable
• Can fit multiple cats
• Easy to install

Cons

• Plastic-coated metal cables are sturdy but dangerous if bitten through

At just $19.99, The PEFUNY Cat Window Perch looks very cool in your window, and your cats will love it too as they watch over their subjects (aka the humans). The materials used are durable and smart, with sturdy pipes for the frame, stainless steel ropes so your kitty can’t chew through them, and four strong suction cups to attach to the window. The pipes are designed with rope clip slots so the rope can sit securely with no movement once weight is added. For the base of the hammock, removable and easy-to-clean outdoor fabric is used, and to create extra comfort, a cozy, flannel mat is included with your purchase. If you have multiple cats and they’re willing to share, this hammock can hold up to 40 pounds. There is a 180-day guarantee with free replacement of all accessories. Be careful if you have a cat who loves to chew, as they can bite through the plastic coating and reach the metal cables.

What to consider when shopping for the best cat window perches

When selecting the best cat window perch, the first thing to consider is what your cat needs. From a place to lounge to an indoor obstacle course to a heated bed, there are many specific features to consider when buying cat accessories. Of course, you also want to make sure the cat window seat is safe enough for your feline to be able to jump on and relax comfortably, so factors such as the installation process and materials used are key. Before making the purchase, review exactly what will be best for both you and your cat.

How much does your cat weigh? Do you have multiple cats?

Most cat window seats will specifically state how much weight they can support. Before purchasing, you’ll want to make sure your cat is under the limit. On that note, if you have multiple cats, you’ll want to be sure they can all lounge together comfortably and safely or you might be better off buying multiple cat perches. Ensuring your cat(s) are under the weight guidelines will limit the risk of the window cat perch falling and potentially hurting your four-legged friend(s).

What type of window do you have?

While some cat perches include adjustable brackets that can be attached to any window ledge, some only work on certain windows. If the cat window seat can only work with a 2-inch ledge, for instance, you’ll want to have those measurements before purchasing. If you want a cat perch that suctions to your window, then having the glass space to put it up is key.

Does your cat need more stimulation?

Perhaps your cat needs a bit more than an elevated place to lounge. If that’s the case and he or she wants to get in some playtime before taking a break to bird watch, then an all-in-one product might be just what you both need. A system that features a scratch post, climbing pole, and perch will entertain your cat for hours on end. For added safety measures, look out for cat window shelves that can still be attached to your window. 

Is space something you need to consider?

Pet owners can relate to wanting to give their pets space to play along with every cat accessory available to play with. Sometimes, space is lacking, so you must work with what you have. So you don’t have to sacrifice space, a cat window shelf with a foldable design that can be easily stored might be just what you need. Additionally, should you need to use a certain area for something else one day, a cat perch that can be moved from window to window will help you out and offer a change of scenery for your cat.

Does your cat love to keep warm?

If your cat loves to cuddle and find comfortable nooks to lay in, then a cat window shelf with heating could make all the difference. Of course, as the temperatures warm up outside, this feature won’t be necessary, so you’ll want a removable heating pad for year-round use. Your cat will thank you later. 

Would a hammock or bed be the best fit?

Both hammocks and beds are comfortable—it’s safe to say your cat would agree—but which is better? This all depends on what your cat needs. If they’re comfortable in a hammock-style perch, then you can’t go wrong. On the other hand, maybe you both think a bed, which may offer more support, would be the better choice. A cat window bed with a supportive backing will ensure your cat won’t take a tumble while they snooze, so if this sounds like something your cat needs, then a window bed it is!

FAQs

Final thoughts on the best cat window perches

• Best overall: Topmart Pet Cat Window Seat
• Best heated: K&H Pet Products Heated Hanging Bed and Hammock
• Best for climbing: PetFusion Ultimate Cat Window Climbing Perch
• Best bed: K&H EZ Mount Window Bed
• Best budget: PEFUNY Cat Window Perch

Finding the best cat window perch is a personal choice. With keeping your pet’s health and safety a priority, you also want to consider what your finicky feline simply might enjoy the most in cat accessories. Whether that is a soft surface, extra height, or a supportive backing, you’ll want to pair that with how the perch is installed and where so that both parties (you and your cat) stay happy. Once installed, be prepared for your cat to live out their day like the king or queen of the household, as if they weren’t already.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

The post The best cat window perches in 2023 appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best Cave		MEOWF Premium Felt Cave Bed		SEE IT	Cats are so curious about this 100-percent merino wool cave made just for them.
Best Wicker		D+Garden Wicker Cat Bed		SEE IT	This tented enclosure offers an unusual hideaway space for your cat.
Best Plush		BODISEINT Modern Soft Plush Round Pet Bed		SEE IT	This is a supremely soft bed that gives room for your cat to stretch out.

Cats are perfect, drowsy creatures who deserve beds fit for royalty. They sleep an average of 15 hours per day (boy, that sounds nice), sometimes even up to 20 hours a day (okay, maybe that’s a little excessive). That’s a lot of time lying down! Yet they do it in the most inconvenient spots … right on top of your DVD player, on a bathroom rug, or maybe smack dab in the middle of that laundry you really should have put away. Before you know it, your cat is curled up on your pillow, and you have to wrestle a snoozing beast when you need to get some sleep of your own. One of our top cat bed picks is what you need.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with letting a cat sleep in your bed. But depending on your cat’s habits, it may be disruptive to your wellness if you have a cat that starts zooming around the bedroom in the middle of the night or waking you up too early in the morning by pawing at your face. One good way to lure cats away from spaces in the way or dangerous is to ensure they have comfortable, appropriate spots to sleep. But with so many options, how do you choose? Never fear; we’ll break it down and show you the best cat beds for felines of different ages, sizes, and personalities.

• Best overall: Tuft & Paw Nuzzle Cat Bed
• Best cave: MEOWFIA Premium Felt Cat Cave
• Best wicker: D+Garden Wicker Cat Bed
• Best plush: BODISEINT Modern Soft Plush Round Pet Bed
• Best domed: Tempcore Cat Sofa
• Best budget: Furhaven ThermaNAP Quilted Faux-Fur Self-Warming Mat

How we chose the best cat beds

We publish a lot of dog content, from dog beds to invisible fences to deep dives into the importance of letting your dog sniff. America’s second-favorite pet deserves some love, too. We looked at critical reviews and user recommendations and tested with our own fuzzy friends to find the best cat beds.

The best cat beds: Reviews & Recommendations

Even if your cat prefers sleeping in duffle bags and boxes, a proper bed is an excellent gift for a cat parent or can lure your cat to finally sleep on something that’s not yours. One of our choices should suit a plethora of cat manners, from those who love to hide to kitties with a perch preference.

Best overall: Tuft & Paw Nuzzle Cat Bed

SEE IT

Specs

• Dimensions: 22 x 7 x 22 inches
• Material: Molded foam, faux fur
• Machine washable: Yes

Pros

• Perfect for cats who love to rest their head, peek, and hide
• Deep
• Sturdy

Cons

• Expensive

The cat runs the house. Pay respect to them in the form of an incredibly luxurious cat bed. Its plush exterior is perfect for making biscuits, and a raised edge allows your cat to rest their head or enter peak donut mode. An ultra-suede base prevents slips and slides on hard floors. Even better, it will spruce up your regular decor. It’s expensive, but your cat deserves it.

Best cave: MEOWFIA Premium Felt Cat Cave

SEE IT

Specs

• Dimensions: 19 x 19 x 12 inches
• Material: Wool
• Machine washable: No; hand-wash only

Pros

• Dual-usage
• Wool keeps the cat’s temperature regular and muffles sound
• Decompostable

Cons

• Hand-wash only

These handmade cat cave beds are approximately 19 inches by 19 inches by 12 inches with an 8-inch opening and can be collapsed into a more traditional open bed, or used popped up into their intended cave shape. They’re roomy enough even for big cats and provide privacy and comfort. They’re felted in Nepal and come in several colors and designs to complement your room’s decor.

Best wicker: D+Garden Wicker Cat Bed

SEE IT

Specs

• Dimensions: 18 x 19.5 x12.5 inches
• Material: PE wicker
• Machine washable: Round cushion is machine washable

Pros

• Fashionable
• Easy-to-clean
• Wide opening

Cons

• Not machine washable

With a removable (and washable) pillow, this is a low-maintenance option that just needs to be wiped clean from time to time. Faux rattan blends into your home decor, and its shape is perfect if Fluffy likes to hide. It’s sturdy and dense, so it won’t break because of a cat race collision. Plus, a wide opening gives your cat plenty of room to enter and survey the area.

Best plush: BODISEINT Modern Soft Plush Round Pet Bed

SEE IT

Specs

• Dimensions: 24 x 24 x 8 inches
• Material: Polyester; faux fur
• Machine washable: Yes

Pros

• Comes in four sizes
• Machine washable
• Water-resistant and non-skid bottom

Cons

• Risk of fur cover getting matted

This donut-shaped marshmallow cat bed is made of high-loft recycled polyester fiber covered in faux fur, and it comes in four sizes (small, medium, large, and extra-large) and eight colors (mostly neutral tones … and pink!). It’s machine washable and dryable; in fact, the manufacturer specifies that it should not be air-dried or you risk matting the faux fur.

Best domed: Tempcore Cat Sofa

SEE IT

Specs

• Dimensions: 15 x 15 x 16.5 inches
• Material: Plush, faux suede, plastic
• Machine washable: Yes

Pros

• Comfortable
• Built-in cat toy
• Comes in multiple sizes

Cons

• Reviews note it’s a little flimsy

An attractive design, this Tempcore cat bed has many features going for it: there’s a removable pad that you can wash separately from the main bed, there’s a hanging toy to keep your cat occupied, the bottom is moisture-resistant and non-slip, and it comes in two sizes (small for cats up to 12 pounds, or medium for cats up to 18 pounds). It’s soft but well-made, has an accommodating shape, and the whole thing can be machine-washed and dried.

Best budget: Furhaven ThermaNAP Quilted Faux-Fur Self-Warming Mat

SEE IT

Specs

• Dimensions: 22 x 17 x.25 inches for small
• Material: Polyester
• Machine washable: Yes

Pros

• Options for self-warming and waterproofing
• Machine washable
• Can place on the floor or on furniture

Cons

• Crinkle can scare cats if they aren’t a fan

A self-warming cat bed means that it helps a cat retain its body heat. This one has a reflective thermal sheet insulated in between polyester fiber layers to reflect heat back to the cat’s body. It’s just a simple rectangular pad, no raised sides or covers, and it’s machine washable. It comes in small (17 inches by 22 inches) or large (36 inches by 24 inches) and has a quilted faux-fur sleep surface. The bed itself crinkles—perfect for attracting your cat. On the flip side, the crinkle could cause cautious cats a bit of stress.

What to consider when buying the best cat beds

So let’s say you pick out the perfect cat bed, you bring it home, open it up, and enthusiastically show it to your cat, and … your cat looks at it quizzically for a few seconds before snubbing it and going right back to sleep in the middle of the floor. It happens. It’s possible you just have a stubborn pet who doesn’t like that bed (you may have to try a couple of styles before landing on just the right one), but it’s also possible that you just need to do a little extra coaxing and prep work to figure it out. 

To start, make sure you’re placing the bed in a place the cat already likes. If you have to start in the middle of the floor, then that’s where to start—and then slowly work it over to a better spot over the course of a few days or weeks once the cat becomes attached to it. If your cat typically likes being up off the floor, then try it on top of a couch or chair. There are also hammock styles that can lift your feline just a few inches off the ground. You’ll also want to associate the bed with positive things: good smells, treats, and affection. Sprinkle a little catnip on it, and offer treats when the cat hops into the bed. You can also try putting a piece of the cat’s favorite human’s clothing in the bed to start—a T-shirt, scarf, or something similar that smells like that person—to lure them in.

Curious cat? We’ve got you covered with cat beds …

Covered cat beds are best for felines who crave some “alone time.” Especially if you have an active household with other pets and children or guests, a shy cat may take to hiding under a couch or another weird underfoot place to sleep—and that can be a recipe for danger. Another benefit to beds that have some sort of cover is that it can be easier to introduce new cats or kittens to a household if they have a spot of their own to escape to, rather than fighting for territory with other pets.

Would your cat like a cozy nook?

Covered beds can take different forms: some are structured, like a cave bed, and some are more like sleeping bags. Others nestle in your home like a piece of modern furniture, offering your pet a safe haven without providing an eyesore.

Your cat may go nuts for donuts

This marshmallow-inspired pick is extremely soft and furry and can be easy on joints for older cats. Cats often like to knead these types, and they’re usually machine washable. 

Domo arigato this cat spot-o …

Depending on your cat’s preferences, you might look into covered or uncovered options, heated or unheated beds. You can also look into a hanging cat bed, or cat window bed, to provide your cats with a higher-up view, especially if they like peering outside or stretching out in the warmth of the sunlight. Or just give the cat a personal “sofa”—somewhere impossibly plush to stretch out.

Your cat will be floored

Cats love to play it cool, but they don’t like to get cold. Don’t be fooled: all that fur isn’t the end-all and be-all of warmth retention. A thermal pad can help. 

FAQs

Final thoughts on the best cat beds

• Best overall: Tuft & Paw Nuzzle Cat Bed
• Best cave: MEOWFIA Premium Felt Cat Cave
• Best wicker: D+Garden Wicker Cat Bed
• Best plush: BODISEINT Modern Soft Plush Round Pet Bed
• Best domed: Tempcore Cat Sofa
• Best budget: Furhaven ThermaNAP Quilted Faux-Fur Self-Warming Mat

Giving your cat a spot of its own to rest can be a great gift for your beloved pet. Just like with humans, cats get better sleep when they’re feeling comfortable and secure. Also, just like with humans, the best selection for one cat may not be right for another—they have different needs both physically and psychologically. But whether you wind up with a cave bed, a marshmallow cat bed, a self-warming option, or something else, your furry friend will drift off to slumberland in cozy contentment.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

The post The best cat beds of 2023 appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best overall		PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed		SEE IT	This programmable feeder is designed with a slow-food mode and comes with a stainless steel bowl.
Best for dogs		Wopet 7L Automatic Feeder		SEE IT	This smart feeder comes with both electric and battery power, so your dog won’t go hungry when the power fails.
Best budget		Cat Mate C200		SEE IT	This affordable timed feeder for cats helps keep wet food chilled.

Automatic pet feeders are a handy device for dog and cat owners. In their simplest form, these feeders are containers with a timer you can set to make sure your pup or kitty gets kibbles at 6 p.m. sharp. Higher-end models may include programming portion sizes, adjusting dispensing schedules with an app, and automatically ordering more food when your supply is low. The best pet feeders will give you peace of mind that your four-legged pal won’t go hungry if you run late on your evening commute.

• Best overall: PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed
• Best smart: Petlibro Automatic Cat Feeder
• Best for dogs: WOPET 7L Automatic Feeder
• Best for cats: Cat Mate C100
• Best for portion control: PetSafe 6 Meal Programmable Pet Food Dispenser
• Best for multiple pets: WellToBe Pet Feeder Food Dispenser 
• Best design: Faroro 7L Automatic Feeder 
• Best budget: Cat Mate C200

How we chose the best automatic pet feeders

Here at PopSci, we’ve got many pet parents with regular vet visits, pet insurance, and care from a pet sitter when we’re out of town. When we evaluate pet products, we value the overall experience of our furry friends over convenience for humans.

Programming: If you’re on the go and need something to ensure your pet gets fed at the correct times each day, the feeder’s programming needs to be top-notch. We looked for systems with LCD screens or apps that allow you to program multiple meal times so you only have to worry about it once, then feel safe and secure knowing your pet will be fed on schedule.

Portion control: Recent data from the Pet Obesity Prevention Society shows that 59% of dogs and 61% of cats are overweight or obese. We selected pet feeders that allow users to control portion sizes, though it’s important to check with your vet about using an automated feeder if your pet has health issues.

Accuracy: Another thing to remember with automatic pet feeders is the accuracy of the meal portion. If you’re helping your pet drop some pounds, you must ensure each meal is the right size. The feeders chosen in this article should be accurate once you’ve set and scheduled one.

Size/capacity: Whether you’re going to be out for a few hours (a busy day with back-to-back meetings) or a few days (a weekend trip away), you need to know that your automatic pet feeder will be able to hold the correct amount of food for that time frame. Some feeders only handle up to five meals, while others can hold many more. You must consider this to know how often you’ll need to refill the machine.

Brands: Even with our budget pick, we stuck to top brands sold at major pet retailers that consumers rated highly.

Extra features: We looked at higher-end models with interactive features like voice recordings and smartphone connectivity, but these features aren’t necessary for every pet parent. Keep in mind that automatic feeders are a complement to regular pet care and should never replace a pet sitter.

The best automatic pet feeders: Reviews & Recommendations

Always check with your vet to ensure an automated feeder is right for your pet’s diet, age, activity level, and other factors. Once given the all-clear, pick a feeder from our choices below that balances your pet’s personality with your lifestyle (and maybe snag a treat-tossing pet camera so you can keep an eye on how things are going and augment mealtime with the occasional tasty reward).

Best overall: PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed

SEE IT

Why it made the cut: Besides ample storage and pet-friendly materials, we like the slow food mode option for pups and kitties who tend to snarf their meals in seconds.

Specs

• Capacity: 24 cups
• Type of food: Dry or semi-moist
• WiFi-enabled: No

Pros

• Slow feed mode
• Optional meal splitter
• Battery-powered with optional AC adapter

Cons

• Cannot be controlled remotely

Unlike a gravity feeder, which will keep food flowing as long as your pet’s bowl has space (to the detriment of your pet’s health), the PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed uses a conveyor belt system to give you greater control over portion size. With a capacity of up to 24 cups and the option to program up to 12 meals a day, this model can meet the needs of a wide variety of dogs and cats.

The food bowl is stainless steel, and all parts that come into contact with food are free of BPA (bisphenol A). If you purchase the optional splitter, this feeder can dispense into two separate bowls so your pets can share mealtime without competing for their dinner. And once they’re done, you can help your dog get active with the best interactive pet toys.

Best smart: Petlibro Automatic Cat Feeder

SEE IT

Why it made the cut: Smart-home pet parents can control this feeder with their smartphone without losing the option to manually press the feed button on the machine for an impromptu meal.

Specs

• Capacity: 4L or 6L (about 17 or 25 cups)
• Type of food: Dry
• WiFi-enabled: Yes

Pros

• Backup battery power (batteries not included)
• Pet can hear your voice when food is dispensed
• Can program wide range of portions

Cons

• WiFi connectivity can be unreliable

The Petlibro WiFi Automatic Cat Feeder comes in two sizes suitable for both cats and small to medium-sized dogs. The biggest advantage of this smart feeder over other digital feeders is the ability to program a feeding schedule and trigger a one-time meal from within the Petlibro app (available on Android and iOS). You can even record a 10-second clip of your voice to play when the food is dispensed. 

Pet parents will also value the stainless steel bowl to protect dogs and cats from acne caused by eating from plastic containers. Note that, like many connected appliances, you must connect with your home WiFi’s 2.4 GHz band, not 5 GHz.

Best for dogs: WOPET 7L Automatic Feeder

SEE IT

Why it made the cut: The WOPET allows you to program feeding your dog up to 5 meals per day with just a click.

Specs

• Capacity: 6 liters (25 cups)
• Type of food: Dry
• WiFi-enabled? Yes

Pros

• Dual-battery system ensures no power cuts get in the way of mealtime
• Auto voice broadcasts can be played at each mealtime
• App control gives you peace of mind knowing you’ve correctly scheduled meals and portions

Cons

• Does not work with wet pet food
• A bit pricier than other options

The WOPET 7L Automatic Feeder is ideal for dog owners glued to their smartphones. The feeder hooks up to a free app (compatible with iOS and Android) that allows you to customize mealtimes, portion sizes, and voice notes. You can schedule up to 15 meals daily, which is perfect for helping to slow down those fast eaters!

If you want your dog to hear your voice while you’re away, you can record a voice message to be played each time a feeding is dispensed or simply throughout the day when you want to say hello. The transparent and easily detachable container is perfect for letting you know when it’s time to refill and makes for easy cleaning. This feeder also works for cats. 

While the feeder rings in at a bit more than competitive products, it’s a worthwhile investment for you and your pet.

Best for cats: Cat Mate C100

SEE IT

Why it made the cut: You can’t get any simpler than this bowl and timer mechanism, but for some pet parents, it’s all you need to get invaluable extra snooze time.

Specs

• Capacity: 14 ounces (a little less than 2 cups)
• Type of food: Dry
• WiFi-enabled: No

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Compact
• Easy to clean

Cons

• Cats may figure out how to open it
• Cats may still demand food a half hour later

With four other compelling choices on our list, it may seem surprising that we included the Cat Mate C100, a low-capacity analog feeder without any bells or whistles. However, this minimalist marvel may just help solve one of the biggest problems cat owners face: caterwauling, scratching, pawing, and other mayhem at five, or four, or three—in the morning. Every morning.

If your cat is reasonable enough all other hours of the day and you aren’t interested in investing in an automated pet feeder for heavy use, this device just might allow you the extra sleep you crave. Remember that this model, unlike the Cat Mate C200 below, does not come with an ice pack, so it should not be filled with perishable wet food and left overnight.

Best for portion control: PetSafe 6-Meal Programmable Pet Food Dispenser

SEE IT

Why it made the cut: Unlike conveyor-belt style feeders, this six-compartment rotating feeder ensures your pet gets exactly what they require to help them stay healthy.

Specs

• Capacity: 6 cups
• Type of food: Dry or semi-moist
• WiFi-enabled: No

Pros

• Get portions right every time
• Easy to see if compartments need refilling
• Dishwasher safe parts

Cons

• Bowl is plastic

If your cat or dog has an illness that requires careful monitoring of food intake or is on a vet-recommended weight loss protocol, portion control is essential. However, pet feeders that allow programmable portion control may vary in accuracy when using conveyor-belt mechanisms to divide and dispense food. They also may have limited options for choosing portion size. The PetSafe 6 Meal Programmable Pet Food Dispenser addresses this problem by using a digital timer to rotate individual pre-filled compartments and release food from each according to your choice of schedule.

There are only six compartments, but you can program the feeder to empty more than one at a given time. This means you’ll need to calculate how much your pet usually eats during the period in which you want to use the feeder and how many compartments are required per meal. Then, factor in whether you want to reserve a compartment or two for treats. Just keep in mind that each compartment can only hold up to a cup of dry or semi-moist pet food.

The digital clock on the LCD screen is a nice touch if you’re hanging around to witness the feeder do its magic, but your pet’s internal clock is likely all they need to get them to show up at the appointed time.

Best for multiple pets: WellToBe Pet Feeder Food Dispenser

SEE IT

Why it made the cut: We love that the splitter is wide enough to feed two separate bowls and is also removable in case you only have to feed one pet at a time.

Specs

• Capacity: 13 cups
• Type of food: Dry
• WiFi-enabled: No

Pros

• Perfect for those with more than one pet
• Dual power supply ensures power outages don’t affect meal times
• Non-slip foot pad ensures the feeder doesn’t move around
• Silicone seal prevents pets from stealing food

Cons

• Can be problematic if pets don’t respect each other’s bowls
• Voice recording is a requisite to dispensing food

If you’re a multiple pet parent and don’t want to buy more than one automatic feeder, the WellToBe Pet Feeder Food Dispenser is the perfect solution. This automatic pet feeder comes with a two-way splitter and stainless-steel food bowls. It can divide meals equally and feed your pets simultaneously.

The feeder can program up to six meals a day, has an anti-clog mechanism thanks to built-in infrared sensor alerts, and has removable food containers and bowls perfect for easy clean-up. Plus, this feeder is quite affordable as opposed to buying two separate one-pet feeders.

Best design: Faroro 7L Automatic Feeder

SEE IT

Why it made the cut: We love how this feeder offers essentially all the same features as other products on the market but comes in a gorgeous white-and-black casing you won’t want to hide.

Specs

• Capacity: 7 liters (30 cups)
• Type of food: Wet and dry
• WiFi-enabled: No

Pros

• Easy-to-set built-in timer helps you create the right feeding schedule
• Works for dry and wet food
• Includes voice recording feature

Cons

• Not ideal for multiple pet feedings

The Faroro 7L Automatic Feeder is the perfect option if you appreciate good design. The feeder’s simple white lines and transparent top lid will keep your space looking clean while also ensuring that food stays fresh and secure.

Infrared detection prevents food from sticking and spilling, and an easy-to-operate timer that runs on a 24-hour schedule allows you to keep your pet on a known routine. You can schedule one to four meals daily and even alternate between wet and dry food if you’d like.

The feeder features a dual power supply, has a voice recording feature that enables you to play a 10-second message up to three times throughout a feeding and is reasonably priced.

Best budget: Cat Mate C200

SEE IT

Why it made the cut: We think this affordable timed feeder is a good value pick because it comes with an ice pack to help keep wet food at cool temperatures.

Specs

• Capacity: 14 ounces (1.75 cups)
• Type of food: Dry or wet
• WiFi-enabled: No

Pros

• Low price point
• Can be used with wet food
• Removable bowls

Cons

• Analog mechanism
• Ticking sound

Many pet parents prefer to feed their cats and dogs wet food or a mixture of both wet and dry. However, most pet feeders are designed for dry food since wet food can be messy and often requires refrigeration. The Cat Mate C200 is an affordable solution for people who want to experience the convenience of an automated feeder without compromising on the food they’ve selected for their furry friend.

We make no bones about it—this feeder is a low-tech device with two compartments that spring open when their respective manually set timers go off. It comes with an ice pack that fits underneath the compartments (buy a second one to have at the ready for swapping), and depending on the temperature in your home, it can keep wet food cold for hours.

This is not a feeder you’ll want to use every day. The bowls are plastic, and the feeder only has the capacity for two meals. However, it’s a great way to ensure anxious or finicky pets get their wet food as planned if you have to step out unexpectedly for a few hours. Each timer can be set at an interval of up to 48 hours ahead, so if you are using dry food, you can dispense kibbles over a longer period. Just make sure someone is still checking on your pet regularly to ensure that they receive cuddles, playtime, trips outdoors to do their business, and/or a fresh litter box.

Things to consider when buying an automatic pet feeder

Put yourself in your pet’s shoes (or rain booties or kitten mittens) to find the right pet feeder for their temperament, habits, and overall well-being.

Behavior

If your dog is extra gregarious or your cat extra crafty, look for sturdy and secure pet feeders that won’t yield a bonanza of kibble when your pet knocks it over or gnaws at the container. If your pet is skittish, look for quieter models and consider whether models that play a recording of your voice at feeding time will scare or soothe.

Portion size

Check the specifications on the feeder you are considering to ensure it can support the portion size you want to dispense. Keep in mind that some machines allow you to choose multiple portions per meal, so if the maximum portion size is smaller than your pet requires, you can do a little math to see if the feeder will dispense enough portions at a time to fulfill their needs.

Cleaning

Your pet may have good manners, but they likely aren’t going to be up to human standards. Look for feeders that can easily be taken apart for regular cleaning, and if you have a dishwasher, make sure that materials are dishwasher-safe.

FAQs

Final thoughts on the best automatic pet feeders

• Best overall: PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed
• Best smart: Petlibro Automatic Cat Feeder
• Best for dogs: WOPET 7L Automatic Feeder
• Best for cats: Cat Mate C100
• Best for portion control: PetSafe 6-Meal Programmable Pet Food Dispenser
• Best for multiple pets: WellToBe Pet Feeder Food Dispenser 
• Best design: Faroro 7L Automatic Feeder 
• Best budget: Cat Mate C200

For cat and dog owners who want to keep their pets on a regular meal schedule of dry food, the PetSafe Healthy Pet offers convenience and ample storage. Technology can never replace the bonding experience of setting a tasty meal in front of your beloved furry friend and receiving a tail wag or a contented purr in return. However, purchasing one of the best automatic pet feeders can make your time apart a little more comfortable for everyone.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

The post The best automatic pet feeders of 2023 appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

A staggering 80 percent of the world’s 600 million estimated domestic cats are stray or feral animals. These cats face a number of problems including cars, infectious diseases, and predators. As game show host Bob Barker said at the end countless episodes of The Price is Right, spaying or neutering can help control the homeless pet population, in addition to overcrowding at shelters. Not to mention, keeping the feral cat population in check minimizes the risk of the critters preying on wild animals and threatening the ecosystem. 

[Related: Culver City is home to a unique cat versus coyote conflict.]

Now, a potential new method of kitty contraception that uses long-lasting injections to prevent ovulation is showing early promise. According to a study published June 6 in the journal Nature Communications, a single dose of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) gene therapy can induce long-term contraception in domestic cats. This potentially provides a safe and effective alternative to surgical spaying. 

AMH is a naturally occurring non-steroidal hormone produced in the ovaries of female mammals and inside the testes in males. Scientists had previously researched AMH as a way to protect ovarian reserve in those undergoing chemotherapy. This background helped the authors discover that raising AMH levels beyond a certain threshold suppressed the growth of ovarian follicles. This effectively prevents ovulation and thus conception. 

After switching their attention from rodents to felines, the team created an adeno-associated viral (AAV) gene therapy vector that has a slightly altered version of the feline AMH gene. The Food and Drug Administration has approved human therapies that use similar AAV vectors to deliver therapeutic genes.

“A single injection of the gene therapy vector causes the cat’s muscles to produce AMH, which is normally only produced in the ovaries, and raises the overall level of AMH about 100 times higher than normal,” co-author and associate director of the Pediatric Surgical Research Laboratories at Massachusetts General Hospital David Pépin said in a statement. Pépin is also an associate professor at Harvard Medical School.

In the study, six female cats were treated with the gene therapy at two different doses, while three cats were the controls. The team brought a male cat into the female colony for two four-month long mating trials. They followed the female cats for over two years, assessing the effect of the treatment on reproductive hormones, ovarian cycles, and fertility.

According to the results, all of the control cats produced kittens, but none of the cats that received the gene therapy got pregnant. Important hormones like estrogen were not affected by surprising ovarian follicle development and ovulation. The team didn’t observe any adverse effects on the treated female cats, showing that the gene therapy should be safe and well tolerated at the doses tested. 

[Related: Declawing cats is harmful. Do this instead.]

“The treatment maintained high AMH levels for over two years, and we’re confident that those contraceptive levels will be sustained in the animals for much longer,” co-author, veterinarian, and Massachusetts General Hospital research fellow Philippe Godin said in a statement. Godin added that more studies in a larger number of cats are needed to confirm these promising findings.

The team also notes that this technology may be a bit ahead of its time, as the infrastructure needed to produce enough doses to sterilize millions of cats with gene therapy has yet to be built. 

“Our goal is to show that safe and effective permanent contraception in companion animals can be achieved using gene therapy,” said Pépin. “And we hope that as the manufacturing capability of producing viral vectors increases with the rise of gene therapy in humans, delivering this contraceptive in the field to control unowned outdoor cat populations will become feasible.”

The post A new shot can be a safe and effective alternative to surgical spaying appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Are you curious about what your pet does when you’re not home? The result could be heartwarming or heartbreaking—or you could just learn that they bark at whoever is delivering mail or walking by. Find out if your pet is a menace or an angel behind your back with a Ring Indoor Camera, on sale as part of Amazon Pet Day, which is today—and today only.

Ring Indoor Cam (1st Gen) $39.99 (Was $59.99)

SEE IT

The Ring Indoor Camera is small and discreet, letting you hear and even speak to your pets from a phone, tablet, or Echo device. It’s a great introductory indoor camera at an even better price. If you already have a Ring doorbell, you’re in luck if you add a Ring Indoor Camera—you can access all of your cameras in the Ring app. Set-up is easy—all you have to do is place the camera on a flat surface or mount it to the wall with a separate wall mount and scan the QR code on the back of the device. We personally love using Live View to see if our pets are snoozing on the couch, running around and meowing, or making a mess by rooting around in the litterbox, with Live Notifications letting us know if the plumber has decided to make a surprise visit.

