Tag: cats

Behavior

Why do cats bring home “gifts” of dead animals?

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Meredith Hemphill

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Encyclopaedia Felidae now has a Patreon! Go to www.patreon.com/EncyclopaediaFelidae if you want to help support this content!

Gray tabby cat holding mouse
“You know who would love this? My human!” – Image by Kurt Bouda from Pixabay

One summer morning when I was in high school, I opened the front door of my parents’ house to go get the mail. Fortunately, I’m in the habit of looking down when I walk, so I managed to avoid planting my bare foot directly into the present that our outdoor cat, Rosenberg, or Rosie, had left on the doormat for us. It was a baby rabbit, or most of one, that is. She had eaten a hole in the side of the head and consumed the brain, but left the rest for us to enjoy. We still call Rosie a zombie cat.

This was not the only time Rosie left us a gift. She’s never brought anything more indoors than the garage, but many people are not so lucky. Sometimes, cats bring gifts that are not so decidedly deceased, either, and cat owners may find themselves chasing rather lively birds, rodents, or reptiles around their homes. We humans generally regard this behavior as disgusting, but our cats seem to think we appreciate it. Why? Just, why?

Humans and cats are obviously very different animals, and we think differently. Cats are hard-wired to hunt, and a lot of their emotional lives revolve around hunting. It’s what they would spend most of their waking hours doing in the wild. Cats simply enjoy hunting. If prey is available, cats will hunt even if they are well-fed. A study found that cats would stop eating in order to kill a rat that was presented to them, only to set the rat beside their food bowl and keep eating what they had been eating before (1).

Cats may have evolved this high prey drive because prey can be scarce and difficult to catch, so stopping whatever they’re doing to hunt available prey, even when not hungry, would have boosted their chances of survival (1). The feline drive to hunt is why cats with access to the outdoors will inevitably at least attempt to. There are a few theories as to why they want to bring some of their prey to their people, however.

One school of thought is that they simply want to bring their prey back to a safe place to consume it, their den as it were, the way they would in the wild (2). But their den is your home or front stoop. Some experts believe that cats may want to show off their good work, but veterinarian Dr. Stephanie Liff points out that pride for their catch may be too human a motivation to ascribe to cats (3).

Tabby kitten playing with plush toy
Kittens have to practice hunting – Image by Ivo Zahradníček from Pixabay

Although cats are usually thought of as solitary and independent animals, they are actually fairly social and often live in colonies or with family members (4). As such, feral cats may bring prey back to the group to ensure the survival of everyone (5, 6). Cats also hunt cooperatively with members of their social group–Elizabeth Marshall Thomas suggests in her book The Tribe of Tiger that a possible explanation for bringing home live prey, at least for some cats, might be the joy of joining in a group hunt with the humans as they frantically chase down the injured animal (4). Domestic cats may be thinking in these terms when they bring prey to us, their family members of another species. Or, they may be thinking of us as family in a filial sense.

Perhaps the greatest consensus for why cats bring their humans prey is that they are treating us like their kittens. Mother cats bring prey to the den to feed their offspring. They also bring home dead, dying, or wounded prey to teach their kittens how to hunt. So our cats may be trying to feed us or teach us, or both. Really, who could blame them? In their world, hunting is everything. But we are clumsy, ungainly things that clearly cannot hunt for ourselves. Who knows where they think we get our food from, but I imagine they pity us sometimes. So perhaps they want to do what they can to help.

Elizabeth Marshall Thomas shares a story about how she and her husband had a she-cat that began to bring home dead mice all the time after she had a kitten (4). She would bring mice for the kitten, even after the kitten became an adult, but she would also bring them to Thomas, her husband, and their dog, the most appreciative of the bunch (4). It was as though motherhood made her suddenly feel responsible for all of these terrible hunters with whom she shared her home. However, even sterilized cats and toms can show this behavior. Maybe they all feel sorry for us.

Even indoor-only cats will bring gifts. They may manage to catch prey that sneaks indoors to present to you, but more often their gifts are inedible. The prey caught by indoor cats is mostly their toys, or whatever other objects they use as a toy, and these are the things they are likely to leave as gifts (5). Joon does this occasionally at night. I’ll wake up in the morning and find one of her toys, most often her beloved plush, pink-and-white sock, lying right beside me on the bed. If I wanted to have someone teach me how to hunt, it wouldn’t be Joon. I think her lifetime achievements are a spider and some flies. But I appreciate the sentiment.

