The Hidden Language of Cats: How They Have Us at Meow

Cat behavior consultant Brown (The Cat) breaks down the evolution of and meaning behind the signals felines use to communicate with humans and each other. She explains that ancestors of the modern domestic cat led solitary lives in which they communicated with each other only at a distance through scent deposits (in the form of urine, feces, or secretions from glands in cats’ paws that release when scratching) that can indicate a cat’s identity and fitness, as well as when a female is in heat. Domestication began with the rise of agriculture 10,000 years ago, and as wild cats began living in closer quarters with humans, they also interacted face-to-face more frequently with other cats, leading to new visual means of communication. Academic research illuminates the visual and tactile signals of modern cats, as when Brown describes a study that found cats were quicker to approach images of cats with raised tails, suggesting the posture indicates friendliness. She also discusses research showing that blinking slowly at a cat puts it at ease and that grooming between cats “may be a way of defusing tension.” The history enlightens and the science provides robust insight why felines do what they do. Cat lovers will want to add this to their shelf. (Oct.)