Amazon Pet Day is one day only—here are other Pet Day deals we think you should take advantage of:

Pet cameras

• Furbo 360° Dog Camera $147 (Was $210)
• Petcube Cam Indoor Wi-Fi Pet and Security Camera with Phone App $29.99 (Was $49.99)

Feeders, bowls, and fountains

• PETLIBRO Cat Water Fountain $23.99 (Was $39.99)
• PETLIBRO Automatic Cat Feeder $55.99 (Was $89.99)
• PETLIBRO Automatic Cat Feeder for Two Cats $69.99 (Was $109.99)
• PETLIBRO Automatic Cat Feeder with Camera for 2 Cats w. 1080p Camera $109.99 (Was $149.99)
• PETLIBRO Automatic Cat Feeder with Camera (One Cat) $99.99 (Was $159.99)
• PETLIBRO Automatic Dog Feeder $63.99 (Was $89.99)
• FUKUMARU Elevated Cat Ceramic Bowls $21.92 (Was $37.99)
• UPSKY 70oz Dog Water Bowl 2L $17.84 (Was $30.99)
• FOREYY Raised Pet Bowls for Cats and Small Dogs $16.99 (Was $29.99)
• Amazon Basics Stainless Steel Pet Dog Water And Food Bowl $12.99 (Was $15.74)
• Amazon Basics Gravity Pet Waterer for Dogs and Cats $16.47 (Was $21.87)
• Hyper Pet IQ Treat lick mat for Dogs $11.96 (Was $14.95)
• Wonder Creature Cat Water Fountain with Stainless Steel Lid $17.99 (Was $34.99)
• PetSafe Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountains $48.95 (Was $54.95)

Treats, chews, and vitamins

• Zesty Paws Allergy Immune Supplement for Dogs $23.18 (Was $28.97)
• Zesty Paws Probiotics for Dogs $23.18 (Was $28.97)
• Zesty Paws Turmeric Curcumin for Dogs $23.18 (Was $28.97)
• Zesty Paws Training Treats for Dogs & Puppies $11.18 (Was $13.97)
• Solid Gold SeaMeal Multivitamin for Cats & Dogs $21.59 (Was $26.99)
• Solid Gold Calming Chews for Dogs $18.39 (Was $24.97)
• Solid Gold Wet Cat Food Variety Pack $17.59 (Was $21.99)
• Pet Honesty Dog Allergy Relief Chews Max Strength $27.99 (Was $39.99)
• Pet Honesty Hemp Hip & Joint Supplement for Dogs $27.99 (Was $39.99)
• Pet Honesty Salmon SkinHealth for Dogs $18.89 (Was $26.99)
• Pet Honesty Flea & Tick Defense Supplement $19.59 (Was $28.99)
• PetHonesty Grass Green Grass Burn Spot Chews for Dogs $18.89 (Was $28.99)
• PetHonesty Omega-3 Fish Oil for Dogs $19.59 (Was $28.99)
• PetHonesty PureMobility Glucosamine for Dogs $27.99 (Was $38.92)
• PetHonesty Cat Hairball Support Chews $8.39 (Was $11.99)
• Pet Honesty Digestive Probiotics Max Strength for Cats Supplement $18.99 (Was $32.99)
• PetHonesty Calming Chews for Cats $8.39 (Was $11.99)
• PetHonesty Cat Hip & Joint Health Chews $8.39 (Was $11.99)
• PetHonesty Immune Health Lysine $17.49 (Was $24.99)

Toys, beds, and stairs

• PETLIBRO Interactive Mouse Cat Toy for Indoor Cats $18.99 (Was $25.99)
• PETMAKER 80-PET6016 High Density Foam Pet Stairs, Gray $37.99 (Was $59.95)
• Chew King Fetch Balls $13.60 (Was $18.99)
• Wobble Wag Giggle Treat Ball $15.99 (Was $19.99)
• PetSafe SlimCat Meal-Dispensing Cat Toy $6.45 (Was $8.95)
• Benebone Tripe Bone Durable Dog Chew Toy for Aggressive Chewers $11.26 (Was $14.95)
• Nylabone Power Chew Textured Dog Chew Ring Toy $7.95 (Was $13.59)
• Nylabone Power Chew Toys Customer Favorites Bundle $20.19 (Was $44.99)
• PetSafe Busy Buddy Bristle Bone $9.95 (Was $15.99)
• Kitty City Large Cat Tunnel Bed $31.60 (Was $40.99)
• Minions: The Rise of Gru Stuart Plush Flat Crinkle Dog Toy $4.37 (Was $5.59)
• Nickelodeon for Pets Rugrats Reptar Figure Plush Dog Toy $6.39 (Was $7.99)

Pet cleaning products

• ChomChom Pet Hair Remover $25.45 (Was $31.95)
• Rocco & Roxie Carpet Cleaner Solution for Pets $18.98 (Was $34.25)
• Bodhi Dog Natural Pet Cologne $11.89 (Was $13.99)
• Boshel Dog Nail Clippers $12.99 (Was $15.99)
• GoPets Dematting Comb with 2-Sided Professional Grooming Rake for Cats & Dogs $27.99 (Was $46.99)
• Pat Your Pet Deshedding Brush $8.47 (Was $18.39)
• Earth Rated Dog Poop Bags $11.19 (Was $13.99)

Pet care

• FRONTLINE Plus For Cats and Kittens Flea and Tick Treatment, 6 Doses $53.19 (Was $70.90)
• FRONTLINE Plus for Dogs Flea and Tick Treatment (Extra Large Dog, 89-132 lbs.) 6 Doses (Red Box) $53.19 (Was $81.99)
• FRONTLINE Plus for Dogs Flea and Tick Treatment (Medium Dog, 23-44 lbs.) 6 Doses (Blue Box) $53.19 (Was 81.99)
• FRONTLINE Plus for Dogs and Puppies (Dogs 8 weeks or older 5 to 22 lbs.) Flea and Tick Treatment, 6 Doses (Orange Box) $53.19 (Was $75.99)
• FRONTLINE Plus for Dogs Flea and Tick Treatment (Large Dog, 45-88 lbs.) 8 Doses (Purple Box) $65.79 (Was $104.99)
• IRIS USA Premium Square Top Entry Cat Litter Box with Scoop $67.99 (Was $79.99)
• Fresh Step Lightweight Clumping Cat Litter $15.69 (Was $17.39)
• Artificial Grass Puppy Pee Pad for Dogs and Small Pets $30.99 (Was $39.95)
• neabot P1 Pro Pet Grooming Kit & Vacuum $127.49 (Was $179.99)
• PETKIT Extra Large Self Cleaning Cat Litter Box for Multi Cats $419 (Was $598)
• BV Pet Potty Training Pads for Dogs Puppy Pads $16.14 (Was $18.99)
• Cuby Dog and Cat Sling Carrier $17.99 (Was $24.95)

Tests

• Embark Breed Identification Kit $109 (Was $129)
• Allergy Test My Pet Dog Sensitivity and Intolerance Testing $80 (Was $107.99)

The post You only have today to take advantage of these Amazon Pet Day deals appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Food allergies were scarcely reported during the first half of the 20th century. Nowadays, sensitivity to foods like nuts and eggs affect an estimated eight percent of children in the United States. That’s one in 13 children or two students per classroom, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  

More than one in 10 children are diagnosed every year across some high income countries, and earlier research has suggested a possible link between animal exposure during pregnancy and early childhood may reduce food allergies. 

Now, an analysis over more than 65,000 infants in Japan found that children exposed to pet cats or indoor dogs during fetal development or early infancy tended to have fewer food allergies compared to other children. The findings were modest (13 to 16 percent less likely to developing food allergies), but had statistical significance and were published March 29 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE.

[Related from PopSci+: Children are grimy, and that’s (mostly) ok.]

The study did not determine if the link between pet exposure and food allergies is causative, since another factor associated with pet ownership could be causing the association.

Hisao Okabe from the Fukushima Regional Center for the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, Japan and team used data from a nationwide prospective birth cohort study called the Japan Environment and Children’s Study. They used the available data on 66,215 children who had exposure to various pets and food allergies.

During the fetal period, about 22 percent were exposed to pets, most commonly indoor dogs and cats. Among the children exposed to these family pets, the chance of developing a food allergy was lowered by about 14 percent. However, the team did not find a significant difference for children in households with outdoor dogs—the results were more robust with indoor dogs. 

The children exposed to indoor dogs were less likely to develop egg, milk, and nut allergies. Children exposed to cats were less likely to have egg, wheat, and soybean allergies. 

Somewhat surprisingly, the children exposed to hamsters (0.9 percent of the total group studied) showed a 93 percent greater incidence of nut allergies. Since the group that had hamsters was so small, it could be a statistical fluke, but it still jumped out at the team.

Some of the limitations of this study include self reported data (usually from medical records obtained at doctor’s visits), which relies on accurate recall from participants. 

The authors suggest that their results could help guide more research into what is causing childhood food allergies and the hygiene hypothesis. Dating back to 1989, with even deeper theoretical roots in the nineteenth century, this hypothesis proposes that exposure to germs and some infections during childhood helps the immune system develop. The exposure teaches the body to tell the difference between harmless substances from the ones that might trigger a reaction like asthma. In theory, exposure to certain germs teaches the immune system not to overreact, according to the Mayo Clinic. 

[Related: This pseudoscience movement wants to wipe germs from existence.]

“Whatever it is that’s happening in the modern world, it’s causing the immune system to be active when it doesn’t need to be,” microbiologist Graham Rook of University College London told PopSci in an interview last year.

Rook noted that the hygiene hypothesis has its flaws—some viral infections, such as RSV, can trigger asthma, not prevent it. Additionally, a large body of research now blames changes in the human microbiome, not a dearth of childhood infection, for at least some of the sharp rise in chronic diseases. 

The post Babies who grow up around pets may be less likely to develop food allergies appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

This article was originally featured on The Conversation.

Many people choose to live with a cat for companionship. As a social species, companionship is something we often crave. But this cannot necessarily be said of our feline friends. Domestic cats evolved from a largely solitary species, defending their territory from other cats.

Although modern-day cats can live together in friendly groups (when there are enough resources to go around), bonds generally only develop between cats who are related or grow up together. It is natural for cats to feel threatened by unfamiliar cats. Owners should consider whether adding another cat to their home is really in their cat’s best interest, especially if they are generally more of a timid cat.

If you’re set on adding another cat to your home, plan the introduction carefully.

Prepare for your new cat before you bring them home. Set aside a room for them, making sure they have at least two comfortable sleeping areas, a water bowl, a feeding area, scratching post and toys. Provide at least one litter tray (preferably two), well away from the food, water and sleeping places.

When the day comes to bring your new cat home, take them straight to “their” room. Allow them to come out of their carrier in their own time. They will be frightened if you try to pull them out. No matter how excited you are to interact with your new companion, you might need to leave the room, allowing them to explore by themselves.

Scent swapping

Your new cat needs to stay in their room for several days. This will help them settle down and allows you to introduce them to your existing cat via scent.

Scent, especially facial pheromones, helps cats identify other cats that they are bonded with and is important for maintaining bonds between cats. Swap cloths that each cat has slept on, and toys. Place these somewhere the cats will come across them in their own rooms, but away from beds, bowls and litter trays.

Neither cat should show signs of avoidance or aggression towards the cloths before you progress. Then you can directly swap scent between the cats. Stroke one cat, especially around the cheeks and area in front of the ears, and then go directly to the other cat and stroke them. Repeat in the other direction.

This will transfer the cats’ scent profiles and facial pheromones, as if they were rubbing on each other directly. Look for relaxed rubbing or nudging in return.

Longer term

Once both cats are relaxed about being stroked with your other cat’s scent on your hands, they can finally see each other and your new cat can explore the rest of your home. You can buy a plug-in diffuser that releases copies of a feline facial pheromone, which may help with the initial introductions as it has been found to reduce cat-to-cat aggression within households.

There should be lots of escape routes for the cats to move away from each other. Make sure there is a cat tower or furniture, like a bookshelf, to jump onto and that the cats can easily leave the room if they want to. Cats like to hide away if threatened and to get up high.

Initially, shut the cat you adopted first away in a separate room and allow your new cat out of theirs to explore. Once they are familiar with the layout of the house and where escape routes and safe places are, you can let your other cat out. Supervise the cats and be ready to intervene if tensions start to mount.

Watch for any avoidant or agonistic behaviour, such as running away and hiding, ears going back or hissing. Never punish your cat for aggressive behaviour and avoid using food to lure the cats closer together. Cats are solitary hunters and would not naturally eat in close proximity to other cats, even ones they are bonded with.

Because cats can find it challenging to form new relationships with other cats, especially as adults, your cats may never become best friends. To reduce conflict, make sure both cats can access food, water and litter trays without having to pass each other.

As a general rule, you will need to have one more of each resource than the total number of cats in the household. For example, three litter trays for a two-cat household. If your cats go outside, it may also be helpful to provide more than one entrance and exit point, as the cat flap is another common area for conflict between cats.

Similar advice applies if you want to add another companion species to your home, such as a puppy. Introductions may be more successful if the puppy is carefully and gradually introduced before they’re 12 weeks old.

Don’t allow your puppy to chase your cat. Reward the puppy for calm behaviour. Your cat should never feel cornered and always have the choice to move away from any interaction, whether that’s with a human or non-human animal.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The post How to introduce a new cat to your pets appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Among an overwhelming number of other life changes, over 23 million Americans adopted new pets during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. Since then, the country’s influx of animal ownership has frequently strained veterinarians’ availability and resources, causing some states such as Michigan and Indiana to ease restrictions on veterinary client patient relationships (VCPR) laws previously requiring an initial in-person, hands-on animal examination before prescribing many medications or treatments.

Now that pandemic restrictions are largely lifted, however, expert groups including American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) have begun urging a return to traditional VCPR regulations, arguing that telehealth can’t replace at least early in-person examinations from professionals. One of the country’s most popular online pet suppliers, however, is leading a concerted push to change that—despite many critics’ concerns. 

[Related: Outdoor cats spread disease and harm public health.]

What Amazon aims to do for human telehealth, Chewy hopes to accomplish for your pets. Enter their Connect with a Vet feature, which allows pet owners to speak with professionals on a variety of issues and concerns, although the feature doesn’t allow for actions like prescription orders. Instead, the portal’s experts can advise pet owners on conditions, and help determine if an issue is an emergency requiring more immediate, in-person vet visits.

The feature launched two years’ ago, hasn’t been able to expand as widely as it could if regulations modernized for telehealth, Chewy CEO Sumit Singh argued earlier this week on CNBC.

“Why? Because when you research pet health, you’ll find that there’s a specific term called VCPR,” he says. As such, Chewy has donated untold sums of money to a lobbying group called the Veterinary Virtual Care Association, which urges states to ease their remote animal examination laws. 

[Related: Toddlers may be wired to help their dog friends.]

Medical care for animals requires vastly different regulations and guidelines, and while many veterinarians aren’t opposed to telehealth in very certain circumstances, some remain staunch in the beliefs that it simply is no substitute for in-person examinations and treatment. To some veterinary experts, such as Linda Isaacson, a veterinarian in Brooklyn, New York, speaking with CNBC, the potential costs outweigh the benefits. “I think it works better for human medicine, but for animals, you know, it wasn’t ideal,” Isaacson said of her experiences with similar online services. “It’s not like a person that can tell you how they’re feeling or sit still or show you something.”

Still, it’s unlikely that companies such as Chewy will abandon efforts to garner larger footholds in the animal telehealth industry—in some instances, it could feasibly be an alternative for pet owners already constrained by a lack of options. 

But for now, many professional vet organizations remain committed to traditional methods of treatment.“Without a VCPR, any advice provided through electronic means should be general and not specific to a patient, diagnosis or treatment,” reads AVMA’s current telemedicine guidelines.

The post Chewy is doggedly trying to expand into pet telehealth appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Cats are weird. You’ll buy the best toys on the market, and they’ll respond by spending all their time playing in the shipping box. They’ll also randomly get short bursts of energy that have them bouncing up and down the walls, and it always seems to happen at 3 a.m. And when playing with other cats from the same household, they’ll act like Jekyl and Hyde: They can be cuddled up one moment like the best of friends, and the next minute, they’re wrestling like UFC champions.

Playtime and socialization are important for feline health, but sometimes it’s hard to tell whether cats are tussling or actually fighting. In a new study published today in the journal Scientific Reports, cat behavioral researchers identified specific interactions that would show whether your pets were being playful, aggressive, or a mixture of both (with the potential to escalate into a full-out brawl). Understanding the behavioral differences can help cat owners manage any troubling relationships in the household and, hopefully, stop Fluffy from being a bully. 

[Related: Despite appearances, your cat does love you]

The findings would not surprise professionals who work with kitties, says Mikel Delgado, an animal behaviorist and cat behavior consultant with the pet sitter company Rover, who was not involved in the study. But it confirms the current expert opinion on what’s considered playing versus fighting, and gives new insights to anyone who just loves cats.

Noema Gajdoš Kmecová, lead study author and a researcher at the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Slovakia, and her colleagues watched 105 videos posted on YouTube or directly submitted by people around the world to break down the antics of 210 cats. The videos included both indoor and outdoor felines, but all were considered domestic. “Within domestic cats, we have a spectrum of lifestyles living in different types of environments,” she explains. Pet owners or passersby captured videos of fights and play out on the streets in human-populated areas, as well as indoors. 

The team looked for the following behaviors: wrestling, chasing, vocalization, inactive body posture (sitting, crouching, or lying down), other interactive activities (arched back, avoidance, belly-up, stalking, or something else), and non-interactive activities involving the little beasts or an inanimate object (self-licking, walking, or drinking). The researchers focused on overt behavioral changes rather than subtle body language, like prolonged staring or ear and tail movements associated with aggression, because they may be harder for the average cat owner to spot. They also excluded any cat videos whose behaviors (mounting or biting of the neck) might have been more sexual than playful or aggressive. 

After the first run-through of footage, four of the authors rated the behavior as either playful, intermediate, or agnostic. Emma Grigg, an animal behaviorist and research associate at the University of California, Davis, who was not associated with the study, says she appreciates the inclusion of an intermediate category, as it can seem overly simplistic to treat social interactions between cats as strictly positive or negative. For example, she notes that one important gray area is when an interaction starts as a mutual play, but shifts when one cat from the pair wishes to stop playing and the other doesn’t.

More than half of the cats in the candid clips showed playful behavior. Nearly 29 percent displayed aggressive tendencies toward other felines. Finally, about 15 percent showed behaviors falling in between play and fighting. 

Wrestling was commonly associated with being playful, though it has the potential to turn aggressive. But cats that use only their paws, have no pain-related sounds, and alternate positions are signs that they are fooling around. “These cats are very familiar with each other and can afford this type of close contact,” Gajdoš Kmecová explains.

Meanwhile, vocalizing (growls, hisses, snarls, gurgles, or yowls) and chasing were strongly tied to aggression. Chasing, however, can also be considered play if both animals take turns being the pursuer. “Their discussion of the importance of looking for signs of reciprocal play was great,” Grigg says. “This is something I often hear recommended for dogs but is less commonly emphasized for cats in my experience.” Gajdoš Kmecová says that her team is working towards studying subtypes of behavior to better understand interactive behaviors beyond labeling them as wrestling and chasing. Different types of wrestling positions, for example, involve a variety of interactive behaviors and ear and tail positions.

Several other behaviors could be considered a mix of play and fighting. Cats in the intermediate group often spent a good chunk of time laying on their back with their belly up, pouncing, stalking, and grooming the other cat. According to the authors, feline interactions vary day by day, which is why they show such range in play-fighting. Like with any family member, you’re bound to have some petty squabbles, then make up by hugging or goofing off a little. A kitty showing slightly more aggressive behavior toward their housemate could just be a brief argument, and not the two drifting apart. 

[Related on PopSci+: Do cats bond with humans like dogs?]

Grigg says that any single event can not predict a relationship between felines. Rather, “patterns of behavior over longer periods of time likely reflect whether the cats are true friends or incompatible roommates,” she explains. Delgado, for her part, thinks the creatures either have conflicted relationships or that there’s still much we don’t know about these clawed assassins.

Gajdoš Kmecová recommends taking a few minutes each day to observe your cat’s interactions. Once you get a sense of their behaviors, you can evaluate and put into context how these actions shape their relationships with others of their kind—and even yourself. This gives curious cat lovers more reason to watch, film, and obsess over their pets … for science.

The post Fun or feud? These are the tell-tail signs that a catfight has gone sour. appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

How well do you know your pets? Pet Psychic takes some of the musings you’ve had about your BFFs (beast friends forever) and connects them to hard research and results from modern science.

CONSIDER THE CAT: aloof, independent, bestowing and withdrawing affection according to rules only they understand. Capable of friendship with their human, but not requiring it, and rarely as much as a dog. These tropes are ubiquitous, though many people know from experience just how warm and affectionate cats can be. That’s not news to us. So what can science tell us that we don’t already know? Quite a lot, actually. We matter to cats even more than we think, and our assumptions about their character can easily become self-fulfilling prophecies. 

Several years ago, animal behavior specialist Monique Udell of the University of Oregon and her then doctoral student Kristyn Vitale decided to look at cat-human relationships through the lens of attachment theory. The theory, originally developed in the 1970s by psychiatrist John Bowlby, describes the types of relationships that young humans form with their guardians.

Bowlby and the researchers who built on his work observed that infants whose caregivers were consistent, responsive, and affectionate developed what he called secure attachments. Confronted with stress, securely attached children looked to their caregivers for security. Children whose caregivers were distant and unresponsive, or inconsistent with their care, formed insecure attachments, their experience characterized by fear and uncertainty.

Monkeys too demonstrated these types of attachments—an insight in part produced by some of the most infamous research in the grim history of animal experimentation. One key example is Harry Harlow’s maternal deprivation studies on infant rhesus macaques who were separated from their mothers. 

Dogs have attachment styles as well, which Udell observed using what is called the Secure Base Test. In 2019 Udell and Vitale published a similar experiment with cats, enrolling 79 people and their kittens; each pair would spend two minutes together in an unfamiliar room, after which the person would step out for just two minutes, leaving the kitten alone. Then the person would return and the researchers would observe the kitten’s reaction.

The young cats responded much as dogs—or human infants—would. Alone in that strange place, they became distressed. When their person returned, most of the kittens sought them out for a rub and perhaps a kind word, then proceeded to explore. The animals were said to be securely attached: They depended on their caregiver for security and, with that as their foundation, engaged with the world. About one-third of the them, however, either avoided the human or snuggled up and stayed there, unwilling to wander on their own. These kittens were insecurely attached, either taking no comfort in their person or clinging to them.

Udell and Vitale explain that feline relationships are more similar to those seen with canines than one might think. Confronted with something strange and upsetting, cats turned to their person for reassurance, says Vitale, who is now a professor of animal behavior at Unity College. Some retreated to a corner of the room; others crawled up into a lap and stayed put.

And when they don’t? A cat may indeed be distant by nature, but this is often not preordained. Instead, an inability to find comfort and security in their person “may be an outcome of life experiences,” says Vitale, as well as that particular cat’s predisposition. Both nature and nurture matter—and even well-meaning people may not appreciate just how sensitive cats can be.

“Common misconceptions that cats need less social interaction, or are more independent, can impact both the amount and quality of social interactions we offer cats,” Udell says. In other words, people who think felines don’t need much attention might be less hands-on with their own companion, which in turn results in a more aloof kitty. (Udell also recently published a study in the journal Animal Cognition on how different pet parenting styles affect dog attachments.) 

Sometimes, however, it’s out of a cat lover’s hands. Udell adds that temperament or past history might make it more difficult for a feline to form a secure attachment, even with a warm and responsive person; she hopes to eventually study this. But her and Vitale’s research made me consider my own relationships to the cats in my life: I think of myself as nurturing, and yet there have been times when I disappeared for a day, or entered a room without saying hello and left without saying goodbye. Had they been dogs, I might have been more considerate.

It didn’t occur to me that interaction mattered as much to them as it did to me. I had internalized, albeit subtly, that trope of cats as being content without contact. Heck, as bioethicist Jessica Pierce writes, people who don’t have time for dogs are encouraged to get cats instead; leaving a dog alone for a day or two is understood as distressing to them, even cruel, yet little attention is given to what that is like for a cat.

And as testament to how much their human connections can matter, consider another study from Udell and Vitale, published in 2017. They presented adult cats—pets as well as potential adoptees at a shelter—with a choice of how to spend their time. The animals could investigate an interesting scent, like catnip, play with a toy, interact with a person, or eat.  “Social interaction was the most-preferred stimulus category overall for the majority of cats,” the researchers concluded. A human connection was food for their hearts.

Read more PopSci+ stories.

The post Your cat is probably more attached to you than you think appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Halloween means ghosts, dog-lins, skeletons, meow-nsters, and hungry bats. But for your animals at home, it’s like any other day—until you stuff them into a ridiculous costume.

While there’s a lot to love about twinning Siamese cats and wiener dogs slathered in (fake) ketchup, mustard, and sauerkraut, your pet will communicate if they’re feeling festive or not. Some furry friends might enjoy the experience of dressing up; others might find it uncomfortable or even frightening. It all comes down to their breed, personality, and level of tolerance, says Amy Pike, a veterinarian at the Animal Behavior Wellness Center in Virginia. 

Take dogs, for instance. Breeds that are used to being groomed and handled a lot, like poodles and Shih Tzus, might not mind voguing in a sweater or a pair of booties for a night. Socialization is key as well. If your puppy was exposed to enough objects and settings before four months of age, they should be more receptive to a costume and a few hours of trick-or-treating. “Just like people, dogs have a spectrum of tolerance,” Pike says. She shares that her old canine would prance around in a taco outfit on Halloween, but the current one won’t even consent to little angel wings.

[Related on PopSci+: Can dogs be introverts?]

Cats, on the other hand, can be more squeamish to the tradition. “They don’t typically wear collars or harnesses, and might be more challenging to [put a costume on],” Pike explains. “But again, there’s a spectrum.” Felines go through a much quicker socialization stage that ends at around 9 weeks of age. If an owner gets them used to accessories early on, they’ll probably be better at going with the flow. (Pike points to MoShow, the furry rapper, as an example.)

With both types of animals, Pike says it’s important to look and listen for distress. Dogs especially use body language and facial expressions to tell you what they want. If a canine is non-verbal, pinning their ears back, tucking their tail down, or wrinkling their brow, those are signs that they want out. Cats, which are not so bent on appeasing humans, will outright refuse to put on your threads. 

The type of costume matters as well. Think of what your pet might feel good in, not just what is trendy, witty, or funny. The material should provide the right amount of coverage so that the animal is not too warm or too cool throughout the evening. Styles should not be restrictive: Your cat or dog needs to have a full range of motion for all four limbs. Finally, if you’re venturing outside, make sure you’re still able to attach a leash to their body or neck.

[Related: Your cat probably knows when you’re talking to it]

And remember, if you’re spooked by the sights and sounds around your neighborhood or at a party, a dog or cat probably would be, too. Loud, motion-sensor decorations can be triggering, so try to avoid them along your route. If your pet doesn’t interact well with kids, don’t take them around during peak trick-or-treating hours. Make sure to have some animal-grade goodies on hand: Positive reinforcement can help your buddy get adjusted to new places, stimuli, and experiences. A puppy will have more fun in a tutu if you reward them with scraps of roasted chicken.

In the end, Pike says to ask yourself, “who am I doing this for?” It’s okay to celebrate Halloween with your furballs, or even use them for entertainment if it’s harmless. Just know that pets aren’t people, so they might not find the holiday as bewitching as you do. 

The post Should pets wear Halloween costumes? Your furry friend can help you decide. appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

There are many different adjectives often used to describe feline friends, ranging from the positive descriptions of “independent” or “snuggly” to the more negative descriptors of “cold” and “aloof.” While it might seem like cats aren’t listening as well as their canine counterparts, a small small study published yesterday in the journal Animal Cognition shows that that cats potentially alter their behavior when they hear their owner’s voice speaking in a tone directed to them. But when it sounds like their owner is speaking to another human, they really aren’t paying attention.

The study of 16 cats (nine male and seven female) adds to the evidence that some cats can actually form strong bonds with their owners. Charlotte de Mouzon and colleagues from Université Paris Nanterre in France investigated how the cats reacted to pre-recorded voices, that included both their owner and a stranger. The speakers in the recordings used phrases in both a in hither pitched cat-directed tone and a deeper human adult-directed tone.

[Related: It’s 10 PM. Do you know where your cat is?]

The authors investigated three separate conditions and recorded and rated the behavior intensity of cats reacting to the audio, including resting, ear moving, pupil dilation, tail moving, and more. 

The first condition changed the voice of the speaker from a stranger’s voice to the cat’s owner. Ten out of the 16 cats showed a decrease in behavior intensity, when they heard three audio clips of a stranger’s voice calling the cats by their name. When the cats heart their owner’s voice saying their names, the behavior intensity significantly increased. They turned turned their ears towards the speakers, moved around the room more, and even had dilated pupils. The authors claim that this “sudden rebound in behavior” shows that that cats could discriminate their owner’s voice from a stranger’s voice.

The second condition changed the tone to cat-directed speech. Ten cats (eight of which were the same ones from the first condition) decreased their behavior when they heard audio of their owner speaking in more of an adult-directed tone, but significantly increased their behavior if their owner spoke in a more cat-directed tone.

[Related: Culver City is home to a unique cat versus coyote conflict.]

In the third condition, the strangers spoke in both an adult-directed and cat-directed tone, and the team didn’t observe any change in the intensity of the cat’s behaviors.

The small sample size of 16 cats used in this study doesn’t necessarily represent or speak for all felines, but the authors propose that future research could see if these findings can be replicated in cats that are more used to having strangers around. They also suggest that the findings show that car communication potentially relies on experiencing the speaker’s voice, and that one-to-one relationships are important for cats and humans for form strong bonds.

The post Your cat probably knows when you’re talking to it appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

At the start of the COVID-19, wild animals in not-so-wild environments were spotted all over the world. But this phenomenon was not just because of lockdown-induced silence on the streets. Instances of human-wildlife conflicts can increase as natural habitats are lost when urban environments encroach upon them. One of the more frequent visitors to suburbs and cities in the United States are coyotes (Canis latrans), a nocturnal member of the dog family found throughout North and South America.

While living so close to human cities and towns, coyotes have adapted to consume garbage, ornamental fruits, and even domestic pets. It leaves many pet parents, especially those with outdoor cats, wondering how to best protect domesticated animals from becoming a coyote’s next snack. Research has found that coyotes in certain places have a higher chance of going after pets as meals. Los Angeles coyotes have a diet that consists of up to 20 percent from cats, despite studies from other cities that say cats only comprise less than 5 percent of coyote diet.

A study out today in the journal Peer J-Life and Environment investigates why suburban LA coyotes are so cat-hungry. “This study was prompted by an alarming number of cat deaths reported by Culver City residents. Roughly 72 cats were killed within 18 months, allegedly due to coyote predation,” Rebecca Davenport, the lead author of the study, tells Popular Science.

[Related: Deadly tiger encounters are on the rise in India.]

The team from Loyola Marymount University’s Center for Urban Resilience (CUREs) installed 20 motion-sensor cameras around parks, neighborhoods, and green spaces near Culver City. They used the sensors to monitor the presence of cats and coyotes for six months between 2019 and 2020. Coyotes preferred the green spaces to more urbanized spaces, corroborating with other studies. The domestic cats, however, the played into their aloof stereotype, and didn’t prefer a particular habitat type. According to previous studies in North Carolina and Illinois, cats preferred urban areas and even avoided areas where coyotes are prevalent. But not the cats in this study.

But Culver City’s cats are different—the researcher found that they were present in the same green spaces as coyotes. The cats also displayed more nocturnal behavior than is typical for urban cats, which may explain why there have been such frequent cases of cat mortality in Culver City. 

“It is still somewhat of a mystery why cats comprise a significantly higher proportion of coyote diet in Los Angeles than other cities in the country,” said Davenport. “It may be quite likely that outdoor cats are a more widely available prey source for coyotes in this region compared to other cities. It would be helpful for future studies to focus on population demography of domestic cats in Los Angeles, such as how many individual cats are free-ranging, how many cats are owned versus feral/stray, and how their home ranges compare to other cities.”

[Related: Artificial light poses a growing threat to nocturnal wildlife.]

The study suggests that instead of coyotes intentionally hunting down house pets within their neighborhoods, they tend to stick to the more natural areas around the city. There are typically alternative prey sources (including cottontail rabbits) within the urban green spaces, so the team believes it is unlikely that coyotes choose to leave their preferred green space habitat just to find a feline snack. They hypothesize that the high rates of cat mortality in Culver City may be a result of cats roaming more freely through urban green spaces and being more active during the nighttime when compared to outdoor cats in other cities. 

The team recommends that the management efforts in Culver City and other places with high coyote activity consider more restrictions towards outdoor cats, instead of only focusing on the coyotes in the conflict of human v. wildlife. Coyotes are native to the environment while domestic cats are not, and can devastate populations of native species, such as songbirds and small mammals.

Human-wildlife conflict in urban areas is quite difficult to navigate, as the values and perceptions of the public are often at odds with the ecological needs of the landscape,” Davenport tells PopSci. “Coyotes have only become so abundant because humans historically drove out the real apex predators of this region, such as wolves and mountain lions. It is certainly not ideal for coyotes to be preying upon outdoor cats, but in a sense, we have not given coyotes much of a choice. In an urban context, each species is attempting to adapt to constantly changing conditions to the best of its ability.”

The CURes team has been studying urban coyotes in Culver City for since 2019 and is currently working on more analysis.

The post Culver City is home to a unique cat versus coyote conflict appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

How well do you know your pets? Pet Psychic takes some of the musings you’ve had about your BFFs (beast friends forever) and connects them to hard research and results from modern science.

WHEN I MET my cat Pearlita, she lived in an alley between my apartment building and a gas station. She drank from puddles polluted by engine leaks and ate whatever she could find. Ten years later, with Pearlita curled up on my lap, making it hard to type, I can still remember how she wolfed down the food I put in the alley and how easy it was to lure her inside with more.

But does she remember her life on the streets? And if so, which parts of it?

This question has probably occurred to almost anyone with an animal friend, but for simplicity’s sake, we’ll limit this discussion to our feline and canine companions. Certainly they behave as though they have memories—after all, your special furball doesn’t treat you like a stranger each time you walk through the door—and evolutionary theory suggests as much: It behooves any long-lived animal to have long-lasting recollections. There have been rigorous scientific experiments, too, not enough to fully understand our dogs’ and cats’ memories, but enough to confirm their existence and to raise some interesting questions about how they compare to our own.

“It is tricky, because we can’t directly ask them,” says Mikel Delgado, an animal psychology researcher from the University of California, Davis who now dispenses advice on cat behavior with the company Feline Minds. “The way I think about it is: What’s important for animals to remember?”

For a cat or dog—or human—to remember events from way back, they must first be able to recall what happened just a few moments ago. To study this in controlled settings, scientists devise experiments in which animals are rewarded for correctly identifying objects they previously saw, asked to avoid obstacles without looking at them, or monitored while searching for food they saw being hidden. These methods don’t capture everything that cats and dogs can recall, of course; they’re intended to tease out the basics of their cognition.

A few decades’ worth of data have shown that the species do indeed have short-term recall, and they convert certain events and interactions into long-term memories as they sleep and, crucially, dream. “Dreaming is often connected to the reorganization of memory,” says Ádám Miklósi, an ethologist and canine cognition specialist at Hungary’s Eötvös Loránd University. Both dogs and cats display the telltale neurological signatures of REM, short-wave sleep, and other patterns of snoozing that, in human and rat brains, are linked to the sorting of a day’s experiences.

One of the best-documented examples of long-term memories in dogs involves Chaser, a border collie famous for learning the names of more than 1,000 objects in three years. Impressive as that is, however, such semantic feats don’t necessarily mean that Chaser, who died in 2019 at the ripe old age of 15, could remember his puppyhood. That requires so-called episodic memories containing the details of an experience, the who-what-when-where.

Until recently, scientists thought the canine mind was limited to associative memories: recollections of the relationships between experiences or events, but not the intricacies of the experiences and events themselves. Were that the case, then every time my dearly departed dog Comet climbed into our car the moment my parents started packing it, she wouldn’t have remembered the canoe rides, swims, and roasted marshmallows of past trips. Comet would simply have learned to identify the preparations with fun.