Gray and white cat holding toy mouse
Not all mice are created equal – Image by isaikina13 from Pixabay

If your cat is leaving gifts more like Rosie’s than Joon’s, and you wish they wouldn’t, there are a couple things you can do, but keep in mind that you may not be able to stop this behavior completely. Cats will always find something to hunt, and there’s always a chance that if they catch something, they will bring it to you.

That being said, one thing you can do is engage your cat in interactive play to satisfy their prey drive and diminish some of that need to hunt live animals. The live prey drive will never go away, but you can redirect some of it. Another tactic is to make sure that any cats with access to the outdoors wear a breakaway collar with a bell, so that their hunts are less likely to be successful. That’s good for the local ecosystem and you’ll get much fewer unwanted gifts.

When your cat does bring you a present you didn’t ask for, you may want to scold them, but don’t. They won’t understand. Whatever the reason your cat is doing this, they see it as at least a neutral and probably a beneficial thing that they are doing for you. How would you feel if you did something really nice for somebody, and they yelled at you and called you a bad person for your good deed? It’s usually recommended that you actually praise your cat and then discreetly dispose of their gift, assuming it isn’t still very much alive and you have other things to worry about at the moment. Your cat is, after all, only doing what is natural to them.

By the way, if you have a cat with access to the outdoors, and they don’t bring you gifts, don’t feel insulted or worried. Not all cats have the same prey drive. Yours may just not feel as compelled to hunt when provided with sufficient food. Or they may not be very good at it. (7) Rest assured, they are still finding ways to be a cat, as cats always do.

Works Cited

  1. Adamec, R.E. (1976). The interaction of hunger and preying in the domestic cat (Felis catus): An adaptive hierarchy? Behavioral Biology, 18(2), 263-272. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0091-6773(76)92166-0
  2. Cutolo, M. (2020, March 26). Why do cats bring home dead animals? Reader’s Digest. https://www.rd.com/article/why-do-cats-bring-home-dead-animals/
  3. Puiu, T. (2017, May 5). Why do cats bring dead animals home to you: You should actually be honored. ZME Science. https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/why-cats-dead-animals-home/
  4. Thomas, E.M. (1994). The tribe of tiger: Cats and their culture. Simon & Schuster.
  5. Shojai, A. (2019, November 19). Why do cats bring ‘gifts’ of dead animals? The Spruce Pets. https://www.thesprucepets.com/cat-hunting-gifts-553946
  6. Primm, K. (n.d.). Ask a vet: Why does my cat bring me dead mice? I Heart Cats. https://iheartcats.com/ask-a-vet-why-does-my-cat-bring-me-dead-mice/
  7. Argos Pet Insurance. (2014, September 10). Why do cats bring their owners dead animals? https://www.argospetinsurance.co.uk/we-talk-pet/are-cats-really-bringing-their-owners-presents-when-they-bring-mice-home/

Published July 19th, 2020

Updated November 10th, 2020

Cat Care

Feline Heartworm Disease

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Meredith Hemphill

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Encyclopaedia Felidae now has a Patreon! Go to www.patreon.com/EncyclopaediaFelidae if you want to help support this content!

To quote Cats the musical, “A cat is not a dog.” This is a fact that is both obvious and often overlooked. Sometimes, cats and dogs are subject to the same illnesses, but that does not mean that they will have the same symptoms or can receive the same treatments. Heartworm disease is a prime example.

Heartworm lifecycle
Heartworm lifecycle – American Heartworm Society

Heartworm is the common name for a blood-borne parasite, Dirofilaria immitis, which normally resides in the heart or attached large blood vessels of an infected animal (1). Mature female worms are 6-14 inches (15-36 centimetres) long and 1/8 inch (3 millimetres) wide, with mature males about half that size (1). They can infect dogs, cats, ferrets, and even, rarely, humans (2). Wild hosts include wolves, coyotes, foxes, and sea lions (2). The heartworm lifecycle begins when a mosquito bites an infected animal. The mosquito sucks up larvae circulating in the bloodstream, called microfilaria (2). The larvae develop into an infectious stage in the mosquito and then enter a new host animal when the mosquito bites it (2). The larvae migrate to the right side of the new host’s heart, where they will mature into adult worms over the next six months.

Heartworms can only be transmitted by mosquitos, not between individual animals, although having a significant population of infected hosts increases the likelihood of infection. Heartworms can live for 5-7 years in dogs and 2-4 years in cats (3), so the infection burden in an animal population can increase quickly over several mosquito seasons, and individuals can be infected multiple times. Heartworm infection is possible throughout the United States and in many other countries throughout the world. Thirty species of mosquito can carry the larvae (1). Infected wildlife or mosquitoes can travel great distances, and infected pets may be moved or adopted to new areas (1), so it is safest to assume that if there are mosquitoes where you live, there is a risk of heartworm.

Worms in plastic container
Preserved heartworms (I know, gross) – Image by Mirko Sajkov from Pixabay

Cats are not a very good host for heartworms. Canines are more hospitable to the parasites. Cats are infected 5-20% as often as dogs in the United State, depending upon the location (4), and the worms often fail to mature inside their bodies. Cats also are unlikely to have circulating microfilaria, and about a third of infections in cats have mature worms of the same sex and therefore produce no larvae at all (5). However, just because cats are an imperfect host does not mean that they cannot suffer severe or sometimes fatal symptoms.

Because cats are so much smaller than most dogs, they don’t have space for nearly as many of the parasites. They usually have only 1-3 mature worms, if they have any adults at all (2). Even a few worms is still considered a heavy infection, however, due to a cat’s size (3). And even a cat with only immature worms can still have significant disease. Although the term “heartworm disease” would suggest that the symptoms primarily affect the heart, in cats heartworms tend to cause respiratory problems. Heartworms, once mature, often take up residence in the pulmonary arteries that take blood from the heart to the lungs (6). There, worms can block the arteries, and dead and dying worms cause inflammation that compounds the problem (6).

Cats are subject to a complication known as heartworm-associated respiratory disease (HARD). The symptoms of HARD are rapid and labored breathing, coughing, and gagging. Unfortunately, these symptoms are also indicators of asthma or bronchitis, making it difficult to distinguish a heartworm infection from other forms of respiratory distress. Other symptoms of heartworm infection are also non-specific: vomiting, loss of appetite, and weight loss. In more severe cases, cats may have seizures, faint, struggle to walk, or accumulate fluid in their abdomens. Sometimes, the first sign that something is wrong is sudden death.

If heartworm is suspected in a cat, it is much harder to diagnose an infection than in a dog. It is typical to have to use multiple tests, often more than once (7). This is because the unusual nature of heartworm infection in cats makes many tests less reliable, including the antigen blood test which is the gold standard for dogs (7). The antigen test detects mature female worms, but will not detect an infection with only male or only immature worms (5). Because both of those types of infection are likely in cats, there is a high rate of false negative results. Still, 50-70% of cats are estimated to have at least one female worm, so the test is worth a try (7).

The antibody test is another blood test which detects the cat’s immune response to the parasite. While antigen tests can only detect an infection after 6-8 months, once the parasites are mature, the antibody test is effective as early as two months after infection (7). The antibody test can be highly sensitive, but it’s reliability decreases over time and may be affected by the use of certain medications to treat the infection (7). It can also still be positive after a cat has fought off an infection but the antibodies are still in their blood (7). As the antigen and antibody tests are both useful but have major pitfalls for cats, they are best used together.

If the results of the antigen and antibody blood tests are inconclusive, there are other options. The blood can be tested for circulating microfilaria, but less than 20% of cats will have microfilaria, and then only for 1-4 weeks, so the chances of finding them are low (1). X-rays and ultrasounds of the heart and its vessels can look for changes in the shape of the heart and pulmonary arteries (1). Sometimes an ultrasound will even find the mature worms themselves, although this is uncommon since cats have so few worms (1).

When a heartworm infection can be diagnosed, treatment is its own challenge. The medication used to treat heartworm in dogs, melarsomine dihydrochloride, has been shown to be toxic to cats (8, 9). Cats that appear to be doing well or have no symptoms at all may be allowed to continue fighting the infection on their own while being continually monitored and routinely re-tested (7). A course of steroids is a common treatment for cats that need more support.

If a cat is in need of acute care, a veterinarian will step in with treatments for shock and symptoms, such as oxygen, intravenous fluids and steroids, or bronchodilator drugs to open up their airways (7). The goal is to stabilize the cat until they can eliminate the infection on their own. As measures of last resort when an otherwise stable cat seems to have trouble doing this, the drug ivermectin can be given to kill adult worms, or worms may even be surgically removed (7).