But in recent years, research conducted by Miklósi and his colleague Claudia Fugazza has shaken the idea that canines are restricted to such Pavlovian recall. In 2016 they confirmed, by way of an experiment in which they asked dogs to imitate actions modeled by a human minutes earlier, that the pooches did remember specific elements of what they’d experienced. In follow-up experiments, dogs repeated their own actions long after they first performed them, a finding that added an autobiographical layer to their episodic memories. Their thoughts didn’t just contain a jumble of disparate details, but were woven together by a sense of self.

As for cats, tests of whether they returned to containers where they were previously fed lend scientific support to their version of episodic memory. “Cat memory is probably very much like dog memory,” says Miklósi.

Still, he and Delgado note that this kind of reminiscence might differ from our own. Humans can reflect on their memories in spontaneous, self-directed ways: I can think about the first concert I ever attended, a Pink Floyd show, without needing to see the ticket stub to remind me of it. How cats and dogs guide their own recall—if they need cues to trigger it or have a proclivity, like us, for wandering the halls of memory—is a mystery.

It’s also less clear how our furry companions relive their distant memories. Mine play like a movie in my mind’s eye, which fits, as contemporary humans are a visually oriented species. But cats and dogs are far more reliant on other senses, especially smell. Could their recall come together as scents rather than images? Two studies—of dogs in a dark room finding familiar objects with their noses, and of kittens recognizing their mothers by scent after years of separation—suggest as much. “Animals, I’m sure, are much more multisensory,” Delgado says. “Their memories might be scent or sound and not necessarily the images that we tend to picture when we’re replaying an episode in our minds.” I can still see my first encounter with Pearlita. Perhaps she can still smell it.

Delgado also raises the question of language. In addition to being visually driven, human memories are structured by words and complex grammar, which some experts think is crucial to the power of recall. And while dogs and cats don’t have full-blown human-style language, they are able to communicate and represent meaning through sounds, postures, facial expressions, and other signals. Maybe memories formed without language are simply different, not weaker. They could even be more intense: less complex but undiluted by linguistic abstraction or, as Delgado points out, the second-guessing, what-if scenarios that humans tend to indulge in.

This and certain other questions about how cats and dogs perceive the past might prove impossible to illuminate scientifically and ethically. To empirically determine, for example, how adopted animals recall their people, we’d need to separate them from family for months—even years. “I’m okay with mystery,” Delgado says. “I’ve learned to live with the fact that there’s still so much we don’t know.” The details may be blurry, but it’s enough to know that our cats and dogs remember.

Read more PopSci+ stories.

The post Do cats and dogs remember their past? appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

When the temperatures rise, panting dogs seem to get all the attention. But people seem to forget heat is a problem for cats too, and a good summer scorcher can kill them. 

Thankfully, making felines comfortable during the hottest months of the year is simple, and your kitty will appreciate your efforts to make sure they stay the cool cats they are at heart. 

Water is not only refreshing—it helps cats sweat. Just like dogs, felines only sweat through their paw pads; but unlike pooches, cats lick their feet to stimulate sweating and cooling, which is why they need to drink more than usual when it’s hot out. And although a cat’s risk of succumbing to heat stroke is lower than that of their canine counterparts, it can still happen.

If your cat refuses to come home and has found a place to hide in, say, a tree or shed, make sure you check on them regularly and keep fresh water available to them at all times.

If you live in a particularly hot area, clipping your cat’s hair—even just the fur around their bellies—can be a good next step to keep them comfortable. But unless you’re a professional animal groomer, never clip your cat’s hair yourself. Your furball’s skin is delicate and can rip very easily, so one wrong cut can turn into a bloody trip to the vet. 

If you don’t want to buy one, you can turn any bed or blanket into a cooling pad by freezing a bottle of water and wrapping a towel around it. Put it in your cat’s favorite spot and watch them chill. The towel must be thick enough that it’s comfortable for your pet and the pad isn’t too cold. To test this kind of DIY cooling device before you put in your cat’s favorite spot, hold it in your hand or keep it on your lap for a couple of minutes. You should feel a chill, but it shouldn’t be uncomfortable or feel like you’re putting an icepack on an injury. If it does, wrap the bottle in a bigger or fluffier towel, or wait until the ice has thawed a little.

Keep in mind that condensation will eventually soak the towel and your cat’s bed, so having a second water bottle in the freezer to replace the first one before everything gets drenched is a good idea. 

If you want, you can also make your kitty some icy treats. Freeze some tuna brine or chicken broth in an ice cube tray or a popsicle mold, and serve it as a tribute to your feline overlord. Just make sure to put it inside a bowl or container so your entire place doesn’t reek of tuna for the foreseeable future.

You can dab it on their pads, chin, underarms, and outside their ears, or you can gently stroke them with it. If your kitty doesn’t like the feeling of a wet cloth, you can produce a similar effect by wetting your hands and petting them.

[Related: Why do cats—and so many other animals—look like they’re wearing socks?]

Needless to say, if your cat doesn’t like the towel or your wet hands, they’ll let you know. For their sake (and your safety) stop any attempt to cool your furball down if they start scratching or biting you.

The post How to keep even the fluffiest cats cool this summer appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Summer is officially here, which means the United States of America is preparing to celebrate its No. 1 event of the season: the Fourth of July. 

If you’re the proud parent of a baby or share your home with a four-legged friend, you may be excited to enjoy a day of sunny weather and outdoor activity with them. But you may not be as thrilled about nighttime, when the loud explosions of colorful fireworks threaten your toddler’s precious sleep or your pet’s mental sanity. Preparedness is key to ensure all members of your family can enjoy firework season.

For adventurous families who enjoy a bright spectacle in the sky, the first step is to get your baby earmuffs to protect their tender young ears. These coverings won’t drown out all noise, but they will reduce it enough to be manageable, and whatever sound does get through won’t cause permanent hearing damage. 

Most firework shows also happen after bedtime, so following your baby’s routine no matter where you are can help them feel safe and comfortable. They may even sleep through the show. Make sure they eat right on schedule and put their pajamas on before you go out. If you can—and it’s part of your routine—take the time for a bedtime story in a quiet place, like a car. Once you’re out and about, consider tenting the stroller with a blanket to block the light and help them sleep. 

[Related: For better sleep, borrow the bedtime routine of a toddler]

If your baby can’t doze off, do what you need to do to soothe them—every baby’s different, so make sure you’re doing whatever will help them feel safe. And if your baby’s inconsolable, it may be time to retreat. Going back to a car can provide enough soundproofing for them to fall asleep, but if that doesn’t work, you will probably have to head home and call it a night. 

Now, if you and your family prefer to avoid the boisterous crowds and just stay home, the only risk you run is having those fireworks interrupt your child’s sleep and, consequently, yours as well. 

Just as you would any other day, make sure to follow your kid’s bedtime routine, as that will prompt them to fall asleep more easily. If they enjoyed themselves all day playing with friends and family, they’ll probably be tired enough to sleep through the show. If you have a noise machine, this is the perfect time to use it—crank up that volume to help drown out the explosions outside. But don’t overdo it. Use your phone to make sure the sound is below 50 decibels in your baby’s room, as that is the maximum recommended noise level for infants. 

The good news is that, depending on how old your baby is, there’s a good chance they won’t even notice there are loud explosions in the distance. Starting at three or four months, babies start to go through longer stretches of deep sleep during the night, meaning that they might be seriously out when the fireworks start. Here’s hoping yours is one of those kids. 

Some cats seem to be scared of thunder and fireworks, but dogs are especially likely to react negatively to them. 

“Dogs hear more than twice as many frequencies as people, and they also hear about four times farther away,” says Jerry Klein, chief veterinary officer at the American Kennel Club. “Fireworks are loud, unpredictable, and threatening to many dogs, though some dogs have less sensitivity to them.”

The loud noises and bright lights might induce severe bouts of anxiety, which in the worst cases can result in your beloved four-legged friend bolting away from you in fear. If your pet has a history of severe anxiety, leave them indoors during fireworks. Make sure all windows, doors, and pet flaps are secured, so that they cannot go out and run the risk of getting lost or run over by a car. 

Before any explosions happen, make sure you close the curtains and turn on the TV or radio to drown out as much noise as possible. Then, build a den so your pet can hide if they want to. It can be a crate or any nook in your home where they can lie down and feel safe. Make sure you make the space as cozy as possible—add a bed or blankets, and leave treats and toys around so they can distract themselves. 

“Bathrooms are often places that are pretty soundproof,” says Katherine Houpt, professor emeritus at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “Some dogs will go there and even jump in the tub.” 

If you can, ensure the room where you’re building their den is a dark, quiet space. Klein also suggests people with cats confirm there aren’t any inaccessible areas where their pet might choose to hide—open holes in the wall, for example—as they might be able to get in but have a hard time getting out. Some dogs and most cats will prefer to seek out comfort and safety by themselves, so if that’s the case with your fur baby, make sure they’re OK, and leave them alone until they feel it’s time to come out. 

On the other hand, some dogs will want to stay close to their humans. If that’s the case with your pooch, be empathetic and give them the attention they need. Containing an anxious dog while fireworks explode outside may end up being frustrating, but Klein says you should never scold a dog when it is stressed. 

“Consider giving basic commands such as ‘sit’ or ‘down’ to give them a feeling of order, or give them a toy or puzzle treat to divert the attention as much as possible,” he explains.

If you have a cat that needs extra help, Klein says catnip can make your feline friend feel “almost drunk.” But to achieve that effect, you’ll have to give them the herb at least 30 minutes before the fireworks, and timing can be tricky. Houpt doesn’t recommend catnip at all, as it is not a sedative and can make kitties even more excited. 

Other preventive tactics for both dogs and cats focus first on keeping your pet from running away and providing enough information to find them if they do. Start by making sure you’ve equipped your fur baby with a microchip embedded by your veterinarian, and checking that the information associated with the device is up to date. Then, equip your best buddy with proper external identification—make sure their tag is legible and all the information (ideally, your phone number and address) is up to date. 

Next, make sure their collar is durable. If it looks like it might rip if caught on a branch or nail, it’s time to get a new one. Likewise, you’ll need to make sure the collar is on properly. That means snug enough so it doesn’t come off over your pet’s head, and loose enough to be comfortable. If you want to go the extra mile, buy an AirTag- or GPS-compatible collar so you can locate your pupper or kitty-cat more easily. 

[Related: Best dog collars of 2022]

No matter if you’re in someone’s backyard or a public space, it’s always a good idea to keep your dog tightly leashed and nearby during a firework show. And never tie your dog up, Houpt says, noting that there have been cases of tied-up dogs that jump over a fence or down a porch and end up choking to death from the restraint around their necks. 

If your dog doesn’t have a history of anxiety and you feel comfortable enough to let them off-leash, only do so in an enclosed space after making sure that all entrances and exits are blocked. Keep in mind that dogs may dig their way under fences and yard doors, so be aware of all potential escape routes. 

“Because [fireworks are] a much stronger stimulus [than thunder], usually the owner is not enough to calm them down—the dog just tries to get away from it,” says Houpt. 

The best place for you to be during a fireworks show if your dog has severe anxiety is indoors with them, so you can show them they’re safe. But if you have to leave them behind, your pet might need some extra help. 

Research has shown that dogs start producing endorphins whenever they feel moderate-to-deep pressure against their back and sides, and that can help them manage anxiety. Compression shirts or anxiety wraps can cause this effect, making them the first option for noise-reactive canines. Houpt doesn’t recommend cannabidiol (CBD) products for doggos, as studies have found it to be ineffective against anxiety and noise reactivity. She doesn’t recommend over-the-counter medications either, as you may need to give them to your dog for weeks before you see results, and that’s a much more expensive solution. Even then, these types of medication might calm your dog down under normal circumstances, but do absolutely nothing when louder, more intense noises come into play. 

For a more serious solution, Houpt recommends talking to your vet about selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which humans also take to manage anxiety. This type of drug also works on dogs, and it might be especially important if your pooch will be exposed to fireworks while home alone.

The post Babies and pets might freak out during fireworks shows, but you can help them relax appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Bird flu. COVID-19. Monkeypox. These zoonotic diseases are all transmitted from animals to humans—though wild species aren’t the only ones responsible for such outbreaks. Your pets can also act as a vector of disease, especially if you let them roam freely.

Take outdoor cats, for instance. Veterinarians, ecologists, and disease experts largely agree that the wandering lifestyle not only hurts felines, but also poses a risk to the larger ecosystem and to public health.

“No veterinarian would say it’s safe to just let your cat outside,” says Peter Marra, a professor of biology and the environment at Georgetown University and author of Cat Wars. “We wouldn’t let our dogs freely roam around the neighborhood, so why would you do that with a cat?”

The many diseases spread by outdoor cats

Although originally bred from their wild counterparts, domestic cats (which include feral felines and pets) are not native to any ecosystem, making them an invasive species everywhere they exist, Marra says. At the same time, they are extremely common around the world, with an estimated 50 million to 100 million in the US alone.

The high densities and carnivorous diets of cats make them substantial predators that prey on everything from birds to rabbits. In a 2016 study looking at invasive predators and global biodiversity loss, researchers found that cats threaten 430 species of wildlife and are linked to the extinction of 40 birds, 21 mammals, and two reptiles. Another study estimated that cats in the US kill up to 4 billion birds and 22 billion mammals a year.

But as much as outdoor cats threaten biodiversity and the health of ecosystems, they also act as a vector for disease. When cats are given the chance to roam outside, they are more likely to come in contact with zoonotic diseases and pass on viruses, parasites, and bacteria from wildlife to humans, says Richard Gerhold, a professor at the University of Tennessee Knoxville who specializes in parasitic infections.

“There’s a spectrum of free-roaming cats,” he explains. “For those that are owned and well taken care of, the free-roaming lifestyle is probably more of a risk to the cat itself and to conservation than to public health. But feral cats that don’t have vet care can be a major source of disease, spreading everything from tick- and flea-borne illnesses to viruses such as rabies.”

For one, felines are the primary host for Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that infects an estimated up to 50 percent of the human population, with certain communities recording even higher infection rates. Although most people who become infected do not experience symptoms, severe infection can cause damage to the brain, eyes, and other organs. A recent study found that an estimated one in 150 Australians have ocular toxoplasmosis, an eye infection caused by the parasite. Another study found that among those with ocular toxoplasmosis, about half experienced permanent vision loss and one-quarter went blind.

One of the ways that humans can become infected with Toxoplasma is by accidentally ingesting the parasite through contact with cat feces, whether by cleaning a litter box or gardening around scat. 

[Related: The animal kingdom is full of coronaviruses]

Rabies, an infectious disease that is basically 100 percent fatal once symptoms appear, is another common pathogen in kitties. The majority of human rabies cases in the US are attributable to bats, but cats have become the top source of human rabies exposure among domestic animals.

“Dogs used to be the primary way humans picked up rabies from domestic animals,” Marra says. “But we started licensing dogs and requiring leash laws and rabies vaccines. Now, dogs are not the problem at all—it’s primarily cats.”

In general, letting cats wander on their own outdoors can increase the chance that they bring home a disease. A global study of parasitic infection in the mammals found that those with outdoor access were 2.77 times more likely to be infected with parasites than indoor-only individuals.

“When we’re talking about feline-associated diseases, it’s in no way the threat of the cat—it’s the free-roaming lifestyle that’s causing all these problems,” says Amy Wilson, who co-authored a recent study on the public health impact of bat predation by cats and other domestic animals.

As a veterinarian and conservationist, Wilson emphasizes the importance of One Health—the concept that the well-being of people, animals, and the environment are all interconnected. When looking at the impact of outdoor cats from this perspective, it’s evident that the lifestyle is not beneficial to humans, wildlife, or pets themselves, she says. 

“Because cats are out predating wildlife, they’re perpetuating parasitic lifecycles and giving immunosuppressive diseases to wildlife, making it even harder for wildlife to persist in this world,” Wilson adds. Left to the elements, wandering cats also run the risk of getting hit by a car or predated on by species like coyotes or great horned owls.

How free-roaming cats challenge conservation

Gerhold says there is “no place that’s quote-on-quote immune to the effects of feral cats.” But certain geographies can be more susceptible to their impacts, including islands, where biodiversity is particularly fragile and vulnerable to extinction. On the Hawaiian archipelago, for instance, outdoor cats have been a major issue for the rapidly declining Hawaiian honeycreeper, a unique and colorful group of songbirds, Gerhold says.

Domestic cats have also been a big concern in Australia, where toxoplasma has been documented to cause significant mortality of marsupials like kangaroos, wallabies, possums, and wombats. 

“It always comes down to the question of why we should care [about species biodiversity],” Gerhold says. “Every time one of those species is lost, that is a detriment to us, one way or another. It’s becoming pretty obvious that the need to conserve wildlife overlaps with the need for keeping humans safe and protected. I think people are beginning to see the interconnectedness of humans with their environment a bit better.”

Wilson, on her end, thinks there needs to be a paradigm shift in the way we consider cat behaviors. She argues that we’ve done the same for dogs: It has become socially unacceptable for a domestic dog to kill another species. In fact, it communicates that the dog is not under control and reflects poorly on the owner.

[Related: The planet needs you to pick up your dog’s poop]

For the sake of feline welfare, public health, and conservation, cat lovers should only allow “supervised access” to the outdoors, Wilson says. Fresh-air enclosures like catios can be one effective solution; harness training is another for owners who want to take their companions on a walk or a small adventure. Finally, making sure pets are vaccinated against infectious diseases and cleaned after spending time outside can also help minimize the risk that they bring illnesses into the household.

At the core, the negative impacts of outdoor cats are a result of human negligence rather than the animal’s own misdeeds. Many people are simply not aware of the risks associated with letting their kitties explore the great outdoors. Responsible pet ownership can not only minimize the spread of disease and wildlife deaths, but also improve and extend the lives of our feline friends.

The post Outdoor cats are deadly—and not just for birds and squirrels appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

This article was originally featured on Hakai Magazine, an online publication about science and society in coastal ecosystems. Read more stories like this at hakaimagazine.com.

In the early months of the coronavirus lockdowns, my wife shared with me a daily dose of cat videos. By shared, of course, I mean she flipped the screen of her phone and thrust it at me across the table: “Look!” And for the next 10 minutes, we’d scroll—cat taking a bubble bath, cat robbing a fishmonger, cat playing the piano to an audience of two cats and a dog. One afternoon, as I came in the door, covered in snow, she greeted me with “Cat Lawyer”—a video of a Texas lawyer stuck on kitten filter during a court case on Zoom. The snow melted off my hat, all over the mobile screen, but we kept watching.

“Cat Lawyer” went viral in February 2021, a year into the pandemic, when we had tried for several months to get an actual cat to live with us in northern Iceland. Animal shelters were empty, with hundreds of disappointed people yearning for the comfort and joy of a feline friend. Icelandic cat breeders did not answer their phones, and the local veterinary authority cracked down on illegal kitten dealers for the first time. Cats were having the best year since the invention of the internet—it seemed.

Today, as Icelanders embrace freedom again, Icelandic cats are fighting for theirs.

In April, Akureyri—the largest municipality in the country’s north, with a population of 19,000 people and some 2,000 to 3,000 cats—decided to ban their feline residents from night roaming outside. Neighboring Húsavík banned cats several years ago from going outdoors day and night. Other Icelandic towns are considering bans as the issue of free-roaming cats increasingly makes its way from online forums to local politics, with the arguments generally falling into two categories. Some people—the “no animals in my backyard” or NAIMBY-ists—proclaim free-roaming cats are nuisances that should be confined like any other pet. Others think beyond the anthropocentric: cats kill birds and disrupt ecosystems.

Domestic cats are rarely part of an ecosystem, and despite thousands of years of domestication, cats still prefer their food at 38 °C—the lukewarm temperature of fresh blood. They are far more similar to their ancestors, African wildcats, than dogs are to wolves. Their ear flaps, with 32 muscles to rotate, are extraordinarily quick at picking up high-pitched sounds like a mouse’s squeak. Their eyes are enormous on a petite head and adjust to available light like the aperture of a camera. Whiskers give them a three-dimensional sense, their sheathed claws ensure silence, and they can jump vertically, up to five times their own height without effort.

Introduce this elegant assassin to places where migratory birds have adapted to a land free of natural predators and the damage can be irreversible, with some alarming examples worldwide. The International Union for Conservation of Nature Invasive Species Specialist Group lists cats as one of the 100 worst invasive species in the world. Their paw prints are all over the scene. Numerous studies have implicated cats in the global extinction of at least 63 species—40 birds, 21 mammals, two reptiles—and contributed to the endangered status of another 587 species. And nowhere do cats, particularly unowned cats, cause more damage than on islands: free-roaming cat islanders are linked to at least 14 percent of global bird, mammal, and reptile extinctions. In Iceland, a country with only one native terrestrial predator, cats have contributed to the dramatic decline of seabirds and have preyed on off-shore bird colonies.

Perhaps pandemic fatigue addled my brain, but only the positives—lower stress levels, for one—associated with pet ownership resonated with our family. Through a series of lucky breaks, we finally found a tabby cat we named Ronja, after the forest-dwelling Astrid Lindgren character. She is adorable but, frankly, a menace to all things living, and my ankles: whenever my feet hang off the bed or sofa or a chair, Ronja takes it as an invitation to attack. Death first came on the inside. Our houseplants died. Window flies she swallowed whole. Once the snow melted, I opened the window. And out she went.

In a world where we divide ourselves into cat people or dog people, Iceland has traditionally been the land of cat people. The city of Reykjavík banned dogs for much of the last century, until 1984, based on the idea that they were farm animals. The city’s bourgeoisie cats nap on geothermal-heated sidewalks and befriend world-famous guests—in 2011, the New Yorker published Haruki Murakami’s short story “Town of Cats,” probably inspired by his visit to the Reykjavik International Literary Festival, where he noted the lively cat scene. But the felines’ chef-d’œuvre is inducing humans into an annual display honoring the power of cats: each December, the city plants a gigantic metal cat statue downtown at Lækjartorg square opposite the prime minister’s office to celebrate the folkloric Yule Cat, a monster-sized creature who—in the spirit of Christmas!—torments children and eats them alive, specifically those not wearing new clothes for the festivities.

This cat companionship is as old as the country itself. The Norse who mastered sailing from northern Europe to this middle-of-nowhere island some 1,150 years ago likely had cats on board their ships. The first cat to put its paws on the stony beach—let’s call him Henry the Viking Cat—had places to raid. Iceland is, in basic geological terms, a volcanic hotspot turned bird colony turned country. When cats arrived, along with livestock, the only other terrestrial mammal was the Arctic fox, which had traveled via sea ice from Greenland, Russia, or North America at some point before written records.

Few wild animals consciously opt for a domestic life. At the dawn of agriculture, the cat agreed to kill a few rodents in exchange for leftovers and—assuming ancient cats were as somnolent as modern cats—places to nap for 12 to 18 hours of the day. Yes, cats played social companions to needy humans in ancient times—killing a cat was punishable by death in ancient Egypt—but their role was farm work. And this wonderful arrangement lasted, roughly speaking, for 10,000 years.

Now we want them to stop.

Surveys suggest Icelanders’ support for cat curfews is highest in regions with private homes and private gardens. Their reasoning is predominantly idiosyncratic, likening roaming cats to visits from rowdy town drunks. To paraphrase some online comments about cat visitations: “cat urine sprayed the patio,” “challenged another cat to a 3:00 a.m. duel and killed the yellow daffodils,” “last week he came into the house, and the pharmacy is out of pet-allergy drugs.” Cat supporters reply along the lines of, “Get a life and try to tolerate the outside world; cats are a delight and have roamed Iceland as long as we have.”

The ecological impact appears secondary to public policy, evident when Húsavík, made famous by the Netflix comedy Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, became one of the first European towns to impose a total cat curfew. Back in 2008, the debate began when a local feral—domesticated and unowned—population became troublesome, perhaps because their population hit a tipping point. Cats get pregnant as early as four months old, with one to six kittens per litter. A single female can get pregnant three times a year, and have over 150 descendants within two years. The growing band of unowned cats in Húsavík began to hang out next to a fish farm by the edge of town, snacking on land-grown char. At the same time—a happy accident for the cats—a geothermal drilling project’s runoff water created a permanent wetland for coastal birds to nest in. Spring came, nesting began. Trouble started.

Studies in the United States suggest feral cats cause some 70 percent of bird mortality, which is blamed on cats in general. The most obvious solution to these Húsavík bandits would have been to cull unowned cats and, further, ban all felines in rural parts of the municipality with the largest nesting sites. That would have upset farmers. Instead, local people, who seemed to largely oppose cats as nuisance animals, used the opportunity to impose a cat curfew solely within town limits.

Menja von Schmalensee, an expert on invasive species at the West Iceland Nature Research Centre, says the ongoing cat wars are often based on idiosyncratic preferences, not science. “There are places where feral cats should absolutely be banned outside, if not cats entirely,” she says. “In other areas, such bans are overly drastic. My worry is that each community will follow the loudest group regardless of facts.”

All over the country that same story echoes—particularly from cliffs where birds nest.

In 2007, Yann Kolbeinsson, armed with a laptop and a camera mounted on a bendable rod, conducted an annual summer survey of Manx shearwaters on Heimaey, in Iceland’s Westman Islands archipelago. The seabirds are ground nesters on capes and cliffs and spend daytime hours at sea. Kolbeinsson would look for signs of a nest and push the camera down a tunnel until it stopped at a burrow.

As he peeked inside, via the black-and-white live stream of his camera, Kolbeinsson would write down brief observations, one after another. Most days, entries went like this: empty, egg, empty, bird, egg, egg, egg, bird, empty, empty. One day, he recorded something entirely new: cat eyes.

Four kittens stared straight into the camera. A little feral family was living in a raided home just over one kilometer from the island’s settlement of 4,300 people.

This was not good.

On these 15 dome-shaped islands that make up the Westman Islands, the Manx shearwater created its largest colony in Iceland. A 1990 study indicated a population of 6,000 breeding pairs, which now appears to be on the decline, though recent research is murky. Seabird populations in the region are going down, but researchers consider the changing ocean food web the most vexing problem. Still, in many places, feral cats are exacerbating the decline by attacking and eating chicks.

Birds nest on offshore colonies precisely to avoid land predators and take precautions to avoid bigger birds. The storm petrel, for instance, stays out at sea during daylight hours to avoid attack; cats have night vision and are active at night, especially unowned cats. Kolbeinsson points out that removing cats is not always a simple solution since it can in turn make rats and mice—which can attack eggs and chicks—more prevalent.

And then there is toxoplasmosis, a disease caused by a parasite few have heard of but many already have in their bodies. While the majority of human transmissions result from eating raw meat, cats can also spread toxoplasmosis. Cats that hunt wild prey (meaning indoor cats are innocent) are the only animals capable of transmitting the Toxoplasma gondii parasite through their feces. Healthy people rarely have symptoms, but the parasite can harm human fetuses if a mother is infected during or right before pregnancy. (Advice for cat owners: clean out the litter box daily. The T. gondii parasite does not become infectious until one to five days after it is shed.) About 10 percent of Icelanders have the parasite based on a 2005 study, as do some 40 million Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Wild and domestic cats are the only definitive hosts for transmission from the terrestrial environment to the marine environment; without them the organism can’t complete its life cycle. The parasite’s robust oocysts—eggs—easily travel in fresh water and the open ocean. Toxoplasmosis infections have killed endangered Hawaiian monk seals and California sea otters. The parasite affects birds, too, causing anorexia, diarrhea, respiratory distress, and possibly death. A study of 10 species of seabirds in the western Indian Ocean found that 17 percent of them carried antibodies against toxoplasmosis. The ʻalalā, Hawai‘i’s native crow—which survives in captivity but is extinct in the wild—also carries antibodies against the parasite. It’s possible toxoplasmosis arrived in Hawai‘i with Europeans and their domestic cats.

Disease aside, it was feral cats’ murderous natures that inspired local exterminator Asmundur Pálsson to act following Kolbeinsson’s discovery. Pálsson began shooting feral cats and laying traps by the foot of the bird colonies, “all to protect our Manx shearwaters,” he says.

Pálsson killed about 40 animals the first year but eventually gave up: some people in town kept sabotaging his effort by putting rocks in the traps. Two years earlier, Pálsson, armed with a .22-caliber rifle, had wiped out invasive bunnies—the European coney, native to France, Spain, and Portugal—but when it came to cats, animal welfare appeared to outweigh ecological impact.

Instead, a group of volunteers on the island set up a shelter for feral and stray cats, practicing a technique known as trap-neuter-release. But cats are solitary hunters that roam large territories: it takes time and effort to bring a single animal into a shelter, and it’s practically impossible to keep up with population growth. Plus, once released back into the wild—now neutered and well nourished—the cat is the same predator, and all feral cats hunt.

Solitary habits also make cats hard to count and explain why global cat population estimates range somewhere between 500 and 700 million and why estimating the ecological damage of cats has a huge margin of error. Cats kill between 1.3 and four billion birds annually in the United States alone (excluding Hawai‘i and Alaska). The numbers are based on meta-research pulling big-picture data from previously published articles estimating the number of free-roaming cats and their appetite for birds, such as by using stomach and scat analysis. A Canadian study, applying a similar formula, estimates that cats kill between two and seven percent of birds in southern Canada, where most residents live. The first-ever study estimating the problem in China, published in 2021, blames cats for the annual death of 2.9 billion reptiles, four billion birds, and 6.7 billion mammals, on average, in addition to a staggering number of invertebrates, frogs, and fishes.

These findings implicate cats as the single greatest source of anthropogenic mortality for birds—a bigger threat than window and building collisions. Even worse than cars and poisoning? The cuddly, cuddly cat.

Why are cats so cuddly to humans? They rub against our legs, lick our noses, and knead our stomachs. It’s as if we are another cat to them—and by one theory, that is what we are. Cat behavior researcher John Bradshaw claims that cats see humans as bigger cats. Based on how smaller cats rub on bigger cats when living together, they probably see us as slightly superior kitties but rather clumsy, by cat standards. Bradshaw, in his book Cat Sense, rejects the notion that cats bring their prey inside as a gift. Cats, rather, have the tendency to bring prey to a place where they feel safe, but once the feeding begins, they remember—ah, wild meat tastes worse than the chicken-based cat food in the next room.

Cats kill far more birds than most people imagine, and their owners appear to often hold the denialism of a parent unable to accept their cat as murderous. In one 2013 study, researchers in the US Southeast affixed “kitty cam” body cameras to cats to monitor their hunting: they returned only 23 percent of prey to the house. As a cat owner, I had assumed the six or seven birds Ronja brought inside her first summer was all she had caught. Each time, I was shocked, but it took a wounded whimbrel, a shorebird, fighting for its life on the living room floor for me to accept the problem. Ronja has the character of a serial killer. About one-third of pet cats, mind you, are like the comic strip character Garfield. For the Garfields, hunting is not worth the effort, or only for the rare occasion. Some breeds are more dangerous than others. But for most cats, either they’ve got a killer personality or not: among owned cats, only around 20 percent are considered super hunters, so good at their craft that a single bell around their neck will do little to kill their ambition.

At the pet store, the shopkeeper told me a single bell merely showed effort on the owner’s part; at best a bell the size of a marble reduces the cat’s effectiveness by half, but several studies suggest next to no effect. Larger bells work better but they also make noise if the cat is wandering like a Swiss cow around the house at night, causing stress to the hyper-hearing cat. The shopkeeper told me to try a ruffled collar in addition to a bell. The colorful fabric collar, resembling that of a clown, is the antithesis of camouflage and makes the cat, at least in the springtime, 19 times less effective than an unencumbered cat. In the fall, however, the ruffled collars make the cat only 3.4 times less effective. And the collars sometimes fall off. Another option worn around the neck is a long, colorful plastic bib. This contraption is a “pounce protector,” preventing cats from lowering their heads to the ground. The keto diet is another possible solution. A controlled 2021 study of 355 cats in England found that cats on a grain-free, high-meat-protein diet hunted about 40 percent fewer birds than those eating the low-end dry food.

But none of those strategies prevent cats from attacking bird nests. Friends suggested leashing Ronja in the yard. The American Veterinary Medical Association endorses a policy that encourages cat owners to limit outdoor life to outdoor enclosures, such as cat patios—so-called catios—or to being on an attended leash, effective if training starts when a cat is young. Icelandic veterinary colleagues have spoken out against cat curfews. “Although some cats, who do not know anything else, accept being indoor cats, there are others who do not handle it and confinement can lead to stress and aggressive behavior,” the Icelandic Veterinary Association wrote in a statement last year. The association does, however, support nighttime curfews, especially in the spring when birds nest, since that’s when cats are most effective as hunters. (Research suggests the nocturnal behavior applies more strongly to unowned cats.)

We decided to keep Ronja inside completely during the nesting season and stopped tolerating her admirable escapes. I bought lots of delicious fish jerky for treats and told her that, in fact, some indoor cats live almost four times as long. She put on excessive weight to prove us wrong.

We have always loved and loathed cats. The Japanese maneki-neko—the beckoning cat, with one paw raised and “waving”—symbolizes luck; a run-of-the-kitty-mill black cat signifies ill fortune. Catholic priests burned cats alive during the European witch-hunt era; Islam admires them for cleanliness. Surveys suggest that in parts of Iceland about 50 percent of residents want cats banned from outside. The debate itself is new. People accepted roaming neighborhood cats, never questioning the wisdom, until others began questioning the, pardon the pun, catus quo.

An attitude shift is happening. “The cat curfew has changed the way people think of cats,” says cat owner Röðull Reyr, who has lived in Húsavík most of his life. “When a teenager sees a cat outside today, they appear provoked, as if they’ve spotted an unwanted guest in their neighborhood.”

In Australia, two municipalities in Melbourne introduced cat curfews: Monash in 2021 and Knox in 2022. Earlier, in 2015, the country embarked on a mission to cull two million feral cats. From mid-2015 to mid-2018, Australia killed 844,000 feral cats with poison and traps. In Europe, two Dutch law professors, writing in an environmental law journal, argued that allowing free-roaming cats violates the Nature Directives, the oldest European Union legislation on the environment. Citing studies of cats’ impact on birds, the authors conclude that cat owners must manage their free-roaming cats and “stray and feral cats … must be removed or controlled when they pose a threat to protected species.”

Last November, the town of Akureyri voted to ban outdoor cats entirely as of 2025. Outraged cat supporters all over the country threatened to boycott the town’s famous dairy products in protest. A local artist rallied support for the Cat Party ahead of local elections scheduled this past May. So, four weeks before election day, the ruling majority softened the total ban to a nighttime curfew, and the debate keeps going, defined by idiosyncratic fervor.