Gray and white cat in red window box
Take care of your cat’s heart <3 – Image by Melinda Rózsa from Pixabay

Obviously, heartworm disease in cats is a complicated and difficult matter. The best treatment is prevention. Heartworm preventatives are available as monthly oral or topical medications, or an injection given every six months by your veterinarian (2). In the United States, heartworm medication is available by prescription only, but on the bright side, most heartworm medications also prevent intestinal parasites, and some are effective against external parasites like fleas and ticks (2). The American Heartworm Society recommends using year-round prevention even in places with cold winters, just in case (2). Indoor cats should be treated as well. Mosquitoes have a knack for making their way inside. About a third of cats with heartworm infections are indoor-only (1). You can’t underestimate the diabolical sneakiness of mosquitoes.

For more information about heartworms, visit the American Heartworm Society at https://www.heartwormsociety.org/ or any of the resources below.

Works Cited

  1. Barnette, C. and Ward, E. (n.d.). Heartworm disease in cats. VCA Animal Hospitals. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/heartworm-disease-in-cats
  2. American Heartworm Society. (n.d.). Heartworm in cats. https://www.heartwormsociety.org/heartworms-in-cats
  3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2019, August 22). Keep the worms out of your pet’s heart! The facts about heartworm disease. link here
  4. Ryan, W.G., et al. (1995). Prevalence of feline heartworm disease – a global review. American Heartworm Society. Proceedings of the heartworm symposium 1995, 79-86. https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/19960805975
  5. Stannard, R. (n.d.). The facts about feline heartworm disease. Today’s Veterinary Practice. https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/the-facts-about-feline-heartworm-disease/
  6. Cornell Feline Health Center. (n.d.). Heartworm in cats. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. link here
  7. Jones, S., et al. (2014, October). Current feline guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) infection in cats. American Heartworm Society. PDF
  8. McLeroy, L.W. (1998). Evaluation of melarsomine dihydrochloride for adulticidal activity against Dirofilaria immitis in cats with intravenously transplanted adult heartworms. MS Thesis, 95. University of Georgia, Athens, GA.
  9. Goodman, D.A. (1996). Evaluation of a single dose of melarsomine dihydrochloride for adulticidal activity against Dirofilaria immitis in cats. MS Thesis, 95. University of Georgia, Athens, GA.

Published June 21st, 2020

Updated November 4th, 2020

Cat Care

Should cats be indoors or outdoors?

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Meredith Hemphill

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Encyclopaedia Felidae now has a Patreon! Go to www.patreon.com/EncyclopaediaFelidae if you want to help support this content!

Black cat laying outdoors in daisies
Photo by Lisa Fotios from Pexels

Today we broach one of the great cat debates. Cat people are usually united by their love of felines, but there are a few topics that can tear us apart. This is one of them. Perhaps this is due to the changing relationship between humans and cats, something that has continued to evolve ever since cats domesticated themselves. It used to be the case that almost no one had indoor-only cats. However, as humans became more urban and cats came to be seen more as companions, more people have chosen to bring cats inside with them. Some, however, still think cats belong entirely or partly outdoors. We all want to think that we are doing the best thing for our pets, but is there a right and wrong answer here?

Veterinarians and animal welfare agencies, without exception as far as I can tell, recommend keeping cats indoors. Before anyone starts to leave an angry comment, this is not to say that there’s no benefit to cats being outdoors. In fact, those who say that cats belong in nature are correct, cats evolved to live outside. Of course, so did humans, but that is beside the point. Being outside is good for cats’ mental health because it provides them with a wealth of stimulation. They are able to exercise, hunt, socialize with other cats, solve problems, and generally be a cat the way they were meant to be. So, yes, cats do enjoy being outside, and in some ways it is good for them. But it is not without reason that experts recommend making our feline companions indoor-only.

The average lifespan of an indoor cat is about fifteen years, but for outdoor cats it’s only two to five years. There are a lot of dangers that cats face in the big, mean world, regardless of the setting. Cars are a major killer of cats. Cats may learn over time to avoid cars, if they are lucky enough, but they do not instinctively know to be careful of them. Cats are even injured and killed when they crawl inside cars for shelter and don’t have time to escape when the car turns on.