Environmental protection agencies in Iceland have, so far, avoided the debate publicly, perhaps explaining why the issue remains underexplored. The estimated number of cats roaming the country remains a question mark. In Akureyri, in accordance with local laws, pet owners have registered only 200 cats, a fraction of the total population. Stronger data helps understand the most fundamental questions: by banning cats outside, will the population of birds in Iceland increase? Experts are unsure of the answer, since most cats roam within towns and most birds nest outside them. Will Icelanders enjoy more birds in their backyard without cats? Quite possibly, and that is when the question comes down to our values: a 2021 paper in Ecological Economics based on economic data from 26,000 Europeans found neighborhood birds make people as happy as money. A 10 percent increase in bird species in the environment raised life satisfaction about 1.53 times more than a similar proportional rise in income. On the other hand, we release the soothing “cuddle chemical”—oxytocin—when petting a cat, the same enjoyment we get from social bonding with our own kind. Cat ownership is also a proven method for helping the growing number of lonely people to feel connected.

Ronja was the third word my one-year-old son learned to speak after mama and dudda (baby-Icelandic for pacifier). When the cat disappeared one day in December, the family was devastated: there had been a bad snowstorm, and I had closed the window before going to bed, assuming the cat was asleep in the living room. The next morning, there were paw prints in the snow, going in circles below the shut window. After two days Ronja-less, I began leaving work early to walk around town, following cat steps through the snow, like a cartoon detective, into private gardens and parks. Twice, I asked homeowners with an open basement window to go downstairs and check for her. I alerted all community Facebook groups and recruited children to help me. I began assuming she was dead, and was already working on my grief.

I love birds, so maybe Ronja’s loss would leave me free of guilt. But I also love Ronja, and I was ecstatic six nights after she went missing, around 2:00 a.m. when she leaped through an open window and strolled into our bedroom. She allowed us to greet her with awkward enthusiasm before moving to her corner of the bed. So now, like many cat owners, I exist in a state of cognitive dissonance when it comes to my cat and my environment. But I do keep her inside at night.

The post It’s 10 PM. Do you know where your cat is? appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best toy for active kitties		rabitgoo Cat-Tree Tower		SEE IT	Give your furry friend the design they need for playing and lazing about—this pick is equipped with a hammock, perch, ball, and cradle so they can get comfortable at any level.
Best toy for cat entertainment		Potarama Electric Flopping Fish		SEE IT	There’s nothing fishy about giving your kitty the entertainment they need to play. This interactive toy moves like a real fish and even has a catnip pouch to keep your cat happy.
Best cat toy on a budget		Petstages Cat Tracks Toy		SEE IT	Get your pets active with this toy designed to engage and provide exercise. Treating your pets to toys doesn’t have to break the bank—this budget pick offers all the fun without a high price tag.

Is your cat scratching for some new toys to throw into the mix? Even if you’re not 100 percent sure which purr or meow means what, it’s safe to assume your feline pal won’t turn down a new toy. No matter your cat’s age,  whether she’s a frisky kitten or senior grimalkin, toys and playtime are a necessity.  Much like dogs, cats need mental and physical play, stimulation, and exercise to prevent boredom, which can lead to behavioral issues. The best cat toys will excite and motivate your cat. To find your finicky one’s new favorite toy, experiment with different options. We’ve rounded up the best of the bunch, from cat trees to a floppy fish cat toy to automatic cat toys, and more to keep your cat happy and entertained throughout all her nine lives.

• Best toy for active kitties: rabitgoo Cat-Tree Tower
• Best chewy cat toy: KONG Beaver Refillable Catnip Toy
• Best toy for cat entertainment: Potarama Electric Flopping Fish
• Best cat toy for extra stimulation: YVE LIFE Cat Laser Toy
• Best cat toy on a budget: Petstages Cat Tracks Toy

Factors to consider when shopping for the best cat toys

When shopping around for the best toys, consider your kitty’s needs. Some felines love to play fetch, roll around and paw a crinkly or plush toy back at you. Whether their favorite toy is shaped like a mouse, beaver, or tea kettle is up to you and the furball to decide. Meanwhile, some pets will prefer chasing lasers or puzzle toys to miniature stuffed animals. Pro tip: Cats can become frustrated when they can’t catch the red-laser dot, so offering a physical toy afterwards that they can actually swat around may be beneficial. 

Does your cat have a natural instinct to hunt?

Most cats have a natural instinct to hunt and it’s completely normal—some cats are more inclined to stalk and attack toys, insects, or even crumpled up paper than others. To engage felines with this instinct, consider a small stuffed animal. The plush outside feels like a real animal and if the toy is capable of moving around or being manipulated to move by you, it can feel even more life-like to them.  Lasers and feathers may keep your cat’s mind and body engaged in this way, as well. 

How many cats do you have?

If you’re a multiple-cat household, consider toys that are best for two or more cats in order to avoid any tussles. Cat trees are great because of the many levels, activities, and nap spots available. Just make sure the tree is stable and can withhold the combined weight of your cats. 

Is exercise a top priority?

Simply put, pet health is a priority for pet owners. To encourage a healthy mind and body, much like humans, pets need exercise. If you don’t have the luxury of space, think vertically. A cat tower encourages climbing, jumping, and playing to get your cat’s heart rate up. Lasers are also great because they can move all around a room and up on furniture, so your cat gets the exercise and playtime  she requires.

Is your cat crazy for catnip?

Let’s be real—most cats go wild for catnip. The infamous, feline-friendly plant contains nepetalactone oil, which attracts, energizes, or possibly sedates your kitty. . Often, when a cat smells or eats this oil, it activates the sensory nerves and creates an overwhelming sense of happiness, similar to the “high” humans experience from certain substances. Toys that have catnip in them will likely pique your cat’s interest and activity level. 

Does your cat need mental stimulation?

The answer is most likely yes, your cat does need mental stimulation because it promotes a happy and healthy lifestyle. Cats are very intelligent creatures and they love a challenge, so why not try a cat puzzle or wand? By introducing these arousing toys into your cat’s play routine, you can avoid impromptu fights between, say, your cat’s claws and your couch, as well as unnecessary weight gain.

Is space something you need to consider?

The good news is that most cat toys are small, so you have the option of trying different ones to see what appeals most to your cat. To avoid overstimulation, keep your cat’s toys in a little basket so she can focus on one game at a time.

The best cat toys

The best toys are not only fun and entertaining, but they promote a happy and healthy lifestyle. Toys that feed into your cat’s natural instincts and stimulate them mentally and physically will prevent boredom and weight gain, keep them out of trouble, and provide endless laughs for you.

Best cat toy for for active kitties: rabitgoo Cat-Tree Tower

SEE IT

The rabitgoo Cat Tree Tower will have your cat climbing, jumping, scratching, bird-watching, and cuddling all in a day’s play. The many platforms, scratch posts (reinforced with natural sisal rope), ladder, hanging ball, and loop will offer endless entertainment and stimulation while the cozy hammock, basket, and condo provide options for nestling in for a nap. Plus, the top-level perch has a raised edge creating the perfect spot for your cat to sunbathe and watch the outside world. Designed with maximum safety in mind, this cat tree tower is made with heavy-duty particle wood so your cat can jump and scratch without getting hurt. It’s also covered with a plush, faux-fur cover that’s gentle on noses and paws.

Best chewy cat toy: KONG Beaver Refillable Catnip Toy

SEE IT

While KONG is synonymous with dog toys, the brand has many amazing products for cats, too, such as the Beaver Refillable Catnip Toy. (This toy also comes in a duckie and hedgehog version). Ideal for cats that like to paw, bat at, and roll around with their toys, the beaver is made with durable plush fabric so your cat won’t be able to rip it apart—at least not too easily. Stored within the hidden flap is an inner cavity made for catnip, which can be easily refilled when low. Included in your purchase is a small supply of catnip, naturally.

Best cat toy for entertainment: Potarama Electric Flopping Fish

SEE IT

The Potarama Electric Flopping Fish wiggles just like a real fish, creating entertainment, real-time engagement for your cat, and many laughs for you. Intended for long-time use (although we can’t predict your cat’s toy-destroying abilities), this toy is rechargeable and comes with a USB-cable. Plus, its smart standby feature saves battery power when not in use and turns back on with any sort of movement. Safe for your cat to wrestle with and chew, the fish cover is made of durable and non-toxic plush that can be removed and washed as needed. Included in your purchase is a small zip-sealed bag of fresh catnip, so your cat will be ready to play as soon as you rip open the package.

Best cat toy for extra stimulation: YVE LIFE Cat Laser Toy

SEE IT

Most cats love chasing lasers, so consider treating your pet (and yourself) to the YVE Interactive Laser. With two adjustable speeds, this interactive and automatic toy rotates in random patterns over the floor, tables, couch, and more so your cat can enjoy playtime to the max. To avoid overstimulation and to keep the game exciting, the lasers shut off automatically after 5 minutes.

Best cat toy on a budget: Petstages Cat Tracks Toy

SEE IT

Sold for less than $10, the Tower of Tracks is a thrilling toy for cats and can be enjoyed by just one feline or multiple cat households. Engaging your cat’s natural instinct to hunt, the three levels and moving balls will have your cat swatting, batting, pawing, and pouncing with pleasure. For added safety, this toy is designed with a small bar across the top so curious cats can’t get their paws (or heads) stuck. Plus, it comes with a non-slip base and durable plastic construction that allows for rough and adorable play. 

FAQs

The final word on the best cat toys

Finding the best cat toys depends on what engages your kitty. Whether they prefer to fetch, climb, roll around with a dancing fish, or chase lasers is learned through trial and error. Luckily, cat toys aren’t too expensive, so you won’t have to break the bank in your attempt to figure out what your cat loves most. As long as your feline is getting exercise, mental stimulation, and actually enjoys playing with it, you’ve found the right toy. 

The post Best cat toys of 2023 appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best lickable cat treats		INABA Churu Lickable Purée Natural Cat Treats		SEE IT	A squeezable snack that’s as much fun to give as it is for your cat to eat.
Best crunchy cat treats		Wellness Kittles Grain-Free Salmon & Cranberries Recipe		SEE IT	The purrfect texture for playful pouncing and use with treat puzzles.
Best catnip		KONG – Naturals Premium Catnip		SEE IT	Bring on the purring — and the drooling — with this tin packed with potent leaves.

Cats are definitely creatures of habit, but that doesn’t mean they don’t get bored by doing the same old cat stuff day in and day out. The best cat treats are a great way to offer an exciting new taste experience without changing up regular meals and can be a delicious incentive to coax your cat to move beyond just bed to bowl. Here’s how to pick the right treats for your pet, whether you’re looking to add occasional snacks as part of a balanced diet, stimulate their prey drive, or get them to take the prescribed medication with a minimum of complaints.

• Best crunchy cat treats: Wellness Kittles Grain-Free Salmon & Cranberries Recipe
• Best lickable cat treats: INABA Churu Lickable Purée Natural Cat Treats
• Best catnip: KONG – Naturals Premium Catnip
• Best pill pockets for cats: Feline Greenies Pill Pockets Cat Treats
• Best budget cat treats: Temptations Classic Crunchy and Soft Cat Treats

What to consider when searching for the best cat treats

Cat accessories of all kinds have flooded the market as pets have increasingly become treasured family members. With so many options to choose from and clever marketing that plays to pet parent’s fears about what’s healthy just like in human diet culture, deciding what the best healthy cat treats are for your beloved feline can seem overwhelming. 

Dry and crunchy treats may be the first thing most people think of in terms of cat snacks, but treats can be anything from homemade freeze-dried meats to lickable purees, cat grass, pill pockets, and catnip. If your cat has any underlying health conditions (like diabetes or kidney disease), it’s a good idea to check in with your vet first to see what’s appropriate.

Once you’re clear on your furry pal’s dietary restrictions and any ingredients to look out for, consider your cat’s age, activity level, and interests. Cats need plenty of attention and stimulation as part of a healthy lifestyle, so you’ll want to incorporate treats into play routines and maybe even try teaching your kitty some tricks. With so much variety on the market, there’s likely a type of treat even the pickiest cats will love — and you’ll love to give them. 

Related: Encourage your kitty’s attention and activity with the best cat toys.

Crunchy cat treats are great for puzzles and play

Cats need regular play sessions where they can show off their skills as apex predators without actually harming live birds, mice, or your fingers. However, trying to entertain a cat with toys can sometimes be a frustrating endeavor when your cat refuses to do more than bat lazily before slinking off for another nap. But if your cat is motivated by food, treats can become part of the game.

The consistency of dry and crunchy treats makes them an ideal choice over purees in terms of mess. Tuck these tidbits into interactive puzzle toys or dispensers shaped like mice and hide them around your home to engage your cat’s hunting skills, or toss them down a hallway one at a time to get your cat to run and pounce. 

Even though these treats appear tiny, it’s important to be aware of how many calories they have in the context of your cat’s overall caloric intake. Just like potato chips or candy for humans, treats are designed to be an occasional tasty indulgence, not a meal replacement. When reading ingredients, be aware of pet food trends that aren’t rooted in science, like the grain-free trend veterinary blog PetMD illuminates as an extension of the human low-carb craze. Your veterinarian will always be the optimal resource for advice on ingredients that meet your cat’s specific health needs.  

The best cat treats

Best crunchy cat treats: Wellness Kittles Grain-Free Salmon & Cranberries Recipe

SEE IT

These heart, star, or triangle-shaped Wellness Kittles contain under two calories each and are suitable for kittens and adult cats. Available in chicken, salmon, and tuna flavors with a resealable bag you can shake to motivate your lazy feline to run into the kitchen. 

Lickable cat treats are delectable for all ages

Hydration is important for every cat, but it can be a struggle to get cats to drink from a traditional water bowl. Some felines prefer sticking their face under the faucet of your kitchen sink, and others can be coaxed with fountains designed especially for cats. While dry food is more convenient for pet parents to serve since it can be left out for longer, wet food has a superior moisture content that can help address your feline’s hydration needs. 

Lickable cat treats have more moisture than dry treats and are lots of fun to give to your cat. Similar to squeezable applesauce pouches for kids, a small amount of food emerges at the top of the tube when you compress it, and you can continue to squeeze the tube a little at a time until all the food is gone. 

Since your cat doesn’t have opposable thumbs, you’ll have to do all the holding and squeezing, which can be messy. However, the unique texture combined with lots of flavor can help you administer medication to an otherwise stubborn feline. Older cats with dental issues that make dry food problematic can also enjoy this type of snack. 

Best lickable cat treats: INABA Churu Lickable Purée Natural Cat Treats

SEE IT

This variety pack of Churu cat treats features five flavors of tuna and chicken including chicken with cheese and tuna with salmon. Each lickable tube contains six calories, with purée that can be served directly from the package or used as a topping on regular food. 

Catnip is a natural and versatile treat for many kitties

If you’re looking for an easy-to-find natural cat treat, consider catnip. First, find out if your cat responds to the plant’s active ingredient: nepetalactone. According to the Humane Society of the United States, the allure of this plant to your feline comes down to genetics, with the required trait emerging between three and six months in kittens, and limited to about half of the feline population. 

Genetically lucky cats may lick, eat, or roll in the minty green leaves—catnip is actually part of the mint family—and to humans, appear as high as if they’d had marijuana. (In case you were wondering, we can report that “kitty pot” does not have the same effect on humans.) 
For cats who love the leaf, catnip makes an incredibly versatile treat. You can grow it yourself from catnip seeds in an outdoor or indoor garden, or purchase it in tubs already dried and ready to use. In addition to sprinkling a pile of catnip on the floor and capturing an adorable video when your cat decides to indulge, catnip can be used to make a new bed feel more like home and encourage the use of scratching posts. Crafty pet parents will find an array of patterns online for fabric mice that can be filled with catnip to increase the likelihood your cat will be captivated by the chase.

Best catnip: KONG – Naturals Premium Catnip

SEE IT

This reusable metal tin of KONG – Naturals Premium Catnip contains a total of 2 ounces of catnip sourced in North America. The tin also includes a bonus toy for your furry friend. 

Pill pockets can make medicine more tolerable

One of the hardest parts of cat ownership (or perhaps being owned by a cat) is treating our feline forever friends for an illness. When your kitten or adult cat isn’t feeling well, it’s hard to watch them endure the stress of a vet visit even though being examined by a pro is critical to diagnosis and treatment. 

If your vet has prescribed medication, it’s crucial to your cat’s wellbeing to ensure they receive the right dose at the right time, though this can prove challenging for many pet parents. Pill pocket treats (like Greenies for cats) are a clever solution that appeals to food-motivated pets and can be much easier than prying open your cat’s mouth or attempting to disguise the taste of liquid medication in a bowl of food. 

This type of cat treat features a small inner hollow to tuck a pill, and a moldable outside that can be pinched shut. If your cat has a strong sense of smell and refuses to touch food with medication mixed in, consider that pill pockets may disguise a medication’s odor more successfully. 

Best pill pockets for cats: Feline Greenies Pill Pockets Cat Treats

SEE IT

Outsmart feline rebels with Feline Greenies Pill Pockets Cat Treats, which can be shaped to conceal tablets. Made from a formula including chicken, wheat, and rosemary extract to mask the taste of medication.

What to expect with budget cat treats

Budget cat treats generally will contain more animal by-products and additives than more expensive treats like freeze-dried meats. (Think chicken by-product rather than chicken.) As an alternative to processed commercial treats, you may be able to save money by making treats at home from DIY recipes, or growing your own catnip or cat grass.

The ASPCA recommends that pet parents keep treats to 5 percent or less of your cat’s daily diet. This means that while the price of cat treats can vary widely between brands if you have one or two cats and are using treats judiciously, splurging on high-end treats may not have a huge impact on your budget for pet supplies. 

Whether you purchase budget treats from a major pet brand or expensive treats from a boutique brand, you’ll always want to be on the alert for recalls. The FDA keeps a database of current pet food recalls for consumers and helpfully displays when the information was last updated. News media will often report when there are widespread issues and offer links to check brands and lot numbers. 

Best budget cat treats: Temptations Classic Crunchy and Soft Cat Treats

SEE IT

This affordable tub from a popular brand, Temptations Classic Crunchy and Soft Cat Treats is packed to the brim with 30 ounces of dry cat treats featuring a dual texture that’s soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside.

FAQs

Related: At the end of the day, fulfill your cat’s dream for comfortable slumber with the best cat beds.

Final thoughts on the best cat treats

The best cat treats are part of creating pawsitive experiences rather than just an occasional snack to stave off boredom. With so much variety to choose from, including treats for kittens and adults, there are plenty of opportunities to try new flavors, textures, and even make up games with tasty rewards for playing. You may never reliably train your kitty to give you a high five in exchange for a treat, but if that were the point you’d probably have a dog. 

The post Best cat treats of 2023 appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Cats, by nature, aren’t the biggest water drinkers. And contrary to what movies and TV tell you, they do not like milk either, most cats are lactose intolerant. Felines historically thrive in dry environments, so they’re not really inclined to chug water. But just like us mere humans, their body weight is comprised of 60 to 70 percent water, and they need to guzzle H20 to remain healthy.

But what’s a cat parent to do if their precious kitty refuses to drink? Here’s a little secret: cats tend to shy away from still water from a regular dish and tend to gravitate more towards flowing water. To keep your cat hydrated and healthy, investing in a cat-friendly water fountain like KittySpring is the smartest option. Get a KittySpring Water Fountain For Cats for just $33.15 (reg. $39) with code JAN15 during our January Sale. 

Specifically designed to encourage cats to drink water, KittySpring features a shallow and wide dish to help prevent cat whiskers from brushing against it, making drinking (or licking, really) enjoyable and stress-free for them. With a capacity of 8 ounces, it ensures that your cat satisfies their water requirement for 2 consecutive days. This way, you also won’t have to keep changing the water in the bowl.

KittySpring features a sleek design that lets you place it in almost any area or corner of the house and still look like it belongs there. It’s also built to be sturdy, so you won’t have to worry about your furry friend accidentally knocking it over. This also means no random puddles of water on the floor that you have to clean up.

This cat-friendly fountain has managed to garner nearly $1 million in funding on two separate crowdfunding platforms — Kickstarter and Indiegogo — meaning cat parents trust it for their pets’ hydration needs. You can have your cat try it out for only $33.15 (MSRP $39) when you enter the code JAN15 at checkout.

Prices subject to change.

The post Save on this cat-friendly water fountain for our January Sale appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Humans have brought cats into their homes for more than 9,000 years, and we’ve likely bred our feline companions for just as long. But while breeders have long known how to pair animals for a desired fur coat pattern, like tabby stripes, the answer to how those patterns emerge from a biological standpoint has long evaded scientists.

Geneticists recently discovered a gene in domesticated cats that triggers changes in fetal cat development, resulting in those trademark feline tabby stripes. The gene, Dkk4, produces a “pre-pattern” of thick and thin skin on the developing cat embryo that ends up mapping the pattern of stripes on the cat’s fur later. Thick patches had more Dkk4 expression and would later be covered with darker fur, while thin patches had less Dkk4 expression and would later be covered by lighter fur. The research team also detected the thick-thin skin variation before the embryos even developed hair follicles. Their findings were published in Nature Communications.

Cat fur development “really has been an unsolved mystery,” geneticist Gregory S. Barsh, the senior author of the new study, told The New York Times. “We think this is really the first glimpse into what the molecules might be” that steer the patterning process.

[Related: Cats love sitting in boxes so much they’ll even sit in fake ones]

Dkk4 variation, the team found, leads to different fur patterns. Mutations in the gene occur in Abyssinian cats, yielding their characteristic shorter, thinner strokes of color in a fur pattern known as “ticked.”

“It’s a very beautiful study,” Harvard evolutionary biologist Hopi E. Hoekstra told The New York Times. Hoekstra has collaborated with Barsh in the past but was not part of this research. “It advances our understanding of one of the most fundamental questions in developmental biology: How do patterns form?” 

Domestic cats are a useful model to study and investigate color patterns since they’re widely accessible, and there is a plethora of genomic information about them, the study authors write. They also mention that the kinds of coats they looked at represented just a “fraction of the pattern diversity that exists among domestic cat breeds.”

But these tabby findings might explain fur patterning beyond just domesticated cats, too. Scientists believe that this genetic mechanism could help explain the beautiful patterns found on other large felines like tigers, leopards, and cheetahs. 

“For several years now, we’ve been saying that domestic cats could be a good model,” geneticist and cat specialist Eduardo Eizirik at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil told New Scientist. “Just finding the gene by itself is a major contribution because we can now look at the gene in other species.”

How developing cats translate skin thickness to fur pigment is still “one of the big unanswered questions in our work—how to connect the process of pre-pattern formation to the process that implements the pattern later in development,” Barsh said in a statement. “That’s something that we’re actively trying to figure out.”

The post We finally know what turns cats into tabbies appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

With summer raging, it’s peak kitten season in the United States. Pet adoption rates that increased at the start of the pandemic have yet to ease up and return to normal levels, and there’s cat hair in the air.

Thanks to the simultaneous lockdown DIY boom, “catios” (that’s patios, but for cats) are everywhere you look. The outdoor wood-framed and wire-walled enclosures are ideal for cat owners—or “guardians,” as Alan Breslauer of Los Angeles’ Custom Catios calls them—looking to give their feline friend a safe outdoor space for play and relaxation.

Indoor living provides cats a longer lifespan—10 to 15 years on average, as opposed to two to five—but lacks the rich stimuli of the outside world.  

“They need to have their instincts satisfied,” says Heather Napolitano, a vet in Los Angeles who’s worked with catio construction groups. 

Hunting behaviors, for example, include more than just stalking, and felines need an engaging environment to look, smell, and do “that slow little kitty-cat crawl.” Well-made catios, which bridge the safety of indoor spaces with the intellectual engagement of the outdoor world, are a great solution.

Giving your fur baby a playground of their own can also be a fun (and manageable) DIY project. Before you start, though, there are some factors that amateurs and construction experts alike should keep in mind.

Learn what plants you should avoid (the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has an extensive list), what insects might make their way into the enclosure, and what predators could lurk nearby. Napolitano recommends checking in with your cat’s veterinarian and telling them about your building plans—nobody’s a better expert on animals in your area than them. 

A visit to the vet is also a great time to make sure your pet has all of the vaccines, medications, and other treatments necessary to prevent diseases they could be exposed to in the outdoors.

Once you’ve gotten all region-specific instructions, it’s time to find somewhere on the outside of your home to build your catio. 

“Like all real estate, it’s about location, location, location,” Breslauer says.

Look for a spot with fresh air, a good balance of sunshine and shade throughout the day, and lots and lots of green—trees, bushes, grass, or even flowers. That’s the kind of spot that will attract things that fly and crawl, which will provide the best enrichment for your cat. Surrounding the enclosure with potted vegetation is a great solution if you live in a city or any other area with limited outdoor green space.

[Related: Build a garden that’ll have pollinators buzzin’]

Finally, get bonus points by building your catio close to a backyard or another outdoor space where humans in your home spend their time. That way, your cat will always be able to join you.

Once you’ve found the spot for your catio, it’s time to make sure you have an entrance point for your furry friend. Whether you live in a house or an apartment building, windows are great to build around, as are any patio doors that you don’t mind losing your own access to, Breslauer says. In that case, it’s just a matter of knocking a pane or two out of it and replacing it with a custom cat door.

The third option, and the one most people choose, is an entrance through your home’s exterior wall. Unfortunately, this option is the least suited to DIY: you run the risk of damaging pipes and wires, losing insulation, and struggling with refinishing the inside and outside of your home. If this is what you had in mind, consider paying someone for just that part of the project. 

All three of these options allow you to use a side of your own home as one of the four walls for the enclosure, a key factor in ensuring stability and safety for your cat to go in and out as they please.

If you’re not as worried about your cat going out, but of other creatures—namely, mice and rats—coming into your home, Breslauer has reassuring words. 

“They’re not going to come in,” he says. “They’re going to smell the cat, and they’re not coming near that area.”

If you’re taking a more freehand approach, start by considering your cat’s unique needs. Breslauer suggests you start by aiming high. Literally. 

“It’s best to go up to the eave of the house, up to around 10 feet high,” he recommends. This approach maximizes safe vertical space for cats without sacrificing structural integrity.

Once you have a plan, it’s time to choose your materials. In California, catio builders gravitate toward abundant and weather-resilient redwood, while in colder areas, cedar’s a better bet. Douglas fir is inexpensive, but doesn’t last as long when exposed to the outdoors. Pressure-treated wood may seem the obvious choice for an outdoor structure, but Breslauer suggests staying away from it. This type of “weatherproof” lumber gets some of its durability from chemical coatings that stand up against the elements, but can include arsenic and copper compounds that your cat may be better off not chewing on or rubbing against.

Along with wood, you’ll need a hefty supply of wire mesh. A quick Google search will show you plenty of catios wrapped in chicken wire, which is an inexpensive, adequate option for those who don’t live in areas with larger predators. But if you live around coyotes, raccoons, or anything bigger, you’ll need something stronger, as those animals can easily tear their way through chicken wire, warns Breslauer. 

A safer option, no matter where you live, is weatherproof galvanized steel mesh, with spaces no wider than 2 by 4 inches. For those with smaller cats or less willingness to clean up avian casualties, 2-by-2-inch is tight enough to keep paws in check. Breslauer’s preference is 1×1 inch, which he thinks looks better.

Before you check out, don’t forget to pick up a few extra planks of wood for interior shelves, and, if you live in an area where your cat might want more shade outside, a fully covered roof.

If your feline buddy is somewhere in between, Breslauer has a short list of easy rules he takes into account while designing spaces for the average cat. This includes making all shelves between 18 and 20 inches apart for safe but exciting jumping, coating all elevated surfaces in industrial-strength outdoor carpeting to prevent slippage, and making sure all poles lead right to a shelf for an easy dismount, since paws aren’t equipped for downward climbing.

Napolitano also recommends adding a litter box to your catio layout, since more bathroom options generally mean more kitty comfort (not to mention less litter smell in your house). Some catio plans even include a separate shelf and trapdoor for easy litter box cleaning, but keep in mind that every additional opening you build is another potential exit point you’ll have to remember to keep closed.

And, of course, any catio, no matter how small, should have plentiful fresh water for your furry pal. They’ve got a lot of exploring to do out there.

Set up the catio’s entry point before cutting and constructing the wooden frame. If you’re building on concrete or any other preexisting structure, make sure you include a sturdy way to fasten your frame to the ground, like specialized anchors or a line of roofing cement. 

If your catio will sit on grass, you’ll have one extra step before you build your structure—and it’s one of the most important. If you live in an area with more aggressive predators, Breslauer explains, animals might attempt to dig their way into the enclosure at the perimeter and attack your pet.

[Related: How cats and dogs see the world]

To prevent this, you’ll need to dig a trench around where the walls will stand. This will later allow you to extend the wire mesh that will cover the walls of the catio underground by burying the bottom edge of the wire 12 to 18 inches below the surface. If you want to be extra cautious, you can extend the trench 6 inches away from the perimeter in every direction, then use tie wire to fix a horizontal piece of mesh to each side’s underground mesh border, leaving a sort of wire mat buried outside the walls to prevent digging downward anywhere near the catio. This approach will keep other animals out of the catio no matter how much they dig. 

If you’re adding any sort of door or trap door to your structure, don’t forget to leave a place for a lock. Napolitano says she freaks out every time she sees a DIY catio without a safe, locked entrance, as latches and other simple mechanisms can be fiddled open by cats and visiting critters. 

If you’re building out a full roof, take the same care, and if you’re not, you’ll still need to attach a few beams across the top of the structure so you can cover the top with mesh. An uncovered roof is an open invitation for a skyward escape

The final piece of the construction puzzle is cutting and attaching your wire mesh to the outside of your frame. Breslauer recommends a staple gun, as industrial staples are a safe and reliable way to ensure the wire won’t rip off the frame if a cat pushes on it. As with the interior, be on the lookout for exposed staples or sharp wire that could hurt your cat, and cut them down if you find some.

Before you let your cat into their new playpen, have a friend, preferably another cat owner, come help you thoroughly check your work. Assume your cat is going to explore every last inch of the enclosure, so take time to ensure no sharp objects or edges remain. If you find any, make sure to cut them down or sand them. A pair of outside eyes, especially one that’s familiar with the exact ways your cat likes to get into trouble, could be your best bet at catching a stray nail or loose ramp.

“It’s hard to notice the details that need fixing if you’ve been focusing on a project like that for so long,” Napolitano says. 

Once you’ve made sure it’s safe, you can invite your companion to enjoy their perfect catio. If you want to add a cherry on top, hang a hummingbird feeder somewhere near the structure, but far enough away so your cat can’t hunt them. This will keep your cat stimulated and allow you to do some bird watching together.

The post Tips to build the safest, most purr-fect catio for your feline overlord appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Kitties young and old need fresh water to stay healthy. Cat fountains make water more drinkable and delicious, pumping out super clean, filtered water in a way that both nourishes and entertains cats. Here’s what to look for in a good model.

SEE IT

If you have a long-haired cat, a powerful filter should be a priority. Regardless, a cat fountain should be easy to clean, as you will have to do so eventually. One more thing to consider is the volume of the water pump, because a loud one can be distracting and detract from the charm of having a cat fountain in your home.

SEE IT

Certain cats are picky and will respond more enthusiastically to different fountain styles. Some cat fountains have several options for flow designs, and cycling through them can help keep your cat engaged.

SEE IT

Convenience is key, and it’s important to find a cat fountain that holds enough water such that you don’t have to replenish it too often. If you have multiple cats that get particularly parched, you’ll want a larger fountain that is accessible to more than one pet at a time.

The post Cat fountains for a happier pet appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Not all scientific research can be serious, impactful work. Some of it is just for the sake of knowledge. And it was in the pursuit of knowledge that a cat named Stinky Valium was presented with three potential spots to sit.

His options: a square outline, an illusory “square” made of four Pac-Man-like shapes, and the same Pac-Man shapes that didn’t form a square illusion. The test: Would Stinky Valium prefer to sit inside one of the squares?

He and eight other cats with less interesting names were part of a citizen science study designed to test to what degree cats prefer to sit inside boxes, no matter how illusory. The inspiration for the study came from an online phenomenon: people putting tape down on their floor in the shape of a square and recording their cats sitting inside the squares. See, if the internet knows one thing about cats, it’s that if they fits, they sits. That is to say, cats love to squeeze into boxes—generally speaking, the smaller, the better. The behavioral pattern is borne out of an instinct for tight, enclosed spaces, which are often safe spots for a small feline. A hidey hole is their preference, but a cardboard box will suffice, even if the sides are low, and in lieu of a box they’ll accept a version made of tape or paper.

This new research, published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, shows that they’ll even go for a square that’s not really there: a Kanizsa square illusion. Humans and some other animals, including cats, will impose an imaginary square that exists inside the four Pac-Man-like shapes that form the “corners” of the “square.” This ability isn’t universal—it required a study to prove that cats could see the illusion in the first place, and babies younger than about four months don’t seem to see it.

The cats went for the Kanizsa square just as often as the full square outline, and more than the control (the Pac-Man shapes reversed).

[Related: Despite appearances, your cat does love you]

Normally, this kind of experiment would be conducted in a laboratory setting. But the pandemic offered a unique opportunity to have volunteers do the activity in their own homes. Though that makes for a less controlled experiment (which the researchers note will need to be done at some point), this citizen science approach did allow for the cats to behave as normally as possible. Cats, much more so than dogs, dislike unfamiliar settings and tend to behave differently in the lab than they do on their home turf.

But there was one major challenge to going the citizen science route: More than 500 people volunteered for the study, but only 30 completed all of the trials required. And of those, only nine cats actually selected any of the stimuli, whether because there was something more interesting going on or because the squares just weren’t intriguing enough. A lab setting might have mitigated some of those issues.

Research like this might seem silly—and to some degree it is—but it’s also an important part of studying cat cognition. On its own, this study might not contribute a huge amount to our understanding. Over time, though, it will become part of the body of knowledge on cat behavior.

The post Cats love sitting in boxes so much they’ll even sit in fake ones appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

This post has been updated. It was originally published on May 23, 2017.

Declawing a cat may sound like a relatively benign procedure, like getting your nails trimmed. But the process involves removing the bones at the tip of a feline’s toes, which can result in long-term problems for your furry friend, a study concludes.

Declawed cats are more likely to have a difficult time walking because with the ends of their toes removed, they’re forced to walk on the soft cartilage that was previously a part of their joints. They’re also known to chew at the stubs of their paws, and may suffer from chronic pain. In addition, many owners find that their cats become more aggressive after the surgery.

To study the long-term consequences of declawing, researchers examined 274 cats of various ages, half of whom had been declawed. Studying animals in shelters and others who had been brought in for veterinary appointments, they examined the animals for signs of pain (which, in cats, manifests itself as potty problems, flinching in response to touch, body tension, and excessive licking or chewing of fur, among other things). They also looked at the felines’ medical histories and behavioral reports from their vets and owners.

They found that declawed cats were seven times more likely to pee in inappropriate places, four times more likely to bite people, three times more likely to be aggressive, and three times more likely to overgroom themselves. In addition, the declawed cats were three times more likely to be diagnosed with back pain (possibly because they had to modify their gait due to their missing toe bones) and/or chronic pain in their paws.

Cats who undergo the procedure also may be more likely to urinate on soft surfaces like carpets or clothing because it’s less painful than the gravel in the litterbox. Having no other way to defend themselves, they may resort to biting when in pain, and unfortunately for their humans, bite wounds from a cat may be more likely than scratches to cause infection and hospitalization.

[Related: You’re probably petting your cat wrong]

The study would be stronger if the researchers had been able to study the cats before and after the declawing procedure, to work out for certain whether these negative effects were caused by the declawing procedure. However, that kind of research is more expensive and more difficult.

Lead author Nicole Martell-Moran is a Texas veterinarian and a director at the Paw Project, an organization whose goal is to end cat declawing.

“The result of this research reinforces my opinion that declawed cats with unwanted behaviors may not be ‘bad cats’,” she said in a statement. “They may simply need pain management. We now have scientific evidence that declawing is more detrimental to our feline patients than we originally thought and I hope this study becomes one of many that will lead veterinarians to reconsider declawing cats.”

How to train a cat not to scratch your stuff

Declawing is outlawed in many developed countries, but not the US and most of Canada. However, many American veterinary associations are opposed to declawing, except as a last resort.

Before you resort to declawing your cat, try training it first. Yes indeed, cats can be trained. And it’s not as hard as it sounds. Here are some tips:

1. Get at least one scratching post (or make your own). If it’s a vertical scratching post, make sure it’s tall enough that your cat can stretch to use it. And make sure it’s stable.
2. Position the post near your cat’s favorite sleeping spot, and/or near the furniture it likes to scratch the most.
3. Cover the post in catnip or toys so that it’s more attractive than the sofa.
4. Reward the cat with a cheek scratch or a treat every time it uses the post.
5. If it scratches the sofa, just say “no” firmly and relocate it to the appropriate scratching post. Reward it for using that instead.
6. Talk to your vet if the problem persists.

The post Declawing cats is harmful. Do this instead. appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Melting from glaciers and permafrost was not kind to the large animals of the last Ice Age.

The persistent moisture turned grasslands into peatlands and bogs, a less than ideal habitat for huge grazers. As their world grew wetter, many of these megafaunal animals across Eurasia and the Americas became extinct.

Today, climate change is fueling heavy precipitation around the globe. Species have started to shift locations or find other ways to adapt. Is the past prologue?

“Predicting specifics about the future is really hard for such a dynamic system,” said Tim Rabanus-Wallace, a researcher at the University of Adelaide and lead author of a new study published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution that examines the impact of moisture on the megafaunals who lived some 11,000 years ago. But, “we can certainly see that soil moisture is expected to increase in various places around the globe” as a result of global warming.

The researchers, from the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA (ACAD) of the University of Adelaide, determined the age of 511 bones from animals such as bison, horses and llamas to study the role of environmental changes in the extinction of large land creatures such as giant sloths and sabre-toothed cats.

“We didn’t expect to find such clear signals of moisture increases occurring so widely across all of Europe, Siberia and the Americas,” said Alan Cooper, the study leader and director of the ACAD. “The timing varied between regions, but matches the collapse of glaciers and permafrost and occurs just before most species go extinct.”

The scientists, including those from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the University of Oslo, the Yukon government and paleontologists from Russia and Canada, measured nitrogen isotopes preserved in ancient animal bones recovered from Europe, Siberia, and North and South America. They discovered signs of enormous increases in moisture.

Matthew Wooller, of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, another author of the study, noted that climate changes occurred at different times on different continents, “but they all showed that moisture increased massively just prior to extinction. The really elegant feature of this study is that it produces direct evidence from the fossils themselves. These extinct creatures are informing us about the climate they experienced leading up to their own extinctions.”

The results also explain why Africa experienced a much lower rate of megafaunal extinctions. “Africa’s position across the equator means that grassland zones have always surrounded the central monsoon region,” Cooper said. “The stable grasslands are what has allowed large herbivores to persist.”

To be sure, the summer monsoon season typically brings torrential rains. But in Africa, “the top and bottom are very dry, so they are deserts,” Rabanus-Wallace explained. Grassland “tends to form a sort of border around the jungle. When the climate changes, the monsoon region or the deserts can grow or shrink, but the grasslands just follow the desert-jungle boundary as it moves up and down.”

He predicts that, in the near future, some regions —like the prairies of Northern North America, the Eurasian Steppes and the Pampas in South America — could find their semi-arid grassland reserves overrun by more moisture-adapted shrubs and trees. “It’s impossible that this won’t contribute to some extinctions” he said. The greatest danger may be to food-growing environments.

“What climate change once did to the megafaunal community, it may proceed to do to our food economy,” Rabanus-Wallace said. “In such scenarios it tends to be those most in need who suffer.”

Paradoxically, “on long, geological timescales, animals as physically large as humans tend to go extinct quite rapidly,” he said. “However, in my opinion, this rule could be bucked by humans because of our uniqueness. We are the greatest ecosystem engineers evolution has ever produced, with absolutely no analog. Long-surviving life forms tend to either inhabit a static environment, like sharks or crocodiles, or be highly adaptable, like insects or plants.”

Since the former is no longer an option, “we need to harness our immense capability for the latter,” he added.

“In terms of climate and ecological change, this means having the ability to build energy infrastructure quickly and cheaply, using tech that can suit a wide range of environments,” he says. It also means disseminating ways for farmers “to switch their production where needed to suit the environment.”

Marlene Cimons writes for Nexus Media, a syndicated newswire covering climate, energy, policy, art and culture.

The post Why Big Animals Can’t Take a Little Rain appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Carlo Siracusa is a professor of Clinical Animal Behavior at the University of Pennsylvania. This is his story from the field as told to Marion Renault.

Domestic cats communicate to other felines with gestures like pupil dilation and skin twitching. Because we humans are bad at decoding this subtle language, our pets have learned to use other types of cues with us. Purring falls in that category, but after about nine thousand years living together, we’re still not sure what it means.

It isn’t necessarily a sign of contentment, as most people think. Our furry companions will purr at the vet, but they’re not exactly happy to be squeezed and examined. On the contrary, they may be saying, “I’m vulnerable, help me.” We call this an et-epimeletic ­behavior, which animals use to demand care and attention—­oftentimes from a mother, but possibly from their human.

There are other theories about this delicate rumble. One is that its frequency promotes soft tissue and bone healing in injured felines. Others suggest this characteristic hum is a recent evolutionary adaptation in house cats, who might be using the relaxing effect those low vibrations have on their owners to encourage the human guardians to care for and protect them.

Unfortunately, there’s no data backing any hypothesis over another, and a lot depends on personality, too. With my cat, Elsa, you never know: She might bite or swipe—even shortly after purring.

This story appears in the Fall 2020, Mysteries issue of Popular Science.

The post Why do cats purr? appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Ever wish you could peer into your cat, dog, skink, or betta fish’s brain? It would give you a far better perspective of the world—or at least help you be a smarter pet parent. We’re here to demystify your animals (to some extent), while also shedding advice on how you can best thrive together. Welcome to Pet Psychic.

A cat politely peeing into a toilet—it almost sounds like a dream. No more scooping litter twice a day, no more cluttering your living room with a clunky litter box. So understandably, toilet-training cats burst into the scene in the early 2010s, products like Litter Kwitter promising that your cat will be toilet trained within six weeks.

Here’s how it works. The training kit includes an instructional DVD describing a three-step regimen and concentric plastic discs to install into your toilet, which, at first, completely cover the toilet bowl. The discs can be covered with kitty litter to make your cat feel at home, perched on top of the toilet. Every two weeks, the innermost ring can be removed, until your cat can at long last poop or pee into a gaping, wide-open toilet bowl. The company’s website sings lofty praises of the process: “Your cat learns to go directly into the toilet while balancing all four paws on the seat with their rear over the hole.”

However, as cute as toilet-trained cats are, it’s not as easy as simply sharing a toilet bowl with your cat—and it could actually be detrimental to your kitty’s health. Here’s what cat behavioral specialists have to say about this controversial training process.

“The idea is nuts,” says Jackson Galaxy, cat behavior expert and host of Animal Planet’s My Cat From Hell. “It symbolizes changing the nature of what a cat is in order to better suit your purposes.”

Galaxy, who has been working with cats for twenty-five years, centers his cat-rearing philosophy around preserving and respecting the cat’s natural instincts. This includes the cat’s routine of stepping into sandy-textured litter, doing its business, and burying the waste. To deny a cat a litter box reveals the owner’s inability to compromise with a cat’s nature, and even instigate behavioral and medical issues down the line. “It’s a very unnatural move for cats to make, perching themselves precariously over water in order to eliminate,” says Galaxy.

And what if your cat falls into the toilet? Laughs aside, Lisa Stemcosky, a cat behavior consultant in the D.C. area, says that even one splash into the toilet can have long-term consequences. “That’s a traumatic event,” says Stemcosky. “They get wet, it’s terrifying.” Even if cats are successfully toilet trained, the stress surrounding going to the toilet can cause mental distress and toilet and litter aversion, especially if an accident occurs when no one is home.

Medical issues may creep up on cat owners if cats continually use the toilet. Tracking your cat’s waste may be one of the most effective ways to catch diseases and conditions early. One sift through a litter box can reveal multitudes of issues. A lack of urination can indicate a urinary tract infection, urethra blockage, or even diabetes. Diarrhea and constipation can also reveal serious underlying issues, according to Stemcosky. If your cat’s waste is flushed down the toilet, these signs may go unnoticed.

Cats who aren’t fans of the toilet might just choose not to urinate, according to Mikel Delgado, an animal behaviorist and postdoctoral fellow at the School of Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis. “They will retain their urine and hold it as long as possible,” says Delgado. “This can lead to health problems because they’re not urinating when they need to.” Long-term urine retention can lead to bladder damage, urinary tract infections, and even kidney damage.

Plus, toilet traffic might occur, especially in busy, bustling homes. And anyone who has a cat knows that they aren’t going to wait patiently in line for their turn in the bathroom. “If the seat’s up, the door’s closed, or someone’s using the toilet, they will likely find someplace else to eliminate,” says Patience Fisher, a cat behavior consultant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The bathroom floor, the bathtub, or anywhere else in the house is fair game. One of Stomcosky’s past clients adopted an adult cat, who had previously been toilet trained. Upon entering a new home, the cat struggled to adjust to a litter box, and continued to pee in the toilet and all over the bathroom. “It can be confusing and very stressful,” says Stemcosky. Delgado, who also works as an animal behavior consultant, claims that she’s unwilling to work with a client whose cat has urinary issues unless they supply their cat with a litter box. “I feel like it’s one of the most basic things you can do to care for your cat.”

“If you don’t just want to scoop a litter box, don’t get a cat,” Galaxy says. “There’s very little that they demand of us as opposed to dogs. Their demands are few. Having a place to eliminate is one of them.”

If you do decide to take the plunge and toilet train your cat, here’s one last word of advice—don’t teach them how to flush. There’s a chance they might enjoy it a little too much.

The post Toilet training your cat isn’t as great as it sounds appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Cats big and small are predators, strategically napping to conserve their energy for stalking, pouncing, and brutally killing their dinner. Generations of domestic cats who’ve realized that all you need for a plate of tasty protein is a little plaintive mewling in the early dawn hours have kept up the napping, but lost the rigor of the hunt. That doesn’t mean you should start letting your murder floofs outside to decimate the bird population. Instead, try one of these clever treat puzzles to trigger their predatory instincts, encourage exercise, and minimize the epic destruction that arises from a case of feline ennui.

SEE IT

These macabre yet cute toys are designed with mouse-shaped “feeder skins” for tactile mousiness but are hollow on the inside to protect you from the horror of your cat playing with their (still alive) food. Fill them with dry cat kibble and hide them around your house to make mealtime last longer and stimulate their tiny feline brains. This set of three comes with a BPA-free trainer body with extra dispensing holes, three machine-washable feeder skins, and three regular bodies. Plus, if they leave one of these in your bed it’s no biggie.

SEE IT

Only you know whether your cat is so smart this toy will make them outright dangerous to your sense of inner peace. This set of dishwasher-safe plastic containers features four compartments which are all accessed by different methods. It’s easy enough for cats to open the lidded compartment with persistent nudging, but when Bartescue graduates to sliding knobs and tugging on a rope to open drawers, you might have to childproof your apartment.

SEE IT

A simple treat ball is a low-stakes investment that will help you learn how hard they’ll work for something different than their daily canned pâté. This clear sphere features either blue or pink accents, with an inside spiral to make it a little more complex and interesting to roll treats out of the opening in the ball. If your cat would rather sit by the bowl mournfully than risk missing a nap by putting in a little extra effort, rest assured they can also use the ball as a rolly-thing when they have the zoomies. If you have wooden floors, they can—and will—do this at the stroke of midnight.

The post Treat puzzles that activate your cat’s instincts appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Lauren Dawson is a postdoctoral fellow of Animal Biosciences at the University of Guelph. This story originally featured on The Conversation.

Cats are popular pets: There are an estimated 200 million pet cats worldwide, which more than the number of pet dogs. Cats live in about 38 percent of Canadian households, 25.4 percent of American households, and 25 per cent of European households.

Cats also seem to be a great source of entertainment. There are two million cat videos on YouTube and counting, as well as numerous internet-famous cats, like Grumpy Cat and Lil’ Bub, each with millions of followers on their social media accounts.

Despite the popularity of cats, as anyone who has been around a feline knows, reading their sentiments isn’t always an easy task. One minute they can be seeking your affection, and the next they can be swatting at you without any apparent warning. This leads to the question: Are cats just jerks or are they simply misunderstood?

A guide to body language

While cats may seem mysterious, their behavior can help us to understand how they are feeling. The position of their bodies, heads, ears, and tails are all telltale hints.

An anxious or fearful cat may crouch down to the ground, arch its back, lower its head, and flatten its ears. Fearful or anxious individuals may also retreat backwards in avoidance, hide themselves, make their fur stand on edge (piloerection), growl, hiss, spit, swat, or bite.

Conversely, a content feline may approach you with its tail up, with its body and head in a neutral position and its ears forward. When resting, it may tuck their paws in, or lay on it side with its legs stretched out.

Facial expressions may also be an indicator of how cats are feeling. Researchers have found that certain people can readily identify the images of pets in pain. Despite this, the full range of cat facial expressions, including those made in positive situations, has not been investigated deeply.

Poor face readers

As a postdoctoral researcher in animal science, I ran an online study in which participants were shown short video clips of cats in various situations. Positive situations included those where cats approached their owner for treats. Negative situations covered those where cats sought to avoid retreating from a person unknown to them.

The videos were carefully selected based on strict behavioral criteria and edited to only show each cat’s face, removing any potential body language or location cues.

More than 6,300 people from 85 countries judged whether the animal in each video was feeling positive or negative. On average, participants identified the correct expression 59 percent of the time. While this score is slightly better than if they’d simply guessed, it suggests that many individuals find the task of reading cat faces challenging.

Cat whisperers

Although most people were poor cat face readers, a small subset (13 percent) were quite skilled, scoring 15 points or higher out of a possible 20 points. Individuals in this group are more likely to be women than men. This isn’t surprising, given that research has found that women are generally better at interpreting non-verbal emotional cues; this has been shown with human babies and dogs.

I found “cat whisperers” also tend to have experience working as a veterinarian or veterinary technician. People in these occupations encounter a large number of cats on a daily basis and must learn to interpret their behavior to recognize illness and avoid injury.

Suprisingly (or not, depending on your personal experience), cat owners aren’t any better at reading faces than people who have never owned a cat. This may be because they learn the intricacies of their own pets through continued interactions, but likely cannot draw on varied experiences when faced with a series of unfamiliar felines.

Implications for animal welfare

My work has shown that cats display different facial expressions and that these facial expressions differ depending on how cats are feeling, both positive and negative.

Being able to read and interpret these different facial expressions can help to ensure that cats receive appropriate care. For example, facial expressions can indicate when an animal may be in pain and require treatment. Being able to read these cues can also improve the bond between cat owners and their companions, through an improved understanding of how their kitties may be feeling.

While many people seem to struggle with reading cat faces, some individuals are able to read them well. This suggests that interpreting feline expressions is a skill that could improve with training and experience.

Do you think you could be a cat whisperer? You can test your abilities by taking this interactive quiz.

The post We’re surprisingly bad at reading cats’ facial expressions appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

I was always a dog person growing up, but it turns out cats are great in their own kind of way. They’re independent and don’t need your undivided attention at all times, but will still snuggle you when you sleep and sit contently on your lap while you watch TV. So, it’s only fair that you return the favor during the giving season. Your furry feline—or not, if it’s hairless—will thank you for these new additions to your home with purrs and (if your cat is as weird as one of mine) lots of kisses.

Cat couch

SEE IT

My cats prefer corrugated cardboard scratching toys to traditional scratching posts, and this couch is their favorite thing I’ve ever bought for them. The thick base means you don’t have to replace it often, and it’s large enough that they can use it as an actual couch.

Plus, it’s made from 100 percent recycled paper, which is always a bonus.

I also turned to Twitter to see what your cats like. The response was unexpectedly enormous.

String toy

SEE IT

If your cat prefers something they can attack instead of lie on, try the Cat Dancer. A lot of you on Twitter said that this is your cat’s toy. This piece of cardboard on a string will keep your feline friend entertained for surprisingly long periods of time, and folds up for easy storage.

Ribbon chaser

SEE IT

Similarly, this rainbow ribbon is also called the Cat Dancer and serves a similar function. It doesn’t have cardboard on the end—which could be good, depending on your kitty’s preferences and the amount of vacuuming you mind having to do. Bonus: It will bring a pop of color to your home.

Novelty catnip

SEE IT

Maybe your cat needs a little catnip motivation to play. The Yeowww catnip banana was another popular choice from you all; no cotton or plastic pieces makes for a safer (and less messy) toy for your pet.

Laser pointer

SEE IT

Who doesn’t love a light show? The Pawsome Pets Cat Laser Toy will distract your cat as it spins randomly in circles. You can choose the speed it moves (fast, slow, or random), and the laser will automatically shut after 15 minutes so that your cat can get some rest.

Special mention: one fast exercise wheel

If you have an energetic feline and the space to accommodate, check out this pet wheel by One Fast Cat. My new favorite internet cat has one (shout-out to Basil), and I squealed with joy the first time I saw this video—the synchronization between the music and the steps at the end are perfect.

The post Purrfect presents for the playful cat in your life appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Cats can seem mysterious and aloof. They stare at nothing for hours on end and have very specific petting requirements. These and similarly strange behaviors have baffled and amused long-suffering human companions since they sailed with the Vikings (and probably long before that, too). But a new study from animal behavior researchers suggests they’re not actually above it all. It’s possible that felines attach to their people just like dogs and babies do.

This is the first study to look at cat attachment by looking at bonding styles, the same way researchers study dogs and human babies, says Kristyn Vitale, who researches cat behavior at Oregon State University. Studying these loyalty methods in animals can show us how similar our bonds with our pets are to those with other humans.

Both babies and dogs display the same basic attachment styles—secure or one of two types of insecure attachment—although they manifest differently in different species, Vitale says. Individuals with secure attachment are able to use their caregiver as a base and approach the world with confidence. Those who have avoidant-insecure attachment will try to stay away from their caregiver, because they don’t feel safe, and those with ambivalent-insecure attachment will go to their caregiver and demand attention, but not be able to use their caregiver as a source of genuine confidence. This study shows that cats do these things just like other dependents beings. For cats, “the biggest difference is that a secure cat can use their owners as a sense of security to explore out from, and an insecure cat can’t do that,” Vitale says.

To get a better look at how cats relate to people, Vitale and her colleagues had cat and kitten owners bring their pets to the laboratory, to a room they’d never seen before. Then they ran what’s known as the secure base test, which researchers use to study attachment in human babies, other primates, and dogs. “For two minutes, the owner and cat just sat in the room together,” says Vitale. Next, the owner left and the pet spent two minutes there alone. “That alone phase acts as a potential stressor to the cat,” she says. “What we see is how they then react to the owner returning.”

That reaction is the crux of the experiment, as it reveals how the cat thinks about their human. The researchers filmed the two minute period, then reviewed the clips with someone specially trained in identifying and recording the clinical signs of attachment, known as an “attachment coder.” The attachment coder looked for signs that mirror how babies and dogs react to this test, and grouped the cats into an attachment category.

The researchers found that approximately 65 percent of both the cats and kittens studied displayed secure attachment to their human, meaning that when the human returned they didn’t display signs of stress and were content to divide their time between looking around and hanging out with their human. Those with an insecure attachment style, around 35 percent in both cases, were still stressed after their human returned and demanded excessive amounts of attention.

“What’s really interesting is that we see the same patterns of behavior in dogs and babies,” says Vitale. The fact that the majority of all these species seek out their caregiver for a sense of security suggests there is an evolutionary advantage to doing so. And importantly, attachment style seems to be very difficult to change: The researchers enrolled about half the kittens in a six-week training course, but found that working with their human didn’t change their attachment style.

It’s not news that cats are attached to their people, says animal psychologist Dennis Turner. “However, this study is still of value, as it applies modern attachment theory (and the three basic types of attachment) to cats for the first time.”

Sure, they don’t follow you around like a dog. Nobody would ever call a cat “man’s best friend.” But this study adds evidence to the fact that cats need us, too. “I think there’s this idea that cats don’t really depend on their owner and need them,” Vitale says. “But at least in this test, what we’re seeing is that most cats use their owner for their sense of security.”

The post Despite appearances, your cat does love you appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Butts smell, and there’s not much we can do about it. Clean that tuchus all ya want—the stank will return. We can thank microbes for these miraculously persistent odors, and though we humans might not want to thank them for it (pretty rude of us, to be honest), plenty of mammals have reason to be grateful. These bacteria give them the characteristic scents of their species. Are they good scents? Well, that really depends on what you think smells “good.”

If you asked your dog whether other dogs’ butts smell good—and somehow broke the language barrier—they probably still wouldn’t understand the question. While it’s impossible to know exactly what feelings a canine feels when they take a whiff of another pooch’s rear end, it seems like the main driver behind their sniffing is the fact that other butts smell interesting. Sussing out the volatile chemicals that contribute to another animal’s unique perfume is the equivalent of asking for a business card.

Cats might not log the same hours inspecting fellow felines’ behinds, but they too glean information from their comrades’ scents. How? Anal sacs. Most humans only hear about anal sacs when taking a beloved—and very stinky—dog to the vet and are told these organs must be “expressed.” That’s your veterinarian’s polite way of saying that they need to squeeze some smelly, yellow-brown fluid out of said anal sacs by hand to deal with a clog.

Anyway, the real point here is that cats have anal sacs too, and they’re important. Domestic cats employ sac secretions to mark their territory. But the smell they leave behind is more complex than just a “feline was here” sign: It contains information about the marker’s sex and reproductive state, but it also carries unique attributes that tie it to a specific individual.

Biologists want to understand exactly what chemical compounds in those excretions are sending which messages, and to do that they’ve got to swab a few anal glands. That’s what led a team of researchers at UC Davis to investigate the anal secretions of a bengal cat living in Berkeley, California. Bengal cats are a cross between domestic cats and Asian leopard cats (a kind of small wild cat that looks like a tiny leopard) so their findings may not be representative of your standard house kitty. But as this is the first study ever figure out which microbes produce anal sac smells in felines, it’s the best data on cat butts we’ve got. The team recently published their results in the journal PLOS ONE.

Once the anonymous cat’s sacs had been emptied, the researchers cultured the microbes that had been living inside. A full 83 percent turned out to be Tessaracoccus bacteria, a genus found both in dirt and in rhino guts, as well as inside our own intestines. The second most common, Bacteroides, is also associated with mammals, and the final three of the top five—Anaerococcus, Peptoniphilus, and Finegoldia—are all found in the guts and urinary tracts of various mammals. The top six groups together accounted for 98 percent of all the bacteria.

The researchers also managed to isolate 51 chemicals from the original anal secretions and the bacterial samples (there were a whopping 127 in the secretions alone) that can contribute to odor. Eleven of them were compounds also found in other mammalian anal sacs. For you organic chem fans out there, they are: octan-1-ol, 1-(H)-indole, nonanoic acid, pentadecanoic acid, toluene, trans-2-pentenoic acid, non-2-enal, tetradecanal, n-hexadecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid, and (Z)-docos-13-enoic acid. Octan-1-ol was already known to hang out in wolf anal sacs, and 1-(H)-indole “can be produced by a variety of bacteria that have a strong fecal odor” and has been found in the anal secretions of red foxes, giant pandas, wolves, and ferrets.

Many of the rest of that indecipherable list are various types of fatty acids that were also found in the Tessaracoccus bacterial samples, which means the microbes might be responsible for producing them in the first place. That’s as far as these researchers have gotten in figuring out exactly which bacteria are manufacturing which compounds, so we’re still quite a few steps away from knowing exactly which components of the butt microbiome send which signals to fellow felines.

The anonymous cat who donated its anal secretions to science probably has no idea what it’s done, but microbiome researchers everywhere—especially the kinds interested in cat butts—are grateful.

The post Scientists are investigating the secrets of smelly cat butts appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Many of us will have experienced that super friendly cat who seems to love being stroked one minute, only to bite or swipe at us the next. It might be easy at this point to blame it on the cat, but what’s likely happening here is that we’re just not stroking them right.

To understand why this might be, we first need to know a bit more about kitty’s ancestry. It’s likely that the domestic cat’s ancestors (the African wildcat) were regarded as mere pest control, but modern day cats are often treated as our valued companions or even “fur babies.”

This social shift in the human-cat relationship is thought to have occurred around 4,000 years ago—a little later than “man’s best friend”—the domestic dog. Although this might seem like a sufficient amount of time for a species to fully adjust to increased social demands, this is unlikely to be the case for your feline friend. Domestic cats also display relatively modest genetic divergence from their ancestors, meaning their brains are probably still wired to think like a wildcat’s.

Wildcats live solitary lives and invest considerable time and effort communicating indirectly —via visual and chemical messages—just to avoid having to see each other. So it’s unlikely that domestic cats inherited many complex social skills from their relatives.

Humans on the other hand, are an inherently social species—favoring proximity and touch during displays of affection. We are also drawn to infantile looking features—large eyes and forehead, a small nose and round face—this is why most of us find the faces of cats so cute. It’s not surprising, then, that our initial reaction when we see a cat or kitten is to want to stroke, cuddle and smush all over them. Though it should also come as no surprise that many cats can find this type of interaction a little overwhelming.

Cat affections

Although a lot of cats do like being stroked, and in certain contexts will choose us over food, human interaction is something they have to learn to enjoy during their comparatively short sensitive period—between two and seven weeks old.

When it comes to human-cat interactions, the characteristics of humans are also important. Our personalities and gender, the regions of the cat’s body we touch and how we generally handle cats, may all play an important role in how the cat responds to our affections.

And while some cats may react aggressively to unwanted physical attention, others may merely tolerate our social advances in exchange for the good stuff (food and lodgings). That said, a tolerant cat is not necessarily a happy cat. Higher stress levels are reported in cats that are described by their owners as tolerating rather than actively disliking petting.

How to stroke a cat

The key to success is to focus on providing the cat with as much choice and control during interactions as possible. For example, the choice to indicate whether they want to be petted or not, and control over where we touch them, and how long for.

Due to our tactile nature and love of cute things, this approach may not come instinctively to many of us. And it will likely require a little self-restraint. But it could well pay off, as research shows interactions with cats are likely to last longer when the cat, rather than the human, initiates them.

It’s also really important to pay close attention to the cat’s behaviour and posture during interactions, to ensure they are comfortable. When it comes to touch, less is often more. This is not only true during veterinary handling, but also during more relaxed encounters with people.

As a general guide, most friendly cats will enjoy being touched around the regions where their facial glands are located, including the base of their ears, under their chin, and around their cheeks. These places are usually preferred over areas such as their tummy, back and base of their tail.

Signs of cat enjoyment:

• Tail held upright and choosing to initiate contact.
• Purring and kneading you with their front paws.
• Gently waving their tail from side to side while held in the air.
• A relaxed posture and facial expression, ears pricked and pointed forwards.
• Giving you a gentle nudge if you pause while you’re stroking them.

Signs of dislike or tension:

• Shifting, moving or turning their head away from you.
• Remaining passive (no purring or rubbing)
• Exaggerated blinking, shaking their head or body or licking their nose
• Rapid, short bursts of grooming.
• Rippling or twitching skin, usually along their back.
• Swishing, thrashing or thumping tail.
• Ears flattening to the sides or rotating backwards.
• A sharp sudden turn of their head to face you or your hand.
• Biting, swiping or batting your hand away with their paw.

Whether cats make good “fur babies,” then, is very debatable. Lots of cats do like being touched, but lots probably don’t – and many tolerate it at best. Ultimately though, when it comes to cats, it’s important to respect their boundaries—and the wildcat within—even if that means admiring their cuteness from afar.

Lauren Robin Finka works as a consultant for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and also writes a monthly column for ‘Your Cat’ Magazine. This article was originally featured on The Conversation.

The post You’re probably petting your cat wrong appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Grumpy Cat. Lil Bub. Maru. What do all of these internet-famous cats have in common? From ankle down, their paws are as white as the trendy marble countertops vying for attention in the very same Instagram feed.

Pet lovers refer to this particular color pattern as an animal’s “socks,” “booties,” “mittens,” or “tuxedo” for obvious reasons. The phenomenon of pigment mixed with white splotches can occur in pigs, deer, horses, dogs, guinea pigs, birds, and, in rare cases, humans. But it’s particularly prominent in cats, as evidenced by the fact that Socks consistently ranks in the top names for felines. (Even former President Bill Clinton bestowed it upon his black-and-White House pet, who notoriously did not get along with the family’s monochromatic chocolate lab, Buddy.)

But scientists have another name for it: piebaldism. It’s the result of a mutation in the KIT gene, which causes an unusual distribution of melanocytes—the cells that give eyes, skin, and hair or fur pigment.

When a cat is still an embryo, all of its available melanocytes are bunched up toward its back, where its spinal column will eventually form. As the fetus develops into a mewling kitten, pigment cells spread throughout the developing body. If the melanocytes are evenly distributed, the cat could have a unicolor coat, like Sabrina the Teenage Witch‘s all-black cat, Salem, or the all-white Hello Kitty. But in many animals, the cells spread irregularly. That’s how you get a cat like Sylvester, who’s black from his back to his legs, but white down to his toes.

Why exactly the melanocytes clump and cluster has been a matter of some debate. It was long thought that the cells just didn’t move at the right rate to completely cover an animal’s body. But more recent research in Nature Communications using a mathematical model of melanocytes suggests that the pigment cells in piebald animals don’t divide often enough, leaving the developing critter without enough biological material for a monochrome coat.

Piebaldism isn’t the only genetic quirk that can alter an animal’s fleece, according to the UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Lab. The tabby cat’s signature look is served up by the agouti gene, which determines the distribution of black pigment. The same gene gives rise to “bay” horses, which have ruddy brown bodies, but pitch black manes and tails. Norwegian Forest cats harbor two mutations of note: The aptly-named “Orange gene” on the X chromosome can produce a red coat in many cats, but an alteration on the MC1R gene appears specific to this breed. Born one color, these felines can mature into another golden or “amber” hue. And Siamese and Burmese cats have a form of selective albinism that allows them to suppress melanin production based on temperature. The activating enzyme tyrosinase explains the Siamese’s ombre appearance, with its sandy-colored abdomen (the warmest part of the body) that darkens around the extremities, including its ear tips and paws.

Maybe the next meme-worthy cat should be named for a geneticist. Gregor Meowndel, anyone?

The post Why do cats—and so many other animals—look like they’re wearing socks? appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

You’ve almost certainly heard about Toxoplasma gondii before, the dreaded cat poop parasite that’s infected roughly 2 billion people around the world and famously makes mice unafraid of cats. Researchers have found evidence suggesting Toxoplasma gondii infection in humans is responsible for everything from depression and suicide, to impulsive and aggressive actions, to maybe even some forms of psychosis. And perhaps those bits of research give some clue as to why we’re now seeing headlines about a new study published Wednesday in Proceedings of the Royal Society B suggesting this parasite promotes entrepreneurship.

If it still seems out of left field, you’re not alone. Let’s take some time to break down how got here.

For the uninitiated, Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that gets excreted in cat feces and has been shown to infect virtually any warm blooded animal that comes into close contact, although the parasites can only reproduce in felines. The parasite has been shown to alter rodent behavior by making them less risk-averse. Infected mice will spend more time exploring mazes, and are even attracted to cat urine—behaviors that greatly raise the chances of being attacked and eaten by a predator. Infected animals also develop cysts in their brains that alter levels of certain neurotransmitters and hormones, resulting in higher levels of dopamine, serotonin, testosterone, and other signaling molecules that reduce fear in rodents and presumably affect judgement, personality, and mental health in any infected hosts.

So far, though, scientists haven’t been able to definitively connect these biochemical changes to specific symptoms in humans. The infection is asymptomatic in most people, so although immune-compromised individuals, pregnant women, and infants are at risk of developing fatal toxoplasmosis most people go through life never knowing they have a parasite. Studies do suggest that there are subtle changes in behavior amongst T. gondii hosts, but it’s been difficult to pin them down.