They also in danger from a number of predatory animals including hawks, foxes, coyotes, bears, alligators, and many others, depending upon the environment. Dogs, whether pets or strays, kill cats, and cats get into dangerous fights with each other. Certainly, cats have some natural defenses against predators and other cats, but they can’t always emerge victorious. What chance has a cat against an alligator? And even if the cat is able to fight off the predator or aggressor, it may still be seriously injured.

Cats also face the threat of disease outside. They may pick up infectious diseases from contact with other cats, such as Feline Immunodificiency Virus (FIV, the cat equivalent of HIV), Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), panleukopenia, and upper respiratory pathogens. FIV can be fatal, and there is no vaccination or cure. The only way to prevent it is to prevent infection by preventing contact with infected cats. There are lots of parasites out there, too, some of which can be passed to humans and carry other diseases. Cats may also come into contact with toxic plants or chemicals that could sicken or kill them if ingested. Many cats like to eat plants, and there are a whole host of toxic plants out there, especially in gardens. Antifreeze apparently has a pleasant taste, and cats have been known to eat it if they find it lying around.

Then, of course, there are the human dangers. There’s no telling what someone might do to your cat if you aren’t there. On the benign side of things, cats might be mistaken for strays and taken in to an animal shelter. Then there are those whose intentions are not to be admired. Animal cruelty is real and it happens. Friendly, free-roaming animals are easy targets. I won’t go into the grisly details of the horrible things people have been known to do to cats. Suffice it to say that two of the more common include shooting them with arrows and bb guns. Cats are also used as bait animals in dog-fighting, although it’s hard to say how often free-roaming pets are stolen for this purpose because there is simply so little data.

With all that being said, there are some disadvantages to keeping cats strictly indoors. Without the stimulation of being outside, they may become bored or even anxious or depressed. They can start to be very dependent on their human, or they might develop behavioral problems such as destructive tendencies (scratching, chewing, etc.), eliminating outside the litter box, or aggression. Individual cats can exhibit any number of signs of stress as a result of not being to act out all their natural behaviors. So, what can we do? It’s too dangerous outside and too boring and confining inside. There are a few ways to compromise.

First, the indoors doesn’t have to be so boring. Cats need lots of places to climb and hide, and lots of surfaces to scratch. Every cat has their own preferences in all of these regards, so you may have to do some experimenting. A good cat tree is always a place to start. Make sure the cat tree has a wide, stable base and any scratching posts are tall enough for your cat to stretch out to their full length on. Many cat trees don’t meet these requirements, thus are unlikely to see much use.

Orange and white cat playing with toy
Bring the outdoors in with toys! – Image by DarkWorkX from Pixabay

Toys are also key. Not every cat likes the same kind of toy because not every cat is the same kind of hunter. Most cats will need some toys they can play with on their own as well as interactive toys for you to play with them. Interactive toys allow you to really simulate a hunt for your cat. This especially helps them to exercise and feel like they’re out in the wild.

Another thing you can do is “cat TV.” We know that cats like to watch the great outdoors out the window. Putting a bird feeder or something similar outside the window to make the view more interesting is a good idea. It also helps to make sure that your cat has a good perch by the window(s) so they can watch in comfort. You wouldn’t want to watch TV sitting on a narrow windowsill, would you? If you don’t have windows, don’t have much of a cat-friendly view, or just want to try other options, there are videos of literal TV for cats that you can put on. Or you can try making a terrarium, aquarium, or paludarium (that’s a combination of both) with some small animals that they would like to watch. Just be careful that they can’t knock it over!

If you would like to let your cat really experience the outdoors, well, outdoors, you still can. There are a few options that allow you to keep your cat safe while also letting them enjoy the nature. One is to harness train your cat so you can take them on walks. That may sound like asking for a clawing, but it doesn’t have to be. See my previous article for a how-to on walking your cat.

If you or your cat don’t care for that idea, however, don’t fret. If you have a suitable yard, there are cat-proof fences designed to keep your cat from jumping out. Cats will not jump if the fence has a top that is angled above their heads sharply enough. They know better than to bump their heads! There are products that can be attached to an existing fence as well as entire fencing panels built this way. Or you can do it yourself, if you’re handy. Just make sure to supervise your cat while they’re out in your yard in case something else gets in.