Armed with this (admittedly limited) understanding, Stefanie Johnson, a business professor at the University of Colorado Boulder and the lead author for the study, decided to look into studies on how Toxoplasma gondii affects communities around the world. One suggested the parasite increases neuroticism in countries with higher rates of infection, while another found people who died from risk-taking behavior were more likely to be infected by T. gondii than others who died of more natural causes like heart attack. Johnson began working with her husband, Pieter, a biologist at UCB, towards trying to build a study that could look at the business implications of T. gondii, culminating in this latest study.

There are three major prongs to this study. The first was an investigation into infection patterns in university students. The team collected T. gondii data (using a saliva-based assay that looked for T. gondii antibodies) from 1,495 American undergraduates majoring in biology or business, 22 percent of whom tested positive for T. gondii. Johnson and her team found that the business majors were 1.4 times more likely to test positive for the parasite. Moreover, those T. gondii-positive business students were 1.7 times more likely to pursue a management and entrepreneurship emphasis (versus something less daring like accounting) than their uninfected compatriots, highlighting that infected people were more likely to specially engage in risk-taking career tracks.

The second prong looked at infection patterns in 197 American business professionals attending entrepreneurship events, and found that those who tested positive for T. gondii were 1.8 times more likely to have started their own business than those who were uninfected.

The last prong looked at global patterns of parasite infection and entrepreneurship using existing T. gondii prevalence databases and entrepreneurship information across 42 countries over the past 25 years, and found that countries with higher infection rates were correlated with higher rates of individuals starting their own business. “We found that there’s a reduced fear of failure [induced by the infection] that creates this slight effect,” says Johnson.

The correlation may well be real and statistically significant, but we cannot emphasize enough that these findings need to be taken with a large grain of salt.

“The existence of the Toxoplasma-induced changes has been proven to exist beyond any reasonable doubt,” says Jaroslav Flegr, a researcher at Charles University in Prague who was not involved with the study. “It is not clear, however, which of these changes are the products of the manipulative activity of Toxoplasma and which are just side effects of chronic parasitic infection,” especially given how asymptomatic latent infection is in most people. Flegr thinks the new paper is “very interesting and potentially important,” but wishes there were a tighter analysis of how the differences in T. gondii prevalence around the world corresponded to risky business behavior.

Johnson herself admits the neurological data is mixed. “We’re not sure what the mechanisms [for neurological changes] are,” although she puts her money on the parasite’s effect on dopamine and testosterone, partially because there’s been more research on that front.

Obviously, a bigger sample size would increase confidence in the results. Johnson notes that before running the study, the team “had no idea about the magnitude of the effect” infection might have on entrepreneurship, and had to create a study without knowing what the base rate would be. “With more data, we can look at finer cuts of how this relationship between infection and entrepreneurship works,” she says, such as pathway of exposure, and the success and failure of businesses started by infected individuals. That sort of data could help researchers interpret the results better and answer questions like whether infection actually helps people start viable ventures or simply pushes risky moves in any direction.

Brad Pearce, an epidemiologist at Emory University who’s previously studied T. gondii infection in populations, also notes that salivary assays like the one used for this study typically exhibit low sensitivity and specificity, so a more accurate assessment of infection would require something like a blood test.

The findings are also yet another lesson that correlation does not equal causation. “As much as I’d like to believe that this cosmopolitan parasite is affecting our human behavior,” says Johnson, “we really just looked at the relationship between the behavior and infection. It’s possible that your entrepreneurial behavior actually causes you to get infected by T. gondii. It’s more likely that there could be a third variable that causes you to both get infected and become an entrepreneur.”

Keep that in mind before you go scrounging around in kitty litter as a way to boost your confidence in that hot new startup you’re launching. Then again, if you’re the kind of person who wants it that badly, maybe you’ll be successful after all, whether you have a brain-altering parasite in you or not.

The post This cat-poop parasite can change your brain, but it probably won’t make you an entrepreneur appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Note: Below is the script for the video, above. You may want to just watch the video instead. While we have you, why don’t you subscribe to Popular Science on YouTube?

Female cats, also called “queens,” usually give birth to litters of 3 to 5 kittens, but as many as 19 have been born at once. And while it’s true that every kitten on this earth is cute in its own way, even those from the same litter can look completely different. Which, frankly, explains a lot about The Aristocats.

This is because queens can be impregnated by more than one male, or tomcat, during a single ovulation period. It’s a phenomenon called “heteropaternal superfecundation.”

Think of these kittens like fraternal twins—genetically different and occupying the uterus together—but instead of one male fertilizing multiple eggs, each kitten could be sired by a different tom. This has been reported in other mammals, too, including dogs, cows, and, though its rare, even humans.

You could see why it would be evolutionarily advantageous: the more tomcats a queen mates with, the more likely she is to have kittens. And it’s not like she cares that one of her brood has gray stripes and another one has orange spots. Her genetic makeup is in every one of these little fluffs.

Oh, and while we’re on the subject: do your part to ensure every little furball has a loving home by spaying or neutering your pets.

Subscribe to Popular Science on YouTube.

The post Kittens from the same litter don’t always have the same parents appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

The Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony honors scientists who have pursued unusual research. And between the eight-year-old who repeated “I’m bored” whenever the scientists went on too long, the audience chants of “Ira, Ira, Ira,”, and an opera about incompetence, the prize ceremony brought attention to some pretty great science. This year’s theme was uncertainty.

The first real winner of the Ig Nobel awards was the Internet. That’s where French fluids researcher Marc-Antoine Fardin found the article “15 Proofs That Cats Are Liquid,” which inspired the first accolade of the night. In his paper “On the rheology of cats,” Fardin found that young cats are more fluid than old cats. He also wrote about the effects that the environment has on the fluidity of cats…and the effects of cats on their environment. “Very recent experiments from Japan also suggest that we should not see cats as isolated fluid systems, but as able to transfer and absorb stresses from their environment,” Fardin writes. “Indeed, in Japan, they have cat cafes, where stressed out customers can pet kitties and purr their worries away.”

The next award was for people who were just a little too relaxed. Six men in pajamas walked onto the stage, one holding a didgeridoo. They are the researchers behind the paper “Didgeridoo playing as alternative treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome,”. Alex Suarez, a didgeridoo instructor, told the researchers that he and his students felt less tired after their musical training. The study found that new didgeridoo players had reduced daytime sleepiness and their partners reported fewer nighttime disturbances. Daytime disturbances from didgeridoo practice were not covered in the research.

The risk of sleep apnea increases as we age, and, unfortunately, so do our ears. British doctor James Heathcote won the anatomy prize for finding that, yes, old men do have bigger ears, by about two millimeters per year. Heathcote noted that, “once you’ve spotted it, it’s impossible to imagine those enormous ears on a younger man.”

Of course, there are much worse situations than having large ears. You could live in France and find cheese disgusting. A group of French researchers won the medicine prize for scanning the brains of the six percent of the population who have an intense aversion to cheese. A demonstration followed this award. The audience was called to stand if they loved cheese, and the cheering masses of Sanders Theater stood. Then the few cheese antagonists rose to demonstrate their antipathy, and the rest of the crowd booed.

The strong negative reaction to cheese may be genetic, and if future researchers want to investigate, they will probably use a twin study. That’s exactly what four Italian researchers did to win the cognition prize. They found that identical twins are often unable to recognize themselves in photos. They can’t tell if they are looking at a picture of themselves or of their twin.

Other scientists won awards for finding out how the presence of a live crocodile influences a person’s willingness to gamble, if a hairy-legged vampire bat drinks human blood, and if walking backwards causes a person to spill coffee. The awards team would probably recommend that researchers continue to study what interests them, even if they have ambitions to win this unusual prize and a fake $10 trillion check next year. In the words of Harvard economics professor Eric Maskin, “Uncertainty is the only true thing. Perhaps.”

The post This year’s Ig Nobel prizes for unusual research honored old man ears and the fluidity of cats appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Before cats conquered the internet, they conquered the world—with a little help from their human serfs.

Domesticated cats live pretty much everywhere except Antarctica, and a new study in Nature Ecology and Evolution helps to uncover how they spread so far. DNA from the remains of more than 200 cats, dug up from Viking and Stone Age graves and extracted from Egyptian mummies, reveals that cats conquered the globe in two waves.

Feline remains are scarce in the archaeological record, and it doesn’t help that ancient domesticated cats are nearly impossible to distinguish from their wild brethren. So there’s a lot we still don’t know for sure about how humans turned wildcats into lap cats. But today’s study, which took 10 years to complete, is one of the most comprehensive analyses yet.

The African subspecies of wildcat (named Felis silvestris lybica) found its niche in the region now known as Turkey during the dawn of agriculture. As humans started storing grain some 10,000 years ago, rodents decided to move in with us. That attracted wildcats, and then some smart person said to herself: “Hmm, these things are pretty good at killing rats, maybe we should keep them around.”

Tamed cats seem to have spread from there, reaching Europe as early as 4,400 B.C.

The second wave of cat domestication came out of Egypt. Here, Felis silvestris lybica may have become quite tame and sociable—Egyptian artwork from around 1500 B.C. shows felines in domestic situations, lounging under peoples’ chairs, for example. That might explain why this lineage of cat was so popular, spreading along trade routes through Africa and the Mediterranean in the first millennium B.C.

Cats continued to expand their domain thanks to their usefulness on ships, where rodents were also a big problem. The Vikings probably helped to carry the felines to new lands, including northern Europe.

Because cats were valued mostly as pest exterminators, their owners don’t seem to have cared too much about how they looked or behaved for thousands of years. Then, sometime in the fourteenth century, a gene for blotched tabby markings showed up in western Turkey—suggesting that controlled breeding of tamed cats was finally taking off. The gene spread in Europe and Africa, and by the time cat breeding started to take off in the 19th century, the gene had become common.

For thousands of years—and still to this day, in some places—domestic cats continued to interbreed with their wild counterparts. This could help to explain why tamed cats aren’t as physically different from wildcats as, say, a chihuahua is from a wolf. And it might help to explain why even the nicest house cats still tend to be anti-social.

So the next time you get frustrated with Fluffy because she doesn’t understand why she’s not allowed to walk on the table, maybe it’s worth blaming our own ancestors, too, for not properly domesticating cats sooner.

The post DNA from Egyptian mummies and Viking graves reveals how cats conquered the world appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Over the years, I have wasted a lot of money on cat accessories that turned out to be junk. Sure, every cat owner dreams of bringing home one of those three-tiered, carpeted towers with adorable cubbyholes for the fur babies to play in. But what you can’t see in the picture is how easy it is for an overenthusiastic jump to send the entire habitat crashing to the floor, while your cat scrambles away terrified, silently vowing to never go near that thing again.

Even something as simple as a scratching post can be unsturdy, too short, and/or too expensive. Essentially, these things are just carpeting attached to a wooden or cardboard post—so why is it so hard to find a good one at a decent price? With limited options in the store, my husband and I set out to build our own.

For our first try, we simply attached a wooden post (a leftover bit of 4×4 that Home Depot gave us for free) to a wooden base ($4). The cats love it, and it’s held up for a year or two now, but it’s getting a little worn out. For this latest one, we decided to get fancy and add a bit of carpet. Here’s how we did it.

Project Stats

• Time: 2 hours

• Cost: ~$10

• Difficulty: Easy

Tools

• Drill

• Staple gun or glue

• Hammer

• Box cutter or scissors

Materials

• Wooden post. Cats like to be able to stretch while they scratch, so make sure the post is longer than your cat. I used a 4×4 that’s 27 inches long.

• Wooden base. This should be heavy enough to support the post. I found a nice round piece at the hardware store for $4, but plywood may work as well. You’ll probably want it to be at least 16 inches square.

• Two 3-inch wood screws

• Carpet (optional). I used less than 1 square foot of a carpet runner to cover just the vertical post. Avoid carpets with a loop pile, which can unravel quickly when a cat scratches.

• Padding (optional). If you have hardwood floors, you’re probably going to want to cushion the bottom of the wooden base. I used adhesive felt pads, but another option would be to hot-glue any leftover carpeting to the bottom of the base.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Step 8

Step 9

Step 10

Hand it over

Success

The post Keep your cat overlord happy with this easy DIY scratching post appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Cat owners can sleep easy tonight. Well, maybe they can’t if their cat likes to wake them up at 4am by gently clawing their cheeks, but they can at least put their minds at ease: owning a cat isn’t actually bad for your mental health.

Biologists and epidemiologists have cited cat ownership as a risk factor for psychosis, schizophrenia, and a whole slew of other psychological problems. Studies had long showed that cats can host the bacteria Toxoplasma Gondii, which has been repeatedly linked to said mental health problems. The T. Gondii parasites get excreted in cat feces, and since cats poop indoors in litter boxes cat owners are often in close proximity to the organism. So it follows that having a cat increases your risk of psychosis. Except that it doesn’t.

This is a fairly classic case of ‘correlation doesn’t imply causation’. If you compared the amount of popsicles eaten to the number of drownings that occur, you’d probably find a significant correlation. That seems like it implies that the more popsicles you eat, the more likely you are to drown. In fact, it’s far more likely that there’s a third, confounding factor: proximity to a body of water. People are more likely to eat popsicles when they’re at the beach or by a pool, where drownings almost exclusively take place. Or take a real world example: having a lighter in your breast pocket makes you far more likely to have lung cancer. Is it because lighters somehow cause cancer? No. It’s because smoking causes lung cancer and smokers often keep lighters in their breast pockets.

The same seems to be true of cat ownership. It’s true that T. Gondii infection makes you more likely to have psychological problems because the parasite affects the muscles and brain. It’s also true that T. Gondii reproduces and lives in cats and gets excreted in their feces. But when psychiatrists at University College London followed over 4,500 kids from birth to age 18, gathering data about their pet ownership, home lives, and health, they couldn’t find a link. Their study, published on Tuesday in Psychological Medicine, contradicts prior research that’s been widely reported on.

It seems that the previous studies were finding relationships based on biased data. Many of the studies were retrospective, meaning they asked participants to look back on their lives and recall habits, living situations, and health issues. Recall like that is fairly unreliable, though, and with small sample sizes on top of the bias issues the resulting data wasn’t exactly optimal. Some studies also failed to control for confounding factors, like occupation, socioeconomic level, other pet ownership, and over-crowding in the home. A few or all of those factors may be the true culprits. In some of the analyses that the University College London group performed, they found a link between cat ownership and mental health problems when they only looked at those two factors. The link disappeared once they controlled for confounding factors, which implies that cat ownership is correlated with some other factor that’s actually causing mental health problems.

It’s also worth noting that even if your cat has a T. Gondii infection, it’s unlikely that you’ll get infected. As the Cornell Veterinary School points out, cats only shed the organism in their feces for a few days, which is a small window in which to make the transfer. Plus, indoor cats who aren’t fed red meat or don’t hunt prey probably haven’t caught the parasite to begin with. You’re more likely to get infected by handling your own food than by emptying the litter box.

That’s not to say that you shouldn’t be careful when handling cat feces. But we should stop claiming cat poop is to blame for human psychosis. After all, wanting to own a pet that acts totally disinterested in you unless it’s clawing your skin isn’t psychotic—it’s just very masochistic.

The post Cat poop parasites don’t actually make you psychotic appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Vikings were hardy people who valued self-reliance and strength of will. But that doesn’t mean they were immune to the lure of feline companionship. A new study on cat DNA and linage shows that as well as ruling in Egypt and the Mediterranean, cats were welcomed aboard Viking ships.

Eva-Maria Geigl, an evolutionary geneticist at the Institut Jacques Monod in Paris, and colleagues Claudio Ottoni and Thierry Grange presented their work, the first large-scale study of ancient cat DNA, at the 7th International Symposium on Biomolecular Archaeology in Oxford, UK on September 15. They sequenced the DNA of more than 200 cats that lived between 15,000 years ago and eighteenth century AD.

We may associate them with ancient Egypt’s mummified felines and gods — remains from 9,500-year-old burials show that Egyptians kept them close, even to the death — but cats are present in Norse mythology as well. “Freja, the goddess of love, had two cats that pulled her carriage,” Jes Martens from the Cultural History Museum in Oslo, Norway told Science Nordic. “And when Thor visited Utgard, he tried to lift the giant, Utgard-Loki’s cat. It turned out to be a serpent, the Midgard Serpent, which not even Thor could lift.” As well as being a lucky presence, cats could have been useful as mousers on Vikings’ long trips at sea.

The researchers hope to continue sequencing ancient cat DNA, to reveal more about domestication, spread, and breeding.

[h/t Nature]

The post New Evidence That Cats Sailed With Vikings appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Cats are one of the world’s most devastating predators

Ever wondered why some cat owners put bells on their pets’ collars? No, it’s not so they can find Oreo at night or Snow Queen in a blizzard. The reason is that cats are predators, and a tinkling little bell is meant to scare away potential prey animals before our domesticated predators can turn them into meals, toys or gifts. Their predatory instincts can make for cute or disturbing playtime, but a new meta-analysis published in Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences suggests that cats and other invasive mammals have profoundly impacted affected global biodiversity.

Australian conservation ecologist Tim Doherty and his colleagues combed through the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources’ (IUCN) Red List of threatened species, and they analyzed the data to determine which non-native predators were wreaking the most havoc on native animals. Among these non-native predators were cats and dogs. When analyzing data, the researchers, “took any reference to ‘domestic predators/carnivores/pets’ to mean cats (F. catus) and dogs (C. familiaris).” And while these are mostly feral individuals, house-kept members of F. catus and C. familiaris are not blameless.

Playing with your food

They found that, “596 threatened and 142 extinct species (total 738) have suffered negative impacts from 30 species of invasive mammalian predators.” In addition to cats, the predators topping this list include rodents, dogs and pigs. And while we may think of cats as the predator most deadly to birds, the researchers say that rodents are responsible for 52 bird species’ extinctions, compared to cats’ lower but still shocking score of 40.

The researchers argue that invasive predatory mammals are the worst driver of species extinction, “collectively contributing to 58 percent of all bird, mammal, and reptile extinctions.” The number could be even higher, though, “because 23 critically endangered species negatively affected by invasive predators are currently classed as possibly extinct.”

Quicker than a rabbit

The researchers identify the populations most at risk: animals that occupy isolated or small ecological niches. A species that lives on an island, for instance, is more likely to be affected by invasive predators than a species that inhabits a variety of environments.

So, should you put a bell on your cat? It probably won’t hurt (though some might argue otherwise), but it also might not help. Some cats can move stealthily enough that their bells don’t make sound, so some owners have resorted to brightly colored collars to scare birds away. Stray cats that people make their pets are the ones to look out for, since their hunting skills are the most honed. The most surefire solution, though, is probably to keep your cat indoors, where the only thing it can kill is your loneliness.

[H/T Gizmodo]

The post Feral Cats Are A Huge Threat To The Global Ecosystem appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

The last time Padma visited the vet sober, she desperately tried to scramble up the walls to escape the vet technician’s grasp. She yowled unholy caterwauls that were heard all the way out in the waiting room, and emitted some defensive “anal leakages.” Now, at the doctor’s request, we sedate her before going for checkups.

Padma has always been an anxious, antisocial, and neurotic cat, and going to the vet brings out the worst in her. So when The Trainable Cat: A Practical Guide to Making Life Happier for You and Your Cat came across my desk, I figured I had nothing to lose. The book, which comes out September 13, is authored by animal behaviorists John Bradshaw and Sarah Ellis.

The first thing I learned was that I’ve been doing everything wrong by focusing too much on punishing bad behaviors. Chasing her around with a spray bottle after she bites me doesn’t help her learn to be nice, and probably only makes her resent me. That was depressing, but important to learn.

Bradshaw and Ellis’ strategy is all about positive reinforcement–rewarding good behaviors instead of punishing bad ones, which is basically Psychology 101. Cats have natural instincts that don’t always fit into human lifestyles. They’re typically antisocial creatures who don’t like new places, and they find it unpleasant when strangers poke their most vulnerable body parts. But by using food and toy rewards, we can help them cope with scary things like meeting new cats, getting their nails clipped, and going to the vet.

The key is to start small and then work up to more complex tasks, practicing in short sessions one or two times a day.

The Trials And Tribulations Of Cat Training

Training a cat requires patience. One of the first steps that Bradshaw and Ellis outline is to train the cat to relax on cue. Which for Padma was a lot harder than it sounds.

At the book’s instruction, I picked out a nice soft blanket, and gave her a treat every time she stepped on it. (Using a clicker or a phrase like “Good girl, Padma” helped her learn which behavior she was getting rewarded for.) After she got good at that, I would only reward her when all four feet were on the blanket. Then I would reward her only for staying on it for long periods of time. And then for lying down on the blanket, finally! This took a few days.

Then we hit a wall.

Padma would lie down, but she was not relaxed. She was so pumped about the possibility of treats that she was ready to spring as soon as the treat bag crinkled, tapping her tail impatiently while she waited.

After several sessions of making no progress, I got around this using two strategies. The first was to downgrade from a very tasty treat to a boring kibble–it was still desirable, but less exciting. Then, I counted down from 10 seconds. If she was still lying on the blanket at the end of the 10 seconds, she got a treat. Then we worked up to 15, 20, 25, and so on, until she finally started to understand that patience would be rewarded. Then she started to relax–success!

Then I rewarded her for blinking slowly, and for tucking her feet up under her in the potato-like posture of relaxed cats. Eventually she would stay on the blanket even after we finished training, and fall asleep there.

The process took weeks. But the good news is that after you nail the relaxation blanket trick, you can use it to help train more complex behaviors, like keeping calm in the cat carrier or when a doctor’s stethoscope touches her. Working up to those tasks is going to be a little more complicated, but so far I’ve managed to get her to walk into the cat carrier all by herself—no chasing her down and stuffing her in. And thanks to the relaxation blanket, she’ll even lie down in there and fall asleep.

Every Cat Is Different

In the book, Bradshaw and Ellis describe training procedures for all sorts of scenarios, from introducing a new cat or dog to getting the cat to stop scratching the sofa. Training a cat is quite a bit more complicated than what I just outlined, which is why you should buy the book. There are nuances, and every cat is different.

The book can also come in handy if you just want to teach your feline some fun tricks. Bradshaw and Ellis say that you can train your cat to do pretty much anything that it isn’t physically impossible for a small four-legged creature.

Our cat Juliet has a natural talent for standing on her hind legs. She also likes to play for approximately 100 percent of the time that she is conscious. So we trained her to stand up and nose-bump us for a playtime reward. The result is pretty cute:

More Than Just Party Tricks

I wasn’t just persuading Padma to chill out on a blanket. For one, I was learning how to read her behaviors, to recognize when she was confused or irritated or just needed a little bit of time to explore a new task. I learned more about what she likes and doesn’t like, and what kind of cues she needs to figure out what I want from her.

Her behavior is better in other ways. So far she seems less aggressive and more affectionate, and might even be better at coping with new things. It has brought us closer together.

On the nights when we skip training but she gets the same amount of food, her behavior is noticeably worse–she howls for attention, and will knock paintings off the walls to get it. So I’ve been trying to give her a few minutes of training every day, working through the different lessons in the book.

Padma is still a long way from being comfortable at the vet’s office. But The Trainable Cat gave me the tools to try to make it happen. Maybe, just maybe, she’ll one day make it through an appointment without medication or anal leakages.

The post How To Train Your Cat Using Science appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Science is getting closer to proving that yes, your cats are probably smarter than you. According to a study from researchers in Japan, cats seem to understand physics and cause and effect.

To do that, the researchers studied 30 domesticated cats, and videotaped their reactions to different scenarios. If you’ve ever had a cat, you’ve probably watched them react excitedly to a shaken bag of treats. The researchers in Japan have created a similar scenario by shaking a container in front of the cats. In one scenario, the container rattles and then an object is dropped from the container. In another, the container makes no noise and no object drops. These two are generally congruent with the laws of physics: the sound signals to the cat that there is something inside. And the cats reacted appropriately, staring longer at the container that made a sound.

Then, the researchers switched things up: The container that rattled didn’t drop an object, and the container that didn’t rattle did produce something. This also inspired the cats to stare longer, which the researchers suggest could mean it doesn’t fit into the cats’ understanding of a logical cause and effect scenario.

Previously, it was believed that cats had an “unsophisticated” understanding of causal relationships. But, this research and its focus on the auditory response of cats show that cats can predict the presence of objects, and even have a grasp of what gravity is. And future research that uses more complex scenarios could help researchers better understand what the sound is telling cats to expect in terms of quantity or size of objects.

The post Cats May Understand Cause And Effect, Study Finds appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

There are few certainties in this world. Death, sure. Taxes, ugh. Cats landing on their feet? Yes.

Sure, occasionally some doofus cats miss their mark, but for the most part, these fascinating furballs always manage to right themselves mid-air before hitting the ground. How?

The new BBC show Life In The Air tackled this question by filming the fall of a cat called the African caracel.

Apparently the trick is in the physics. By rotating the top part of its body one way, and the bottom half of its body the other, the cat managed to get some level of control out of the free-fall, landing safe and sound on its paws.

Watch the full clip from the BBC below.

The post How Do Cats Always Land On Their Feet? appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis

There are more than 500 million domestic cats (Felis catus) worldwide. Their grip on the globe is tangible, too. For anyone who has spent any amount of time wasting away on the internet, they’ll know it’s awash in cat videos and memes. Millennia ago, just as we do now, Egyptians depicted cats on walls and worshipped them as gods. Yet, it wasn’t always so.

Scientists know for certain that all domestic cats are descended from the North African and Near Eastern subspecies of wildcat Felis silvestris lybica, and recent evidence has shown that this domestication occurred probably 10,800 years ago near the Middle East. But new findings suggest that cats were likely domesticated twice–the second time some 5,000 years ago in China, when an altogether different species of wildcat was brought into a then catless human community. This puts cats in the company of pigs and dogs on the short list of animals whose domestication occurred more than once. The findings are published in the science journal PLOS One.

Cats, perhaps not surprisingly, largely domesticated themselves. This likely happened in concert with the Neolithic revolution and the advent of agriculture. Large fields and stores of grains meant large numbers of mice and rats. And humans, of course, did not object to having helpful hunters around to protect their crops. So they started taking care of the felines to make sure they stayed around—and to increase their numbers for the war on rodents. Cats’ presence around humans is well documented in Ancient Egypt, but it is believed domestication was well on its way before then, with cat remains found associated with human burial sites in Cyprus from as early as 10,800 years ago.

Near Eastern wildcat Felis silvestris lybica

Added to this evidence of early domestication was the recent discovery of smallish cat bones at several Neolithic sites in Northern China. These cat bones showed the telltale signs of domestication: small size, worn teeth indicative of being fed by humans, and even a whole skeleton suggesting that an ancient feline was given an intentional burial. Zooarchaeologists initially thought these must be the remains of Western domestic cats transported to the region, but the newest spate of findings show these bones were from a wholly separate species of wildcat, the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis)–and thus an entirely novel incident of domestication.

Jean-Denis Vigne, the director of research from the French National Centre for Scientific Research in Paris and a team of international researchers analyzed felid bones collected from the Neolithic sites in China. Using a particular technique known as geometric morphometric analysis—taking thousands of digital measurements to compare and contrast bones—they determined that all of the bones unearthed in China were indeed from the leopard cat, native to Central Asia. This means that wildcats were, in fact, domesticated once in the Middle East/North Africa region, about 10,800 years ago, and again, from a different species in China approximately 5,000 years later.

A domestic cat skull from a Neolithic site in China

Vigne notes that leopard cats can easily be bred in captivity and that the physical condition and nature of their deposition—particularly the full skeleton burial—strongly indicate these spotted felines were on the path to domestication. “Individually, these [findings] make a weak argument, but altogether they are strong.”

Vigne also explains that if cats—which largely domesticated themselves—were indeed to have undergone this process twice, it could mean that a wide array of animals may have become domesticated with less human involvement than previously thought. “Contrary to what was thought 40 years ago, domestication does not result from the unique decision of humans,” he says, but starts with “a specially strong ecological interaction between a species and humans.”

This brings up another question, however. What happened to the domestic leopard cat of China? Genetic analysis of modern domestic cats, including those in contemporary China, shows that they are not descended from leopard cats. So what happened? Perhaps the opening of the Silk Road and trade between East and West ended the leopard kitty’s bid for domestication. “Maybe it was more in ‘fashion’ to have a cat coming from more ‘exotic’ countries?” speculates Vigne. It’s still a mystery.

Despite millennia of silence, it has, in a way, made its meow heard in households once again, in the form of the Bengal domestic cat, a breed created in the 1960s, which is a cross between a standard domestic cat and a leopard cat.

A Bengal kitten

Update 1/28/2016: This article was updated with quotes from a later interview.

The post The Cat May Have Been Domesticated Two Separate Times appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

From Sylvester in Looney Tunes to Mr. Mistoffelees in the 1980s musical, some of the most famous (albeit fictional) cats share a distinctively sharp appearance thanks to their black and white tuxedo-style coats. Cats with skin and fur marked by white patches in this way are known as bicolor or piebald. Piebaldism is also common in a range of domestic and farm animals including dogs, cows and pigs, deer, horses, and appears more rarely in humans. It is caused by a mutation in a gene called KIT.

Our team of researchers from the universities of Bath, Edinburgh and Oxford have been working to unlock the mystery of how these animals get their distinctive patterns. We have discovered that the way these striking pigment patterns form is far more random than originally thought. Our findings have implications for the study of a wide range of serious embryonic disorders in humans, including diseases affecting hearing, vision, digestion, and the heart.

Stunning patterns

Piebaldism usually manifests as white areas of fur, hair or skin due to the absence of pigment-producing cells in those regions. These areas usually arise on the front of an animal, commonly on the belly and the forehead. Piebald patterns are among the most striking animal coat patterns in nature.

Although the effects of piebaldism are relatively mild, it is one of a range of more serious defects called neurocristopathies. These result from defects in the development of tissues and can manifest as heart problems, deafness, digestive problems and even cancer. The diseases are all linked by their reliance on a family of embryonic cells called neural crest cells. By understanding piebaldism better, we can improve our understanding of these related and more serious diseases.

Chimaeric stripes

Animals acquire piebald pigmentation patterns on their skin when they are still developing embryos. Piebaldism arises when the precursors of pigment-producing cells spread incorrectly through the embryo. In normal development, pigment cells start near the back of the embryo and spread through its developing skin to the belly. As the cells spread they also multiply, creating more cells, some of which are left behind to ensure all the skin is pigmented.

With piebaldism, however, the darkly coloured pigment cells don’t make it as far as the belly in time to pigment the hair and skin. This results in distinctive white patches of fur and skin, usually around the belly of the animal, the furthest point from where they started. It has long been thought that pigment cells migrate directly from the back to the front and that the lack of pigmentation at the front is due to pigment cells not moving fast enough.

However, our findings, published in Nature Communications, paint a different picture. We found that, if anything, cells in piebald animals migrate faster than in normal animals, but that they don’t divide as often. This means that there simply aren’t enough cells to pigment all the areas of the developing embryo.

Chimaeric animals develop from a fusion of two early-stage embryos. If the original embryos would have been differently coloured (for example, black and white), the chimaeric animal often has striped or patchy coat patterns, a mix of the two colours. Previously, the predominant theory was that each stripe was created by a small number of initiator cells that spread from back to front.

Our study used a combination of biological experimentation and complex mathematical modelling to demonstrate that pigment cells migrate randomly. Rather than moving in a specific direction like the sprinters in a 100-metre race, the cells move with little or no persistence, like drunks staggering out of the local bar at closing time. The striped patterns seen in some chimaeric mice may simply be the result of several groups of cells of the same colour coming together by chance.

Using our mathematical model, we can explore and evaluate a huge range of possible alternative biological hypotheses for pattern formation. This gives us a deeper understanding that would be impossible with experiments alone. It also means we could reduce the number of animals used in experiments in this important research area.

Excitingly, there is now the potential to use the same mathematical model to investigate other cell types during early development. This creates a new opportunity to learn more about medical conditions linked to early cell positioning, including those that give rise to certain types of cancers of the nervous system and other debilitating diseases such as Waardenburg syndrome, Hirschsprung disease and Ondine’s curse, a respiratory disorder that is fatal if left untreated.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

The post Why Some Cats Look Like They Are Wearing Tuxedos appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Cats are neat freaks.

They spend inordinate amounts of time grooming themselves, and while that might seem a bit excessive to us filthy humans, they’ve got cause. A new study finds that if you spread out all their skin and hair (insert many ways to skin a cat pun here) those adorable balls of allergens fluff have roughly the same surface area as a ping pong table.

Researchers from Georgia Tech were trying to figure out how animals of different sizes manage to stay clean, so they looked at 24 studies and measured 27 different mammals and insects. By measuring the surface area of different animals, they could determine exactly how much covering each one had to keep clear of dust and dirt. Some animals have way more surface area than others.

Surface Area

So why care about how animals keep themselves clean? Because keeping dust and dirt off the surfaces of machines is hugely important, especially when humans can’t be there to maintain the system. Keeping spacecraft and landers free of dust can mean the difference between a machine functioning for months or years. The key is finding the most efficient way to remove dirt from different surfaces, and some animals are better at this than others. Fruit flies, for example, have to put a lot of effort into staying clean. They propel dust away from their heads “at accelerations of up to 500 times Earth’s gravity,” according to Guillermo Amador, one of the study authors.

While that might be an impressive feat for such a small insect, it’s not really useful for machines, since we want to use as little energy as possible to keep them clean. Future researchers might prefer to mimic biological features such as eyelashes, which are structured to keep dirt away from eyes without any extra work, or the spines of cicadas, which the authors note can ‘pop’ bacteria, puncturing their defenses like a balloon.

The post New Study Finds Cats Have The Surface Area Of A Ping Pong Table appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Your music taste is terrible. Or at least that’s probably what your cat would say, if she could. Not just because your cat is a curmudgeon, but also because your cat probably has a different sense of what sounds good.

We humans like to hear sounds in the range of human voices and tempos similar to the human heartbeat, whereas cats probably prefer something a bit shriller, and perhaps closer to the tempo of a purr.

In March, Popular Science reported on a group of researchers who were making music specially for cats–including caterwauling notes, mewing, and the sounds of suckling. Now you can help Kickstart an entire album of these unsettling songs. The project had set a goal of reaching $20,000 and has already raised more than $100,000 in funding … and it still has 21 days to go.