Perhaps the most flexible option is a catio (cat patio). These are a wide variety of cat enclosures that allow cats to be outside while still being enclosed. If you already have a screened-in porch, that qualifies. For everyone else, there are ready-made catios that you can buy which accommodate a variety of homes. Some are meant to attach to apartment windows or to sit on balconies or porches. Others are meant to sit in yards or attach to houses via a cat door.

There is also the option to build one yourself or have one built for you. The catio concept is very customizable to the needs of you and your cat. Just make sure that it is sturdy enough to withstand your cat from the inside, especially if they are an escape artist or a screen climber, and any predators or other cats from the outside. If you want to put plants in your catio, make sure they are safe for cats.

A custom-built catio

If you still choose to keep your cat outdoors, please do so responsibly. Bring your cat inside or at least into some sort of structure at night and during extreme weather. Feeding your cat when you want it to come in will make sure it does so. Take your cat to the vet regularly and keep it up to date on its vaccinations. Maintain flea, tick, and heartworm medication, and have your cat de-wormed regularly. Make sure your cat wears a collar with rabies tags and an ID tag with your contact information. However, the collar needs to be a breakaway collar. Cats are prone to getting their collars caught on things, and other collars can cause them to get trapped or suffocate. Given that the collar may come off, it is important to also have your cat microchipped.

It should go without saying, but you absolutely need to have your cat spayed or neutered if they are going to be an outdoor cat. Not only will this prevent overpopulation, but if you have a she-cat this will save you from unwanted kittens and pregnancy-associated health problems. Furthermore, intact cats of either sex wander farther and get into more fights, especially toms.

An important note: if your cat is declawed, they cannot be an outdoor cat. They can still have supervised outdoor time, but they cannot be allowed to free-roam. Declawed cats can’t defend themselves well at all and are in much greater danger than cats with all their defenses in place.

So, do cats belong outside? Well, yes, they do, a biopsychological sense. But as pet parents we have committed to taking the best care of our cats we can. So we need to keep them safe, in our homes. But that doesn’t mean cats should be bored, or even that they can never be outside. We probably should take them outside, but as their guardians it is our responsibility to go outside with them and make sure no danger befalls them. That is the distinction between an outdoor cat and an indoor cat that is momentarily outdoors. Our furry friends deserve the best lives we can give them, both long and happy. A rewarding indoor life with supervised outdoor time is the way to give them the best of both worlds.

Published May 30, 2020

Updated December 5, 2020

Culture

Cat Beach Sanctuary: A Feline Oasis in Malaysia

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Meredith Hemphill

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Encyclopaedia Felidae now has a Patreon! Go to www.patreon.com/EncyclopaediaFelidae if you want to help support this content!

Two white cats on beach
Cats on the beach – Photo from Cat Beach Sanctuary

There are a handful of things that have the power to relax me without fail. Two of them are being on the beach and petting a friendly kitty. Cat Beach Sanctuary in the fishing village of Teluk Bahang, Malaysia is a kind of paradise I didn’t know existed on Earth. Up to 300 rescued cats roam the seashore sanctuary, sunning themselves on the sand. Many of these cats have been saved from difficult lives or almost certain death. Now they are fed and cared for, and as many as possible will be adopted. If not, however, they can stay here for the rest of their lives. Cat Beach is truly a sanctuary.

The sanctuary was founded in 2014 on the island of Penang by an American expat, Teviot Fairservis, and a local community cat caregiver named Mr. Nana. They were inspired by the work of 4PAWS, a dog sanctuary on Penang with a similar set-up. Fairservis began volunteering at 4PAWS after moving to Penang, but quickly realized that there was nowhere for people to take rescued or unwanted cats. Then Penang enacted a “Zero Strays Policy,” effective July 2014. This meant that any cat or dog rescued from the streets could not be returned from whence they came. If there was nowhere to house these animals, they would have to be euthanized. There were some shelters available for cats to go to, but all were kill shelters that couldn’t keep animals indefinitely without euthanizing them. Fairservis felt she had to do something to help the cats.

4PAWS founder Barbara Janssen introduced Fairservis to Mr. Nana Bin Wanchik, a man in Teluk Bahang who had been feeding about eighty community cats. He and Fairservis built Cat Beach Sanctuary together. They also founded the Cat Lovers International Society to help advance the feline cause beyond the sanctuary.