The music is composed by cellist David Teie, who calls himself the inventor of species-specific music. You can listen to a sample song on his website.

The songs are kind of off-putting to human ears, but apparently cats love them. In a study published in February’s Applied Animal Behavior, Teie and two psychologists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison showed a preference for cat-tailored music over the human kind. A video on the Kickstarter page shows cats walking up to and cuddling speakers that are playing the music, though I am sorry to say the songs had no such effect on my own cat.

People who pledge $15 or more will get to download the entire album. Higher contributions include CDs, signed sheet music, and a chance to Skype with Teie. BUT WAIT! If you pledge $1,000 you can have a song named after your cat (5 people have purchased this option so far), and $2,000 will get you a song that’s tailor-made for your cat. So far there are no takers for the latter, but you know, Christmas is right around the corner…

The post Now You Can Kickstart A Music Album Just For Your Cat appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Chelsey Coombs doesn’t understand her cats. Her 18-month-old male tuxedo cat, Creature, “follows you into the bathroom—you can take a bath or a shower and he just sits there and watches,” she says. He jumps around a lot, meowing insistently whenever a door is closed. While Creature is too invasive, her year-old female tortoiseshell cat, Aurelia, is much more timid: “She rarely ventures outside my room,” Coombs says, “She will try to go up to people but when they try to touch her she runs away.” Sometimes Aurelia drags her owner’s clothes into her litter box or food bowl, much to Coombs’ chagrin.

Many cat owners have similar stories of bizarre feline behavior. So it’s only natural that frustrated cat enthusiasts might try to create a high-tech solution to better understand their pets.

In 2003, Japanese toy company Takara Tomy released a handheld gadget called the Meowlingual Cat Translation Device. Equipped with a microphone, the device can purportedly interpret over 200 words from “cat chat” to Japanese, and glean 21 distinct emotions from a cat’s movements and behavior. More recently, several smartphone apps have popped up, claiming to help pet owners better understand their cats’ feelings by translating their hisses and meows.

Cat researchers are skeptical that these techy translators work as their manufacturers claim. The key to understanding our feline companions, they say, lies in a better comprehension of their personality traits that make them the temperamental creatures we know and love.

“I don’t think anyone fully understands cats, but everyone seems to be fascinated by what they are doing,” says Kurt Kotrschal, the head of the Konrad Lorenz Research Center, which focuses on animal behavioral research, at the University of Vienna in Austria.

Most people would say that dogs are easier to understand than cats (although Takara Tomy also sells the Bowlingual translator). This is because, inherently, dogs and cats socialize differently, Kotrschal says. Dogs are descended from wolves, which conform to each other in packs, cooperatively hunting and raising their young. So when he lives with a person, a dog’s first inclination is to conform his behavior to his owner. “Cats not are less socially intelligent, but their social lives seem to be more varied,” Kotrschal says. Cats are equally happy living in packs or a more solitary existence, so whether or not they conform to their owner’s behavior comes down to how much they like their owners.

Because cats tend to be more individualistic and don’t aim to please, researchers have been stymied for decades as they tried to do various laboratory tests with the persnickety kitties. “If you try to do standardized cognition tests, [cats] do not want to participate, they refuse to conform,” Kotrschal says. Even with studies of domestic cats in their homes, the researchers had no guarantee that the test subject would even “feel” like hanging out, while their canine counterparts can be reliably commanded to sit and stay. But fascination with cats has grown over the past 25 years, and more researchers have devoted their energy to unraveling the mysterious felines, according to Dennis Turner, the director of the Institute for Applied Ethology and Animal Psychology in Hirzel, Switzerland. Now, researchers understand more about cats’ behavior—and their relationship to people—than they do even about dogs, he says.

Cats have their own way of expressing themselves, and learning to read their cues takes time. “The way cats communicate their emotions, often with movements of the ears and tail, is pretty universal—you can generalize from one cat to the next,” Kotrschal says. Cats also make about 10 different vocalizations, Turner agrees, but we still don’t understand them perfectly; many of the sounds are unique to each individual cat, and researchers don’t understand even what a purr means.

Because not all cat sounds are universal, cat lovers should be wary of any device that claims to translate them, Kotrschal says. “If it’s basic vocalizations, it could be kind of okay, but sometimes cat behavior is not so easy to predict,” he adds. But a gadget that translates very basic cat vocalizations to human speech might actually work.

Turner isn’t convinced. “I don’t think something like this would ever work,” he says, unless some very qualified cat researchers helped develop the device. Cats are very expressive creatures, he says, and if owners spend enough time with them and learn their unique vocalizations and body language, they should be able to understand their pets without a gadget.

“I don’t think anyone fully understands cats, but everyone seems to be fascinated by what they are doing.”

If offered a cat communication device guaranteed to work, Coombs would want to decipher the motivations behind her cats’ quirky behaviors. But Turner says that owners themselves may be unwittingly encouraging their cats’ idiosyncratic behaviors that they find most beguiling. “If the cat jumps on the toilet, the owner might actually scream for fear [the cat] might jump in,” Turner says. “But if the cat is seeking additional attention, that might be a reward—they got it, in a way.”

Although cat research has progressed since the Meowlingual translator first hit the market, it’s not quite advanced enough yet to reliably interpret cats’ emotions. Turner and Kotrschal agree that future research into cat communication will focus on their cognitive abilities—“Do they think? What do they think? What kind of decisions do they make?” Turner asks. Kotrschal also suspects that future work will answer more questions about how they socialize and attach to their owners.

But for now, researchers and cat owners alike face similar issues as they try to wrangle their reluctant felines. “They’re very stubborn and hard to understand,” Coombs says. Nonetheless, if she were given a way to verbally communicate with her cats, “I think I would tell them that I really love them.”

The post If Cats Could Speak Human, What Would They Say? appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

We may not be able to do all the fun things that cats do, like napping all day or always landing on our feet. But now we can finally see the world as a cat does thanks to a new project by Japan’s Hiroshima prefecture.

The site allows you to explore the small town of Onomichi, famous for its temple walks. Oh, and it’s heavily populated by cats—it even has its own museum dedicated to those moving maneki-neko cat dolls you might have seen in restaurants:

The cat street view works just like the street view on Google Maps—in fact, this site was made by some of the same technicians and with the same equipment that made Google’s version, a Hiroshima official told the Wall Street Journal. The tool allows you to explore the town’s streets, complete with meta tags to alert you to where other cats are located or to kitty-friendly establishments, all from about a foot off the ground. And as if you could forget that you were in a cat’s perspective, the map punctuates each click with a meow.

Welcome page

Finding some kitty friends

Hiroshima’s tourist board plans to add more maps to the site next month. And though it’s unclear if any similar maps will be made elsewhere in the future, its positive reception online bodes well. “Hopefully this will become the first in a series, with additional features including a guide to the nicest potted plants in town for fancy pooping time; the warehouses of upscale boutiques with the best cardboard boxes; and residences of celebrity cats with the most intriguing-smelling butts,” TechCrunch writes.

The post Japan Made The World’s First-Ever Cat Street View appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Can you identify a tiger just by listening to its roar? The non-profit Prusten Project thinks so.

“We started noticing that, when we walked by these tigers, we could recognize with our ears how different they sounded from one to another,” founder of the project Courtney Dunn told New Scientist. “If we could hear it with just our human ears, what could a software program see?”

As it turns out, it can see quite a lot. Using recordings taken from captive tigers in zoos and sanctuaries around the United States, the researchers were able to easily differentiate between individual tigers, which roared (or vocalized) for different lengths of time, and at different frequencies. The researchers were even able to tell whether a tiger was male or female by listening to the recordings (female tigers tend to have higher-frequency roars).

So far, the technology has only been proven on captive tigers, but scientists hope to expand the work into the wild, where they hope recorders set up in conservation areas could provide an additional layer of information about the wild populations, from identifying the individual tigers in any given area, to gathering information about other wildlife in the ecosystem, including human interlopers.. Currently researchers use paw prints and camera traps to track the elusive big cats.

The project is currently being tested in the jungles of Thailand and the island of Sumatra, in Indonesia.

The post Tiger Songs Could Identify Individuals In The Wild appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Many mammals such as cats, rats, and seals use their whiskers as a major sensory system to detect objects in dark environments or even to identify changes in currents in murky waters. In a study published today in Bioinspiration and Biomimetics, researchers took inspiration from the physiology and function of animals’ whiskers to create robotic whiskers that could help vehicles or robots to navigate areas that are difficult to manage. The whiskers are designed to produce tomographic maps by measuring air flow and, theoretically, could help underwater vehicles find their way through cloudy water or even help guide a catheter to the right position in a patient’s heart.

The device, dubbed the Whisker Array, is made out of super-elastic Nitinol wires covered with plastic straws. The 15-centimeter long whiskers were attached to a carpenter’s level using LEGO plastic bricks and gears. A servomotor, a device used in robotics to control motion, was used to allow the whiskers to rotate to airflow. The team then used a Conair hair dryer that had a cooling system and two different speed options to test airflow pointed at the Whisker Array.

The Engineered Whisker Array.

Even though the hair-dryer proved to have a weak signal strength as an air-flow source, the Whisker Array was able to capture airflow patterns with high accuracy.

These robo-whiskers could work well in environments where radar or sonar has difficulty mapping. For example, underwater vehicles could use these tactile sensing mechanisms to more efficiently navigate around objects in muddy or clouded waters. These sensors may also have biomedical applications such as being attached to a catheter to help navigate through a vein without injuring the tissue.

“There’s no proof that animals do a similar ‘tomographic reconstruction’ in their brains,” said the lead author of the study, Cagdas Tuna in a press release. Regardless, he thinks this mechanism could be put to use. “This shows great potential to be a useful, if unconventional, sensing system.”

The post Robotic Whiskers Could Help Robots Navigate Through Dark and Murky Environments appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Cats do lots of things that seem inexplicable to their human companions. Felines freeze then bolt out of the room for no reason, they knock things off shelves, they sit right on your keyboard while you’re just trying to type here. According to a study published today in BMC Neuroscience, cats also taste bitter flavors differently than humans, which may account for their notoriously picky eating habits.

In the wild, cats are almost exclusively carnivores. There, a bitter taste can indicate food that might be harmful, like rancid meat. But domestic cats might come across distasteful flavors in their food or medicines because plant extracts are mixed in, which may taste bitter to them. Though researchers know cats taste bitter things, they aren’t sure how their tastes differ from human tastes.

The researchers (from pet food flavor companies) used cell cultures to test the cellular response of two taste receptors, the cells found on taste buds, that respond to bitterness in humans. Overall, the receptors in cats barely responded when exposed to natural and artificial compounds that taste bitter to people, such as the sweetener saccharin that has a bitter aftertaste. The receptors responded less to aloin, a compound found in aloe, and more to denatonium, which is added to chemicals like antifreeze to deter children from drinking them, suggesting that cat tastes diverge from people more than the researchers thought.

The researchers hope that a better understanding of the way cats taste can help them make foods and medicines that better fit their preferences. Which might make picky kitties obsolete.

The post Science Reveals Why Your Cat Is Such A Picky Eater appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Dunking a statue into a bucket of paint usually won’t give you anything other than a monochromatic result. But dunk a statue into this vat of water coated with a layer of painted film, and the results are pretty incredible.

The video above and the accompanying paper were published by researchers from Columbia University and Zhejiang University. They show how a layer of plastic film can be perfectly calibrated to coat textured 3-D objects in just minutes–something that hasn’t been done before.

Using colored film and a vat of water to apply cool designs and graphics is nothing new; it’s a technique that’s used by places like automotive shops to get those amazing flames and patterns onto motorcycle helmets for years now.

But while flames can go anywhere on a helmet, and still look … like flames on a helmet, having a cat face show up on a cat figurine’s face is a bit trickier. You want to make sure that the color for the nose ends up where the nose should be, and not chilling in the middle of the cat’s forehead with the eyes located somewhere near the ears.

When you’re transferring paint from one flat surface to another, that’s not as much of an issue: just line up the edges, and all should be well. But with a 3-D model, the researchers had to first figure out what parts of the cat would enter the water bath first as it was lowered in by a robot arm. A computer model showed how the cat figurine would enter the water, and then plotted out how to get the design onto the model. For the cat, the team ended up using three separate paint films (one for the face, one for the left side, and one for the right side) to create one seamlessly painted cat. Each of the films was printed out using a simple inkjet printer, laid on top of the water bath, then applied to the cat.

The method works on many different surfaces, including plastic, metal and wood. There are still some limitations. The system isn’t fully automated, and concave surfaces (like the interior of a pet bowl) remain a difficult task for this method. But a 3-D printed paint job to match the 3-D printed objects of the future? Sounds purrfect.

The post Watch This Futuristic Vat Of Water Paint A Cat appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Doctors often listen to music in the operating room to keep the surgical team calm and upbeat. There’s some evidence that the music calms patients as well–even the ones who are unconscious from anesthesia. Now it turns out the benefits of music in the operating room may extend beyond humans. In a small study, veterinarians in Portugal found that music may keep cats calm during surgery, as well.

In a paper published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, the researchers fitted 12 female cats with headphones. While they were being spayed, the unconscious cats listened to two minutes of silence, followed by two minutes each of Barber’s ‘Adagio for Strings (Opus 11),’ Natalie Imbruglia’s ‘Torn,’ and AC/DC’s ‘Thunderstruck.’ Meanwhile, the researchers recorded each cat’s breathing rate and pupil diameter as a proxy measure of its stress levels.

While the cats were listening to the classical music, their heart rates were slow and their pupils were small, indicating they were relaxed. AC/DC, on the other hand, had exactly the opposite effect, and the pop song fell somewhere in between (the cats were torn on that one, apparently). Now just imagine how happy they would be if the researchers played music cats actually like.

Up next, the team wants to investigate how music affects cortisol and catecholamine levels–which provide a more direct way of measuring stress–in both cats and dogs. Eventually, the researchers hope that the right kind of music could lower the dose of anesthesia pets need to stay calm during operations, which could make surgery safer for our furry friends.

The post During Surgery, Cats Prefer Listening To Classical Music Over AC/DC appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Ever wonder what type of mischief your cats get into when they head outside? Look no further than Catstacam.

Catstacam is a cat collar with an embedded camera that can snap pictures as your pet plays outside or lollops around the house. Developed by the Australian pet care company Whiskas, the collar captures up to six images per minute. The shutter is motion-activated, snapping whenever your cat makes a sudden move. (Presumably this helps to cut down on repetitive shots from when your cat is napping for 16 hours straight.)

When your feline friend gets in range of a Wi-Fi connection, Catstacam automatically uploads the footage to the cat’s own furry Instagram account.

For now, there’s a limited supply of Catstacams, so Whiskas has asked a few friends to demo the product. Early evidence from the collars suggests that cats don’t possess the greatest eye for composition, but still, the pictures can be strangely beautiful. You can follow their photos on Instagram with hashtag: #Catstacam

Prior attempts could only guess at a cat vision, but with Catstacam, one gets an intimate look into the quiet corners explored by felines.

Cobwebs

I See Myself, Meow.

A Study In Grill

Honey, I’m home!

The Underworld

A Tire Leans

The post Catstacam App Reveals Cats Are Terrible Photographers appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Rock Star Cat

When I was learning to play the cello in high school, my cat Stella used to hide under my bed and yowl pitifully. I like to tell myself we just had different tastes. And there’s probably something to that. Whereas humans like music to fall within our vocal range and have a tempo similar to a human heartbeat, those noises probably sound like demonic torture rituals to a cat.

A new project out of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, shows that cats are capable of liking music, they just think yours sucks. A pair of psychologists and a composer have combined sounds that cats like—such as the tempos of purring and suckling and the sliding wails of alley-dwellers—into three soothing songs for felines.

In a study published in Applied Animal Behavioral Science, the team tested the effectiveness of their feline melodies on a group of 47 domestic cats. The cats were totally not impressed when they heard Gabriel Fauré’s Elegie and Bach’s Air on a G String (human music, yuck), but when the cat-tailored songs came on, the cats rubbed the speakers with their faces. In cat language, that’s pretty much like shouting for an encore.

You can listen to samples of the cat songs here. They’re weird and kind of unsettling.

In a study in 2009, this same team of researchers showed that whereas tamarin monkeys ignored human music, “tamarin ballads” had a calming effect on the monkeys. The researchers hope that some day, species-specific music may help make life better for animals in captivity.

Discovery News

The post Scientists Have Composed Music Especially For Cats appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

[Special thanks to materials scientist Joe Spalenka for letting us use his photoshopped image of Watson And Crick Plus Chloe The Cat.]

Clone Kitty

Astronomy Cat

Wireless Telegraph Cat

Spy Cats

Bionic Cat

Glow-In-The-Dark Cat

Explorer Cat

Weightless Cat

Boxing Cats

Suborbital Astro-Cat

Electric Cat

Quantum Cat

The post The 11 Most Important Cats Of Science appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

A cat can’t tell you much about its history (mrow?) but its genetics can. Today, an international team of geneticists is publishing the most thorough read yet of the DNA of a domestic cat. This is the first time scientists have read the cat genome carefully enough to tease out details about how evolution—and humans—have changed them.

The team found evidence that a combination of evolution and human selection favored genes that give cats distinctive traits. These include sharp senses, a love for meat, and even the ability to learn (some) tricks in return for treats. The research follows on the first cat genome sequencing effort, which was published in 2007. This latest read used genetic material from the same purebred pet, a female Abyssinian named Cinnamon. For some parts of the analysis, Cinnamon’s DNA acted a stand-in for all domestic cats’, while in other parts of the analysis, the researchers also sequenced more pet cats, as well as wildcats.

Among the kitty genes favored by natural selection are more than a dozen ones for sharp hearing and eyesight. For example, cats have an eyesight gene that’s similar to an eyesight gene in humans. The cat version, however, has small tweaks that scientists think help cats see better at night than people are able to.

Polar bear genomes bear similar markers of selection for fat-digesting genes.

Cats also seem to have more genes related to digesting fat than other carnivores do, which is important for their super-meaty diets. (Scientists call cats, including wildcats, hypercarnivores.) Cats even have genes that may help them avoid heart disease from their high-fat diets. Polar bear genomes bear similar markers of selection for fat-digesting genes.

To look for the genes influenced by human selection, the researchers analyzed DNA pooled from 23 pet cats, including Cinnamon. They compared the domestic cat DNA with DNA from four wildcats. Among the feline genetic traits that people seem to have chosen are ones that influence how the cat brain responds to rewards. Yep, that means kitty treats! Mice that are missing the mouse versions of some of those genes are poor at learning with food rewards. Perhaps when people first brought cats into their barns and homes, they chose the ones that were more motivated to do things for people in return for tasty tidbits.

In addition, domestic cats have genes that control how their brains develop when they’re embryos. These are similar to embryo-brain-development genes found in domestic horses, farmed pigs, and other tame animals. The wild relatives of these animals have different versions of those genes. In their paper, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the cat-genome researchers wrote they support the “domestication syndrome” hypothesis. The hypothesis argues that most domesticated animals have this altered brain development while they’re embryos. The early-stage brain changes are what give them the seemingly unrelated traits of tameness, including smaller ears, docility, and different coloring from their wild relatives, or so the hypothesis goes.

So when you go home to cuddle your kitty tonight, give him some treats (to train him to enjoy your snuggles). Then tell him he’s practically as fierce as a polar bear… although he bears the same marks of domestication as many of his brethren in the animal kingdom, which people have tamed for their own uses over the last 10,000 years.

The post Kitty DNA Shows Cats Have Evolved To Learn From Treats appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Some people just don’t like cats. That’s okay. Some people don’t like pizza. Or dogs. Or Harry Potter. But some cat-haters aren’t satisfied with not owning cats themselves. They need to drag the rest of us down with them.

The first thing you notice when you dig around in the seedy underworld of cat-bashing is that it’s an old hobby. The haters have left their mark across poetry, literature, and art for centuries.

“There’s always going to be someone in a group who’s going to stand up and say cats are aloof, manipulative little devils,” says cat researcher John Bradshaw.

In his 1922 cultural history of the domestic cat, The Tiger in the House, Carl Van Vechten notes, “One is permitted to assume an attitude of placid indifference in the matter of elephants, cockatoos, H.G. Wells, Sweden, roast beef, Puccini, and even Mormonism, but in the matter of cats it seems necessary to take a firm stand….Those who hate the cat hate him with a malignity which, I think, only snakes in the animal kingdom provoke to an equal degree.”

Joseph Stromberg at Vox is only the most recent ailurophobe to launch a broadside against the feline species. His 28-paragraph essay on the supposed evils of Felis catus, published last week, tells readers that cats are “selfish, unfeeling, environmentally harmful creatures.”

“Those who hate the cat hate him with a malignity which, I think, only snakes in the animal kingdom provoke to an equal degree.”

His argument breaks down into four simple points: “Your cat probably doesn’t love you.” “Your cat isn’t really showing you affection.” “Cats are an environmental disaster.” And, “Your cat might be driving you crazy.”

We called Bradshaw, an internationally recognized cat and dog researcher and author of several books on pet ownership, including Cat Sense, for his learned opinion on the “science” of cat-bashing.

Feline Love Isn’t Needy

_

The Difference Between Dogs And Cats

_

Haters want you to believe cats don’t really care about their people. Stromberg points to a series of studies by Daniel Mills at the University of London and other researchers that show cats don’t look to humans for guidance in unfamiliar situations. Abandon your dog (or child) in a place it’s never seen before, and it’s likely to run to you on your return. Cats are more likely to explore the space on their own terms.

Bradshaw says this interpretation draws too much out of limited study—research similar to work he has done himself. “It shows something about cats, but it doesn’t show you that cats are not affectionate,” he says.

Dogs have evolved to be “almost obsessively” dependent on humans, Bradshaw says. In unfamiliar situations, they look to their humans as sources of stability and guidance, much like small children. Cats, on the other hand, “prefer to deal with things in their own heads.”

A creature that fails to run to your side in a strange situation does not necessarily have a cold, unfeeling heart. Some couples show up at parties and hold hands the entire time, talking mostly to one another. Others split up when they arrive, mingle, meet new people. But they still leave together when it ends. Your cat’s a mingler—an explorer.

Your Cat Really Is Showing Affection

_

A Cat Not Faking It

_

After wedging a seed of doubt into the emotional relationships between humans and their cats, the enemies of felinekind try to insert themselves into the physical expressions of human-feline love. Stromberg is no exception:

In other words, all the squirming and rubbing cats lavish on their owners are just the feline equivalent to a dog lifting its leg and peeing all over a fire hydrant.

Bradshaw says this notion is way off-base. “Superficially, [rubbing against humans] looks like scent marking,” he says, but “the display that goes on when a cat raises its tail and rubs its sides against another cat, or a person, is a social action.”

“Like all genuine affectionate relationships, [cat cuddling] is a two-way street.”

Some researchers suggest the behavior has a its roots in the creation of a “clan scent” for packs of wild cats, but no one has published proof. What’s important, Bradshaw says, is the interaction between creatures. The raised tail is a signal of good intent. When two cats know each other well they will rub their whole bodies against each other, including their sides, which have no scent glands. They often then lie down together and purr. Cats will do the same thing with their owners. Claiming this behavior is no deeper than a wild cat rubbing its face on tree bark is like saying that human handshakes are mostly about checking for secret weapons.

A 2013 study supposedly shows cats hate when humans pet them.

The research indeed found that cats pumped stress hormones into their bloodstreams when they were petted excessively. But Bradshaw points out that the research was conducted in Brazil, a country where house cats are far less common than small dogs. He thinks pet owners used to rough-and-tumble dogs might not prepared to handle cats in ways they enjoy. The cats grabbed and picked up for the study were reacting to a long history of unpleasant interactions, not simple human touch.

“Like all genuine affectionate relationships, [cat cuddling] is a two-way street,” he says. “Dogs put up with harsher treatment. Yank on a choke chain, and the dog bounces back. Cats say goodbye.”

Your Cat Is Too Clumsy To Threaten Wildlife

Threats To All Birdkind

Perhaps the most damning charge against cats is that they are natural murderers who can disrupt local ecosystems. Stromberg pounced gleefully once again:

So what’s an environmentally-conscious cat lover to do? Bradshaw says not to worry. It turns out, as long as your cat wasn’t born feral or on a farm, it’s probably a clumsy hunter. Birds and rodents zip away from its plodding, obvious approach.

Bradshaw says cats learn to kill from their mothers. In the wild, a kitten follows its mom on many hunts in the first eight weeks of its life. She teaches the skills of sneaking up on prey and pouncing with lethal precision. But housecats born at home or to breeders miss that crucial step. Kittens instead spend their first eight weeks yowling at cotton balls and bits of string. Unless you trained your pet in the art of war before the end of its second month—a crucial period in its development—it’s probably next to useless against live prey (even if it does sometimes get lucky).

“Obviously there’s some deep ancestral memory of stalking prey,” he says, “but a cat by itself is usually not a very good hunter.”

Whenever local fauna succumb to feline hunting, he says, “it almost always turns out to be feral cats.” Australian experiments with 24-hour cat curfews turned out to have minimal impacts. Still, the ASPCA suggests keeping cats indoors to prolong their lives, so it’s probably a good idea. Also, spayed and neutered housecats will never birth feral kittens that could endanger wildlife.

If you really want to do right by the environment, Bradshaw says, cats are way better than dogs.

Okay, Your Cat May Give You A Parasite That Controls Your Thoughts

Toxoplasma gondii parasites form a cyst in a mouse brain.

Stromberg is wrong about cat love, but there’s a chance he’s right about horrible brain-controlling parasites in cat poop. Even Bradshaw can’t defend your kitten now.

See, there’s this parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. It enters the brains of prey animals like mice and alters their behavior to make them less afraid of predators. These bold, addled rodents ride their parasitic high all the way into your favorite pet’s gnashing jaws, and some of those parasites make their way into your cat’s litterbox. From there it’s a short jump to a human owner’s body.

Some reaserchers suspect that humans infected with T. gondii are susceptible to its nefarious mind control as well. Here’s what Kathleen McCauliffe wrote about the parasite in her extensive coverage for the Atlantic:

Flegr goes on to note that even infected people may not be heavily impacted by the bug, and that cat poop is not the only way humans catch it. (In fact, it’s incredibly common.) Not all researchers agree with Flegr’s dire interpretations of the evidence, though T. gondii does turn dangerous when patients have damaged immune systems.

Ultimately, yes, your cat probably loves you, but that might just be the mind-controlling parasite talking.

The post Sorry, Cat Haters, Science Isn’t On Your Side appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

In case you hadn’t heard, cat bites are linked to depression. As I wrote last week, a study in PLOS ONE looked through the health records of 1.3 million people and found that 41 percent of people who were treated for cat bites were also diagnosed with depression. And 86 percent of the people who had been both bitten and diagnosed with depression were women. The story got quite the reaction, and generated a few new theories to explain the link. Here are our favorite explanations for the link, starting with the most plausible:

1. People who are depressed may be more likely to own cats to begin with because of real and/or perceived mental health benefits of cat ownership, and thus are more likely to be bit than non-owners. This is in my opinion the most likely reason. A total of 71 percent of the patients were diagnosed with depression before the bite.

2. Those who are more attached to their pets tend to be more depressed, according to the study. It is possible that somebody who is more attached spends more time with said cat and is thus more likely to get bitten.

3. Cat bites can actually be quite serious. A new study published this month in the Journal of Hand Surgery found that nearly a third of people who’d been bitten by cats had to stay in the hospital for more than three days, in part because cats’ long teeth can cause deep puncture wounds that are difficult to clean out, and which can become infected. It’s possible a serious infection/medical condition could contribute to depression.

4. Depressed people may make less eye contact with cats, which have been shown to respond to human gaze, as the authors write.

5. Depressed people may act in some other way that’s offensive to felines. Perhaps, for example, they are more likely to forget feeding their pets. “I can tell you right now what my cat’s bites are linked to–his hunger level,” wrote a friend of mine on Facebook.

6. It’s also possible that those who are depressed are more likely to seek treatment for a bite than those who are not.

7. Cats can transmit the parasite Toxoplasma gondii in their feces. Studies have shown a link between the presence of this parasite in humans and mental disorders including depression.

8. I had to laugh at this reason, posted on Fark. “Cats don’t like the way depressed people pet them,” wrote one user. “In fact, it pisses them off. So they bite to make them stop.”

9. Some of the bites happened when people were trying to break up fights between cats, according to the study. It’s possible that depressed people are more likely to own multiple cats, and thus more like to be bitten in this way.

1. When nobody else loves you, and when all is wrong, at least your pet cat is there for you (or so I’ve heard say–I’m allergic). Well, what if it’s not? Being bit by a beloved cat could indeed be a low point for somebody who is already sad, and perhaps spawn a more serious depression.

11. Perhaps a few of the depressed patients injured themselves, and then instead of admitting it blamed it on the cat.

The post 11 Reasons Why Cat Bites May Be Linked To Depression appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

What’s the matter–cat bite your hand? After combing through the health records of 1.3 million people over 10 years, researchers found an unusual link between cat bites and depression. More than 41 percent of those who had presented to hospitals with cat bites were also treated for depression at some point. Furthermore, 86 percent of the people that had been both bitten and diagnosed with depression were women. If you are a woman who’s been bitten by a cat, there’s nearly a 50 percent chance that you will be diagnosed with depression at some point, the study suggests.

Puzzling findings, there. What’s going on? The researchers don’t know. But they do outline some guesses.

There’s possibility that people who are depressed are more likely to own cats to begin with (and thus are more likely to be bit than non-owners). As the rearchers write, in PLOS ONE:

There is substantial evidence to suggest that pet ownership results in multiple health benefits, both physical and mental. For example, pet ownership has been shown to reduce elevated blood pressure caused by mental stress even better than antihypertensive medications. Pets can also provide substantial social support. A study in Switzerland reported that among people living alone, cats could improve their mood. As such, it may be that depressed individuals, especially women, are more likely to own cats for companionship.

It’s also possible that depressed people act in a way that makes cats more likely to bite them:

Some animals may bite more in response to changes in their owners’ mental state or level of responsiveness. For example, depressed individuals often make less eye contact compared to those without depression. Some animals, such as dogs, horses, and pigs are known to respond to human social cues such as gestures, gaze, and focus. Even cats may respond to respond to pointing gestures and human gaze. One study reported that the type of activity being undertaken by a test subject had a large impact on a cat’s behavior.

But perhaps the “most intriguing” possibility is that cat owners are more likely to be infected with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii; studies hint that the protozoan, carried by cats and transmitted in their feces, can cause changes in the brains of the humans it infects:

Infections from the parasite have been associated with self-inflicted violence as well as increased suicide rates in women. It has also been suggested that the inflammatory cytokines released during a T. gondii infection in the brain may be the cause of depression in some patients.

It’s far from clear what explains the link. Regardless, the scientists wrote that it may make sense to screen cat-bite victims for depression, especially women.

In semi-related T. gondii news, the parasite has been found in beluga whales, which has serious implications for the Inuit who feed upon them.

And in semi-related cat-bite news, a new study found that cat bites are often more serious than previously thought–nearly a third of those who’d been bitten had to stay in the hospital for more than three days.

The post Cat Bites Are Linked To Depression appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Cat Vision

What does the world look like through a cat’s eyes? The basic structure of feline eyes is pretty similar to what humans have, but cats’ vision has adapted to very different purposes, so the world they see looks familiar, but isn’t quite the same as ours. As predators, they need to be able to sense movement well in very low light. To make that work, they have to sacrifice some of the finer detail and color perception that humans have.

Artist Nickolay Lamm, who has previously brought us visualizations of urban heat islands and sea level rise projections, took a look at the world through kitty eyes for his latest project. Lamm consulted with ophthalmologists at the University of Pennsylvania’s veterinary school and a few other animal eye specialists to create these visualizations comparing how cats see with how humans do. How we see things is represented on top; how a cat standing next to us would see the same scene appears below.

Station Views

Some of the cat-eye facts he took into account: The blurry edges of the pictures represent peripheral vision. Humans have a 20 degree range of peripheral vision on each side. Cats can see 30 degrees on each side. Their visual field overall is just bigger—they see 200 degrees compared to our 180 degrees.

Cat vision isn’t so great at a distance. What we can see sharply from 100 feet away, they need to see at 20 feet. From what researchers can tell, cats can see blue and yellow colors, but not red, orange or brown, which is why all the images look a little washed out. Your kitty sees in Instagram, it seems. Not so good for looking at far-away, lush landscapes:

Blurred Landscape

But here’s how much better cats’ night vision is:

Night Hunting

Cats can see some six to eight times better than us in the dark, partially because they have more rods, a type of photoreceptor in the retina. Their elliptical pupils can open very wide in dim light, but contract to a tiny slit to protect the sensetive retina from bright light. And like other animals that evolved to hunt at night, cats have a tapetum lucidum, a reflective layer of tissue that bounces light that hits the back of the eye out through the retina again for a second chance to be absorbed by the rods. It’s also what gives them those terrifying glowing eyes in pictures.

Now go stare deeply into the eyes of a beloved feline.

The post See The World Through The Eyes Of A Cat appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

The IRNA, Iran’s official news agency, revealed today its plans to venture forth into space with perhaps the country’s most iconic animal on board: the Persian cat. The flat-faced favorite of fanciers would be the first Iranian visitor to space after the possibly-fake space monkey that Iran insists returned safely from near space a few months back.

Iran’s efforts to become a power in space–and certainly Iran has made more strides in this area than any of its neighbors, besides Israel–are concerning to many in the western world, who see Iran’s presence in space as potentially dangerous. For its part, Iran says its space program is intended for innocuous reasons like improving communication and monitoring earthquakes. Some experts fear this may be only part of the story, that Iran is also seeking militarization technology in space.

Anyway, back to cats. So the Persian is a very old cat breed, dating back to what is now Iran and Turkey in the early 17th century. It’s a friendly and docile breed, making it an ideal choice for apartment dwellers, and is one of the most popular city cats in the world. Its peculiar squashed face is accompanied by some physical problems; it often has trouble breathing, for example.

Iran says it plans to hurl a Persian into space by the end of the Iranian year, which wraps up on March 21st (the Iranian calendar begins on the vernal equinox). We’ll keep you updated on this and all other spacecat news.

[via Washington Post]

The post Iran Plans To Send Persian Cat Into Space appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Cats get seasonal allergies to pollen and grass, and some have year-round allergies to fleas and dust mites. Sandy Willis, a veterinary internist who advises the American Veterinary Medical Association, says that when cats interact with an allergen, their body sends immunoglobulin E antibodies to link with it, triggering the release of histamine and other chemicals that cause itchy eyes, runny noses, sneezing, hives and rashes.

The same process happens in other pets (dogs, rats, hamsters) and humans. In rare cases, cats can even be allergic to people. People allergies are uncommon, since we bathe more often than most other species and don’t shed as much hair and dead skin—which trigger our own allergies to pets. When cats do have a bad reaction to us, it’s usually caused by residue from our perfume, soap or laundry detergent. Any water-based cleaning product usually contains some preservatives. Cats tend to be more sensitive to chemicals than dogs. Specific chemical allergies are difficult to isolate and diagnose, so pets can’t be vaccinated for them or build up their tolerance with exposure like they can for organic allergies.

Cats can even be allergic to other pets. Vets offer antihistamines for dogs to treat cat, horse and bird allergies. Cat antihistamines recently hit the market too.

This article originally appeared in the August 2011 issue of Popular Science_ magazine._

The post FYI: Could My Cat Be Allergic To Me? appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Wish I could do the same with my cat! The BBC and the Royal Veterinary College recently hung GPS trackers and small cameras onto the collars of 50 pet cats in a village outside of London. Their results form one of the largest-ever studies of domestic cats, according to the BBC.

It turns out that cats visit other yards and even other houses. Cats from neighboring houses sometimes appeared to switch off using the same territory, which helped them avoid confrontations. Nevertheless, the tracked cats still got into territorial squabbles, which you may have seen/heard.

In general, the cats had small territories, even though they had plenty of countryside available to them, veterinarian Alan Wilson wrote for the BBC. That finding jives with previous research on housecat habits.

The BBC has a page with profiles of 10 of their tracked cats, including maps of where each of the kitties went and excerpts from their cameras’ footage.

Technologists at the BBC developed custom cat cams for the project. The final cameras had day and night settings, captured higher resolution footage than commercially available pet cameras, lasted eight to 10 hours on a single battery charge, and weighed just over an ounce. You can check out some pictures of cats wearing them.

BBC Two is airing a documentary today about the project. The scientists involved plan to publish a formal paper about their work in the future, Wilson wrote.

The post Cats Have ‘Timeshares,’ Kitty Cams Reveal appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Click to launch the gallery.

Caracal

Fishing Cat

Pallas’s Cat

Jaguarundi

Sand Cat

The post 5 Other Cat Names Apple Could Have Picked For OS X 10.9 appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Frankenstein’s Cat:

In the 1960s, the Central Intelligence Agency recruited an unusual field agent: a cat. In an hour-long procedure, a veterinary surgeon transformed the furry feline into an elite spy, implanting a microphone in her ear canal and a small radio transmitter at the base of her skull, and weaving a thin wire antenna into her long gray-and-white fur. This was Operation Acoustic Kitty, a top-secret plan to turn a cat into a living, walking surveillance machine. The leaders of the project hoped that by training the feline to go sit near foreign officials, they could eavesdrop on private conversations.

The problem was that cats are not especially trainable—they don’t have the same deep-seated desire to please a human master that dogs do—and the agency’s robo-cat didn’t seem terribly interested in national security. For its first official test, CIA staffers drove Acoustic Kitty to the park and tasked it with capturing the conversation of two men sitting on a bench. Instead, the cat wandered into the street, where it was promptly squashed by a taxi. The program was abandoned; as a heavily redacted CIA memo from the time delicately phrased it, “Our final examination of trained cats… convinced us that the program would not lend itself in a practical sense to our highly specialized needs.” (Those specialized needs, one assumes, include a decidedly unflattened feline.)

The CIA’s robo-cat didn’t seem terribly interested in national security.Operation Acoustic Kitty, misadventure though it was, was a visionary idea just 50 years before its time. Today, once again, the U .S. government is looking to animal-machine hybrids to safeguard the country and its citizens. In 2006, for example, DARPA zeroed in on insects, asking the nation’s scientists to submit “innovative proposals to develop technology to create insect-cyborgs.”

It was not your everyday government request, but it was an utterly serious one. For years, the U .S. military has been hoping to develop “micro air vehicles”—ultrasmall flying robots capable of performing surveillance in dangerous territory. Building these machines is not easy. The dynamics of flight change at very small sizes, and the vehicles need to be lightweight enough to fly, yet strong enough to carry cameras and other equipment. Most formidably, they need a source of power, and batteries light enough for microfliers just don’t have enough juice to keep the crafts aloft for very long.

Consider two of the tiny, completely synthetic drones that engineers have managed to create: The Nano Hummingbird, a flying robot modeled after the bird, with a 6.5-inch wingspan, maxes out at an 11-minute flight, while the DelFly Micro, which measures less than 4 inches from wingtip to wingtip, can stay airborne for just 3 minutes.

DARPA officials knew there had to be something better out there. “Proof-of-existence of small-scale flying machines… is abundant in nature in the form of insects,” Amit Lal, a DARPA program manager and Cornell engineer, wrote in a pamphlet the agency issued to the prospective researchers. So far, nature’s creations far outshine our own. Insects are aerodynamic, engineered for flight, and naturally skilled at maneuvering around obstacles. And they can power themselves; a common fly can cruise the skies for hours at a time. So perhaps, DARPA officials realized, the military didn’t need to start from scratch; if they began with live insects, they’d already be halfway to their dream flying machines. All they’d have to do was figure out how to hack into insects’ bodies and control their movements. If scientists could manage to do that, the DARPA pamphlet said, “it might be possible to transform [insects] into predictable devices that can be used for . . . missions requiring unobtrusive entry into areas inaccessible or hostile to humans.”

The same advances that enabled the development of modern wildlife-tracking devices are making it possible to create true animal cyborgs.DARPA’s call essentially launched a grand science fair, one designed to encourage innovation and tap into the competitive spirit of scientists around the country. The agency invited researchers to submit proposals outlining how they’d create steerable insect cyborgs and promised to fund the most promising projects. What the agency wanted was a remote-controlled bug that could be steered to within 5 meters of a target. Ultimately, the insects would also need to carry surveillance equipment, such as microphones, cameras, or gas sensors, and to transmit whatever data they collected back to military officials. The pamphlet outlined one specific application for the robo-bugs—outfitted with chemical sensors, they could be used to detect traces of explosives in remote buildings or caves—and it’s easy to imagine other possible tasks for such cyborgs. Insect drones kitted out with video cameras could reveal whether a building is occupied and whether those inside are civilians or enemy combatants, while those with microphones could record sensitive conversations, becoming bugs that literally bugged you.

As far-fetched and improbable as DARPA’s dream of steerable robo-bugs sounds, a host of recent scientific breakthroughs means it’s likely to be far more successful than Acoustic Kitty was. The same advances that enabled the development of modern wildlife-tracking devices—the simultaneous decrease in size and increase in power of microprocessors, receivers, and batteries—are making it possible to create true animal cyborgs. By implanting these micromachines into animals’ bodies and brains, we can seize control of their movements and behaviors. Genetics provides new options, too, with scientists engineering animals whose nervous systems are easy to manipulate. Together, these and other developments mean that we can make tiny flying cyborgs—and a whole lot more. Engineers, geneticists, and neuroscientists are controlling animal minds in different ways and for different reasons, and their tools and techniques are becoming cheaper and easier for even us nonexperts to use. Before long, we may all be able to hijack animal bodies. The only question is whether we’ll want to.

Excerpted with permission from _Frankenstein’s Cat: Cuddling Up to Biotech’s Brave New Beasts by Emily Anthes, published in March 2013 by Scientific American / Farrar, Straus and Giroux, LLC. Copyright © 2013 by Emily Anthes. All rights reserved._

The post How The CIA Tried To Turn A Cat Into A Cyborg Spy appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

While cats may feel effects from marijuana—no word on whether Sir Harry Paus actually likes the experience—”kitty pot” does not have a reciprocal effect on humans.

In the late 1960s, some researchers reported catnip gave people a marijuana-like high, but it turned out they had simply mixed up the two plants. As veterinarian Arnold Plotnick of Manhattan Cat Specialists in New York wrote to me in an email, “Think about it… catnip is cheap and legal. If it had a significant effect on people, everyone would be smoking it.”

Meanwhile, cats do feel effects from marijuana, but it may be scary for them. “Animals can’t understand they’re being intoxicated, therefore it can cause considerable anxiety,” says Bruce Kornreich, associate director of the Cornell Feline Health Center in upstate New York.

It’s not clear why the active chemical in catnip, nepetalactone, doesn’t affect humans, Kornreich says. Pot affects cats because like many mammals, including humans and dogs, cats have receptors in their brains for pot’s active chemicals, cannabinoids. Cannabinoid receptors make pets susceptible to feeling symptoms when they inhale secondhand smoke or, more commonly, accidentally eat their owners’ stashes. (It’s actually a bigger problem with dogs, he says, because dogs eat everything.)

Kornreich has seen pets come into veterinary emergency rooms after marijuana exposure. “The pets are presented for anxiety, active heart rate, acting a little unusual,” he says. “They may react differently to sound and to being touched” perhaps because, like humans, drugs alter their perception.

Kornreich urges pet owners to take their pets to a vet if this happens, adding that vets are not required by law to report marijuana they run into during their practice. Most veterinarians care more about making pets better, he says. “It’s more just focused on the well-being of the patient.”

He also strongly discourages purposefully exposing a pet to marijuana. Fido and Kitty can’t consent to getting high. “I don’t think it’s right or fair to make that decision for an animal,” he says.

If pot affects cats because they have cannabinoid receptors, does that mean people aren’t affected by catnip because they don’t have nepetalactone receptors? Scientists aren’t sure. “While it seems that this is a reasonable hypothesis to explain why humans don’t respond to catnip like cats do, I cannot find any studies that rigorously test it,” Kornreich says. While many brain receptors are common across different animals, many receptors also differ, so it wouldn’t be unprecedented for humans to lack a receptor present in cat brains.

In cats, inhaled nepetalactone stimulates the olfactory bulb, the part of the brain that processes odors. The olfactory bulb then interacts with the amygdala, the brain region associated with emotion and decision-making, and hypothalamus, which controls a variety of bodily functions. From the hypothalamus, nepetalactone stimulates a sexual response in cats that are genetically predisposed to sensitivity to catnip. (About 20 to 30 percent of cats don’t seem to react to the plant.)

Some insects seem to react to nepetalactone, too. Strangely enough, chemical companies are studying nepetalactone because it seems to repel mosquitoes, ticks and mites, like a kind of natural DEET. For the insects to change their behavior around nepetalactone, even if negatively, suggests that they have nepetalactone receptors.

As for smoking catnip: not only does it fail to get people high, it can make them feel pretty awful. Too much catnip, whether smoked or drunk as a tea, could cause headaches and vomiting.

Have a burning science question you’d like to see answered in our FYI section? Email it to fyi@popsci.com.

The post FYI: Can humans get high on catnip? appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Earlier today, Gawker posted a video of a housecat looking at itself in a mirror, slowly raising one paw and looking with wonder at its own reflection. “Smart cat figures out how mirrors work,” reads the headline. Let’s delve very deeply into a minute-long YouTube clip of a cat doing something weird!

Mirrors are used in cognitive science in a task called the “mirror self-awareness test,” or MSR test. It’s a controversial experiment, developed back in 1970 by a University of Albany psychologist named Gordon Gallup who later wrote a scholarly article called “Does Semen Have Antidepressant Properties?” The MSR test requires that an animal be given some kind of visual oddity, usually a dot or two of color, on a part of their body only visible through a mirror (often on a part of the face or head). If the animal (or human!) sees their reflection in the mirror and attempts to touch the part of their own body with the unfamiliar dot of color, that animal is judged to have demonstrated mirror self-awareness.

Very few animals pass this test. All of the great apes–humans, chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans–pass, as do some cetaceans like bottlenose dolphins and orcas (killer whales), and a few oddballs like the elephant and magpie. Some other animals demonstrate partial self-awareness–gibbons and some macaques, for example, will sometimes become confused and gesture at their faces, which does not constitute a pass of the test but does indicate that they understand that something odd is going on. A few monkey species, pigs, and corvids (crows, ravens, jays) demonstrate a similar partial understanding of the self.

Humans, interestingly, change in their perception of themselves; before the age of about 18 months, humans have either no or only partial success in the MSR test. Before 18 months, they’ll react with curiosity or avoidance.

Cats have never once demonstrated that they have any sense of self at all. Reactions of cats to being shown their reflection in a mirror vary; some will ignore the reflection, some will attempt to investigate behind the mirror to find the cat that is presumably back there, some will act wary or aggressive towards what appears to be another cat able to counteract its own gestures perfectly. This is a freaky thing, if you don’t know that it’s you in the mirror.

The cat in this video is behaving defensively, with the “anxious” posture laid out in this helpful chart of feline body language. Notice that its ears face entirely toward the “threat,” that its tail is puffed up and often pointing downwards–these are cat signals that mean “defensive aggression.” Its attack posture is kind of…not very threatening, moving slowly and warily like that, but it’s still quite clear why it’s acting the way it’s acting. It’s not waving at itself, it’s gesturing threateningly at the scary cat staring out at it from a few feet away.

The mirror test is controversial in the psychology field; there’s the problem of children or animals not caring that there’s a spot on their faces, and so providing a false negative result when they don’t bother to clean it. It’s also been theorized that the test is unfair for animals that rely more on other senses than sight. The domestic dog, for example, relies much more heavily on smell than sight.

There’s also the more philosophical problem of, what does this actually even say? Really, the only thing that it proves is the ability to recognize one’s self in a mirror. This paper argues that you can’t really extend success in the MSR test to represent full self-awareness.

Sorry, wary waving tuxedo cat. You still haven’t demonstrated self-awareness. But you are very cute.

The post This Cat Did Not Figure Out How Mirrors Work appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Cats, and many other mammals, like to pee on things. It’s called “urine marking,” and acts as a form of communication through scent (and, to a lesser extent, a visual signal). A new, very important study in the Journal of Zoology found that the way cats–specifically, the European wildcat–mark is intentional and particular.

Felis silvestris the European wildcat, looks like a slightly larger and stockier version of a housecat. (Its taxonomical separation from the housecat is complicated by the fact that wildcats and housecats interbreed often.) Wildcats are highly territorial, and mark their territory by urinating and leaving strategic poops all around their areas. “When urine spraying, a wildcat raises up its tail and ejects backwards a spray of urine against a prominent object of its surrounding environment,” says the new study.

But as it turns out, wildcats look for specific kinds of trees and plants to mark, based on how well those plants natural characteristics will spread the scent of the mark. It was assumed that cats merely mark large objects–marking the biggest tree or biggest rock, for example–but that’s not the case. European wildcats favor the juniper tree, not choosing it for its size but selecting it over larger, nearby non-juniper trees. The juniper is a highly aromatic and oily tree (it’s a major component in the flavoring of gin, for example) and the cat chooses the juniper because, the study suggests, its natural oils will mesh with the cat’s scent to make the mark more powerful than the mark is alone. The study says that therefore, wildcats “select those plants which could enhance the olfactory effectiveness of the mark.” It’s not totally clear how, chemically, scent marks interact with the volatile organic compounds in the juniper, but it is clear that the cats choose those more than other plants.

Cats: they don’t just pee anywhere.

Read the whole study here (subscription required).

The post Today In Important Science: Cats Are Particular About What They Pee On appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Not that you need an additional reason to watch a cat video, but this clip of a cat looking at an optical illusion could be scientifically valuable, too.

YouTube user rasmusab posted the clip of a cat attacking a version of the rotating snakes illusion like it just saw a laser pointer aimed at the ground, suggesting the cat might’ve seen the wheels “spinning” and tried to get a paw on them. Now rasmusab’s created a Google doc for people to replicate the experiment and report their findings. (We could get so many cat videos out of this experiment, you guys.) For the record, other studies have found that animals–owls, in particular–might see and respond to optical illusions the same way people do.

Rotating Snakes

We love citizen science projects, and love them even more when they involve cats. Still, this might be a tough experiment to get accurate results for–cats, after all, sort of seem to like paper in general, so it’s tough to say if they’re reacting to stimuli. But it’s not like we could be against watching cat videos for science.

[YouTube via io9]

The post Watch This Cat Play With An Optical Illusion [Video] appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Are people spooked by black cats? Darker felines sure seem to get the short end of the stick when it comes to adoption. Black cats stay in shelters longer and are more likely to be euthanized than their lighter-colored counterparts. Researchers at University of California at Berkeley conducted a study to find a link between cat color and people’s perception of cat personality. The findings were surprising: People do judge feline personalities by color, but don’t assess black cats negatively relative to other cats.

Researchers conducted an online survey consisting of 49 statements pairing five cat colorings (black, white, orange, bi-colored, and tri-colored) with 10 personality traits (active, aloof, bold, calm, friendly, intolerant, shy, stubborn, tolerant, and trainable.) Survey respondents assessed statements like, “Tri-colored cats are friendly,” on a seven-point scale.

Orange and bi-colored cats are rated high in friendliness, tri-colored cats are high in intolerance, and white cats are high in aloofness. However, the researchers concluded that black cats weren’t rated significantly higher or lower in any trait than other color groups. Effectively, people perceive these cats as having neutral personalities compared to other cats. So why the cold shoulder at the adoption agency?

Mikel Delgado, lead author of the study, said in a press release, “Previous research supports the existence of ‘black cat syndrome,’ where black and brown cats are less likely to be adopted than cats of other colors.” She adds, “We were interested in whether people’s perceptions of the interaction between personality and coat color might play a part.”

Superstitions might be one reason why black cats are the last to get adopted, especially around Halloween. But Berkeley researchers offer another conclusion: While 94.7 percent of respondents said that personality influences their decision to adopt, personality may be less important to potential adopters than they think. After all, assessing the personality of a cat based on its coat isn’t a foolproof method.

If it all comes down to looks, it may be that subconsciously, people don’t think black cats are pretty enough. The researchers suggest that if shelters had empirically reviewed tools to assess cat personality, they could better match them to potential owners and try to work around their color biases.

The post Furry Racism At The Pound: Why Is It Harder For Black Cats To Find Homes? appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Sometimes, when your cat comes back from…wherever cats go, you don’t have to guess what it’s been up to: the headless mouse on your doorstep (or your living room floor, or your bed) is a dead giveaway. But what about all those other times, when the cat returns sans spoils? Has it been killing stuff then, too?

Matthew Inman presents some new findings on the American house cat’s killing habits in this infocomic at TheOatmeal.com.

The post Daily Infographic: What Are Your Cat’s Murder Stats? appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Threatened by the idea that we may someday run out of cat photos, a couple of Cornell mathematicians have set about using their skills to approximate the shape of a cat using a mathematic device known as the Julia sets of polynomials. The Julia sets of degree two polynomials is closely related to the more familiar Mandelbrot set, one of the most famous fractals.

There’s a lot of serious math involved in this that we’re not going to get into here (you can dig into that via grad student Kathryn Lindsey and advisor William Thurston’s paper), but know this: thanks to these fractal kitties, we won’t be reaching “peak cat” anytime soon.

[arXiv via SciAm]

The post Using ‘Fractal Kitties,’ We Could Avoid A Critical Shortage Of Cat Photos appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Anyone who’s ever seen a cat knows how distinct he or she looks compared to every other cat–stripes and whorls cover their coats in seemingly endless variation. It turns out that one gene is responsible for regulating these patterns, and it’s true for all of the domestic cat’s larger cousins. Different mutations on a shared gene produce the blotchy patterns of pet tabbies as well as the stripes on a rare type of wild cheetahs. What’s more, one geneticist thinks there could be an immunological reason for all these unique designs.

Cat coat genetics are complex and confusing, in part because phenotypes–the way cats look–are defined differently among various registries and associations. Stephen J. O’Brien, a scientist in the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity at Maryland’s Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, said researchers wanted to pinpoint the genetic basis for this wide array of cat patterns.

“The same phenomena are seen in the rest of the cat family, too. There are 37 species in felidae — from clouded leopards, black panthers, cheetahs and so forth. There’s a little bit of an evolutionary dance where these different forms are coming out,” O’Brien said. “Nobody is really sure why there is so much variation.”

Previous research suggested there were three main determinants for the color of a cat — whether it’s solid-colored black or tawny, striped/tabby, or spotted, which is very rare in American cats. If a cat is not solid-colored, then it’s spotted or striped. The genetic sequence that codes for this is called the Tabby locus, or the Tabby gene.

Scientists led by Christopher B. Kaelin at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Alabama re-sequenced this genetic region and found striped and “blotched” tabby cats carried three genes in the same region, two of which didn’t cause any interesting substitutions. But a mutation in a third, called Taqpep for Transmembrane Aminopeptidase Q, causes the blotched patterns. That can be seen in the bottom two cats in the image above.

“This gene in housecats was clearly responsible for this characteristic, which had three separate independent mutations in the history of cats,” said O’Brien, a coauthor.

The team wanted to compare this marbling in wild cats. There’s a cheetah phenotype called the king cheetah, in which the animal has bold stripes along its back, rather than just spots. They obtained blood samples from a king cheetah named Kgosi, who lives in a cheetah preserve in northern California. Turns out he also had a mutation on the Taqpep gene. Originally, this cat was described as a distinct species, but today’s new cat paper, published in Science, shows it’s genetically not.

To get a further handle on the genetics, the team then studied fetal domestic cats and cheetahs growing in the womb. They found that one gene, called Edn3, controls the color in the patterns. By studying the same gene in mice, the team was able to come up with a model for how Edn3 and Taqpep cause the colors and markings of cats, and why they remain the same even as the cat grows.

King Cheetah and Regular Cheetah

O’Brien — who lives on a Maryland farm with several outdoor cats of various colors and patterns — at first wanted to call the gene tabulin, after tabby cats, but was unsuccessful. Now that’s just the name for the protein that the gene codes for. “The human genomics people didn’t want to name a human gene after a cat,” he said with a laugh.

There’s clearly some evolutionary reason for all this variation, but no one is sure what it is. A common explanation is camouflage, in which mottled patterns make a cat more difficult to see in the bush or in twilight. O’Brien has another theory, which he admits is provocative: It’s about viruses. Both Edn3 and Taqpep are membrane-spanning proteins, which interact with the outside portion of cells, he explained.

“[Such proteins] are well-known to be involved in immune defenses, and to be co-opted by viruses. There is always this pressure of viruses finding a new receptor, and there’s a mutation that the animal survives,” he said. He believes coat pattern proteins are a target for viruses, and cats are different colors and patterns because the proteins have evolved mutations to resist the invaders, with no other effects on the cat’s health or characteristics.

While O’Brien admits there’s no evidence for this, at least not yet, there are well-known connections between immune response and surface proteins, some of which are involved in color. Immune-deficient rodents, developed for testing in laboratories, are albino white, for instance. And the rare mutation in the CCR5 gene in humans — coding for a protein that, while not involved in color, is present on the surface of immune cells — confers immunity to HIV.

“There are functions associated with these things that we are just beginning to appreciate and understand better,” he said. “This will probably stimulate more research into the function of this gene in humans and other model systems.”

The post One Gene Lays The Blueprint for A Cheetah’s Spots And A Tabby Cat’s Stripes appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

PopSci mastered the Internet-age art of photographing feline antics in 1951, just four millennia after the domestication of the cat and 83 years after the Kodak box camera went on sale. In this article, renowned pet photographer Walter Chandoha describes his tested strategies for posing your kitty, lighting the shot, and framing those glorious whiskers.

Republished in full from our December 1951 issue (with our most prescient headline ever), here is “Cats Are Fun to Photograph,” by Walter Chandoha:

Cats are easy to photograph – if you can tap an unlimited supply of patience. Beyond that, all you need is a camera (I prefer a reflex) with flash attachment. An assistant, portrait lenses, a tripod and a flash extension are helpful, but by no means essential.

Baby memes eating from plates

The best place to work is a spot the cat likes best and the best time is just after he has eaten. When the cat gets down to the business of washing, you can start clicking. Set up your equipment beforehand and keep backgrounds plain. If the cat happens to like a spot in front of a cluttered background, stretch a sheet behind him.

Kitten miaowing in blinds

Make silly noises to get Tabby’s attention: miaowing, barking, hissing, squeaking, crumpling paper, or whatever you think might work. If the cat is uncooperative, a morsel of shrimp, liver, catnip, ground beef or sardines will bring him around. Shoot while he is looking for more.

The face of a very young cat

You can use flood or daylight, but I favor flash bulbs. Their strong light enables you to use a small aperture and a high shutter speed – both requisites for getting good pictures.

A cat achieving self-awareness

An aperture of f/22 will give you sufficient depth of field so that any slight error in focus will automatically be corrected. And if your focus is right on the nose (you should take that literally – focus on the nose and whiskers rather than on the eyes) you’ll get an over-all sharpness that is desirable. As for shutter speed, remember that the closer you get to a moving object the faster your shutter will have to be. Working about three feet from a cat, I find that 1/250 second stops all but the fastest motion.

View the full story in our December 1951 issue: Cats Are Fun to Photograph.

The post Meet The Original LOLCats [Vintage PopSci] appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

After Bart Jansen’s cat Orville was killed by a car, the artist had the animal taxidermied and then, “after a period of mourning,” converted the stuffed kitty into a radio-controlled quadcopter. The video is below.

It’s not clear whether or not Orville always dreamed of being a flying cat, but let’s assume that he did, and that this is the ultimate demonstration of Mr. Jansen’s respect for his deceased pet. Orville is currently on display in Amsterdam, at the Kunstrai art festival.

Sky News

The post Video: Dutch Artist Turns His Dead Cat Into a Flying Quadcopter appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Telepresence is cool, but it’s currently not very versatile and–at least if you’re going the commercial telepresence robot route–pretty expensive. For a princely sum, you can remotely putter around a faraway office or home and communicate with people there via a computer terminal. Outside of that, the technology has yet to break down any serious walls. That is, until software engineer Taylor Veltrop devised a way to brush his cat remotely via a robotic avatar, spearheading what could be the biggest revolution in cat-grooming technology since that kitty brush that you wear like a glove.

In all seriousness, what Veltrop pulls off in this video is pretty amazing in that he doesn’t just create telepresence, but actually achieves tele-grooming. In other words, he translates his own bodily movements into action with his robotic avatar, and he does so with little more than some Wiimotes, a Nao research robot, a head-mounted display (HMD), and a Kinect–stuff that can be had off the shelf at relatively low cost.

In Veltrop’s setup, the HMD provides him with the robot’s viewpoint and also controls the Nao’s head and neck–whichever way the operator turns his head, the robot moves in kind. Wiimotes are used to control each hand, while the rest of the robot’s bodily movements are generated by cues picked up by the Kinect. So when Veltrop walks forward on a treadmill, the robot begins walking forward. If he turns sideways the robot rotates itself in place.

This is the kind of avatar-based telepresence that’s way cooler than simply piloting a bot around with your keyboard controls, and the kind of thing that could one day enable everything from remotely controlled robo-hospitals to robots that let users actually perform tasks at the office or lab–or on the battlefield even–from home (or vice versa).

But before we can have all that, we have to groom the kitty. Enjoy.

PhysOrg

The post Video: Groombot Brushes Cat, Ushering in a New Era of Remote Robo-Petting appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Cat of the week, you guys. Cat of the year. Willow, an adorable calico, went missing from her Colorado home five years ago during some construction. In the years since, her family’s kids have grown up, and the family moved some ten miles away. But somehow, Willow made her way a whopping 1,800 miles from the Rocky Mountains to the rat-infested streets (for her, that’s probably nice) of Manhattan. This improbable story has a happy, techie ending: Willow was implanted with a microchip as a kitten, and was able to be reunited with her family this week.

It’s a hazardous trip, those 1,800 miles, filled with coyotes, foxes, owls, and all kinds of other large animals that prey on cats. We may never know what Willow saw on her journey east, or why she came at all (certainly many New Yorkers would love to make the exact reverse trip, ending up in beautiful Boulder, CO). Maybe she wanted to see The Book of Mormon, or parade her calico self around Fashion Week.

Willow was found on East 20th street, a mere few blocks from PopSci headquarters (home of several avowed cat-lovers) and taken to a shelter run by Animal Care and Control. Luckily, her family, the Squireses of Colorado, implant microchips in all their pets, and ACC was able to scan her chip and locate her family. One of the Squires children was not even born when Willow began her long, strange journey, and only remarked “That’s a pretty cat!” when shown a photograph. But her older siblings and her parents all knew Willow immediately, and were understandably stunned.

Even better, the Executive Director of the ACC described Willow as “healthy and well-mannered,” noting that she probably had not spent much time hanging around Manhattan. Willow will fly back west in around two weeks, where this adorable story ends in an even more adorable way: “We still have her little Christmas stocking,” said Jamie Squires. It may not be as long as the longest documented mammalian journey, but we feel pretty comfortable tipping our hats to the best-travelled housecat we’ve ever seen.

[AP via Rebecca Boyle]

The post Amazing Cat Goes Missing in Colorado, Found Five Years Later in New York City, Alive and Well appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Genetically modified glow-in-the-dark cats not only make stylish, futuristic pets, but now provide insight into feline AIDS as well. The cats were injected with an antiviral gene from a rhesus macaque monkey that helps them resist feline AIDS, along with one that produces the fluorescent protein GFP.

The latter gene, which is naturally produced by jellyfish, is regularly used in genetic engineering as a way to mark cells. If the cats aren’t glowing, then the AIDS-resisting gene might not have made it into the cell either.

Infection-fighting proteins called restriction factors, made by both cats and humans, are powerless against their respective versions of AIDS. But monkey versions of restriction factors, like the ones produced by the gene from the rhesus macaque, are able to fight HIV and FIV, as the viruses’ counter-weapons are designed to fight against human or cat proteins.

The team of American and Japanese scientists injected the antiviral gene and the GFP gene into feline eggs. Almost all of the offspring from these modified eggs had the restriction factor genes, with both fluorescent and AIDS-fighting proteins made throughout their bodies. Cells taken from the animals were found to be resistant to FIV, and the team plans to eventually expose the cats themselves to the virus to see if the restriction factors will protect them. Proof that these genes can protect cats from feline AIDS would be a huge step towards figuring out how to protect humans and prevent HIV.

BBC

The post Glow-In-The-Dark Cats Could Provide Answers About AIDS appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Cats may retain an aura of mystery about their smug selves, but that could change with scientists using a supercomputer to simulate the the feline brain. That translates into 144 terabytes of working memory for the digital kitty mind.

IBM and Stanford University researchers modeled a cat’s cerebral cortex using the Blue Gene/IP supercomputer, which currently ranks as the fourth most powerful supercomputer in the world. They had simulated a full rat brain in 2007, and 1 percent of the human cerebral cortex this year.

The simulated cat brain still runs about 100 times slower than the real thing. But PhysOrg reports that a new algorithm called BlueMatter allows IBM researchers to diagram the connections among cortical and sub-cortical places within the human brain. The team then built the cat cortex simulation consisting of 1 billion brain cells and 10 trillion learning synapses, the communication connections among neurons.

A separate team of Swiss researchers also used an IBM supercomputer for their Blue Brain project, where a digital rat brain’s neurons began creating self-organizing neurological patterns. That research group hopes to simulate a human brain within 10 years.

Another more radical approach from Stanford University looks to recreate the human brain’s messily chaotic system on a small device called Neurogrid. Unlike traditional supercomputers with massive energy requirements, Neurogrid might run on the human brain’s power requirement of just 20 watts — barely enough to run a dim light bulb.

[via AP and PhysOrg]

The post IBM’s Blue Gene Supercomputer Models a Cat’s Entire Brain appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Let’s take a look at the ingredients in a typical can of cat food: meat by-products, chicken by-product meal, turkey by-product meal, ash, taurine. Nothing too horrible, but in general, these things don’t constitute a healthy human diet, says Dawn Jackson Blatner, a registered dietitian with the American Dietetic Association. “That said, I’m fully confident that your body can handle kitty chow.”

Your liver, kidneys and skin do a terrific job of removing foreign substances from the body, especially mild ones like those found in cat food. “Technically, you could safely digest a baseball,” Blatner says. Perhaps the worst stuff in cat food is the high mineral content in the ash, but your body would clear that out quickly.

Actually, the ingredients listed on the organic blends of cat food sound pretty tasty. Newman’s Own canned beef formula uses only free-range beef from Uruguay, is 95 percent USDA-certified organic, and is chock-full of vitamins. Pass me a spoon, right? “Those are better,” Blatner says, “but they too are developed with cat nutrition in mind and aren’t formulated to keep humans healthy. It’s OK to satisfy the occasional craving, but you shouldn’t make it a staple of your regular diet. It’s cat food for a reason.”

The post Can People Safely Eat Cat Food? appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the fascinating little parasitic creatures capable of changing the natural behavoir of its infected host. It needs to live in a cat in order to reproduce, but the rest of its life cycle can be spent in just about any warm-blooded animal. When it makes its way into a rat or mouse, for example, it has the peculiar ability to render the rodent unafraid of cats and even drawn to their scent. This powerful evolutionary trait increases the T. gondii‘s chances of reproduction—a mouse hanging around with cats is obviously likely to be eaten. In recent years, T. gondii has been mysteriously appearing in sea mammals. Scientists have been at a loss to explain the mechanism of infection, considering dolphins and seals aren’t usually cavorting with cats.

It has been generally assumed that the origin of the infections stems from fresh water runoff contaminated with cat feces, but there is no definitive science on the issue. There has been new research, however, on anchovies’ ability to filter the protozoa from the water in which they live. Scientists at California Polytechnic State University discovered that when exposed to_ T. gondii_ in a controlled environment, two-thirds of the anchovies absorbed the parasite.

While the mechanism for moving the infection from anchovy to sea lion is as well still an unproven question mark, the researchers are guessing it will turn out to be the same as its migration from mouse to cat—through the food chain. While humans have nothing to fear from T. gondii in anchovies (it is killed when cooked), ocean-dwelling mammals do not have that luxury._ T. gondii_ is the cause of an estimated 17 percent of all sea otter deaths along the coast of California.

Via PhysOrg

The post Parasitic Pollution appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.