Tropical beach
Penang, Malaysia – Image by Zsofia Daranyi from Pixabay

The sanctuary currently consists of a simple wooden beach house and several smaller outbuildings. The main house is where the most vulnerable cats are housed in individual cages, i.e. mothers with kittens and sick or injured cats that need a lot of care. Other shelters exist on the beach for cats that are healthier and can be allowed to come and go as they please. The sanctuary also features the Traveler’s Bookshop and 2nd Chances Charity Store. Their cat cafe suffered major damages after a monsoon in 2018 but is on the mend. Visitors are welcome. They can just hang out with the cats or join in activities such as cat-themed craft projects or volunteer opportunities.

Cat Beach takes in stray, abandoned, rescued, or surrendered cats from all over the island. Although the people of Teluk Bahang generally have a positive attitude toward cats, not everyone in Malaysia does, and they have witnessed horrifying mistreatment of cats in their work. Veterinary care is difficult to come by on Penang, but they do as much as they can on site and make the hour-long trip to the nearest clinic whenever necessary or possible.

Cat Beach has a goal of sterilizing and vaccinating every cat that comes to their doorstep, but it can be difficult. Cost and transportation make it hard to vaccinate and sterilize many cats at once. However, they are still trying, and they are also doing educational outreach programs to inform the community about the importance of such measures as well. Their educational programs also aim to change the perception of cats in Malaysia, so that people will no longer think of them as a nuisance. Hopefully, if more people love cats, less cats will be abused or abandoned to begin with, and more of the cats at the sanctuary will be adopted.

Cat and woman on beach
Ocean view – Photo from Cat Beach Sanctuary

Cat Beach is doing amazing work, but they need help to do it. They are a volunteer-run organization. You can volunteer during a single visit or apply to volunteer for an extended period of time. Long-term volunteers can be lodged on-site. They need volunteers for every part of running the organization, from cat care to maintenance to administration. They accept volunteers from anywhere in the world, and students may be able to receive internship credit for their service. Fairservis used to be a university professor. She understands the struggle. If interested in volunteering, email [email protected] or see the Cat Beach website for more information.

If you aren’t able to volunteer, there are other things you can do. Donations, either monetary or in-kind, are always welcomed. They go through a LOT of supplies with all those cats. Donations of funds can be sent via PayPal to TeviotCatBeachPenang, through their GoFundMe at www.gofundme.com/catloversintl, or through direct deposit into CIMB Bank Malaysia Savings Account # 7063481337 in the name of Mohd Iqbal bin Zainal (the president of the Cat Lovers International Society). In-kind donations can be ordered from Tesco Penang or Lazada.com and sent to Cat Beach Sanctuary, 778 Jalan Teluk Awak, MK 2, Teluk Bahang, 11050, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. Their wish list can be found here.

Finally, you can adopt a cat from Cat Beach. They do support international adoptions if you aren’t local, but it can get complicated, as you might expect. Don’t let that stop you if you really want to give it a go, though. You can also sponsor a Cat Beach cat to pay for their care. Cat Beach has a foster program as well.

You can find out more about Cat Beach by visiting their website at https://catbeachpenang.com/.

Published May 16, 2020

Updated December 19, 2020

Cat Care

Should cats drink milk?

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Meredith Hemphill

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Encyclopaedia Felidae now has a Patreon! Go to www.patreon.com/EncyclopaediaFelidae if you want to help support this content!

Two tabby cats drinking saucer of milk
Image by FotoRieth from Pixabay

I was recently watching a YouTube video–one of those funny cat compilations, you know the type. One of the clips included a cat being offered milk, and oh boy, did the comments go crazy. Everyone had an opinion about whether cats should drink milk or not. I’ve always heard that cats are lactose intolerant and shouldn’t have milk, but there were lots of people who disagreed. Certainly YouTube comment sections are not the place to obtain scientific information, but it sparked my curiosity. I had no idea there was so much debate about this topic, and now I wanted to find out the answer for myself.

Cats certainly seem to like milk. My parents have had two infamous ice cream thieves. And cats have been portrayed in media of all kinds happily lapping from a saucer of milk, for at least two hundred years and possibly going back to the Middle Ages, but I had some trouble verifying the dates of older images. Why do cats like milk so much, or are we imagining it?

It’s not an illusion. Dairy farmers noticed a long time ago that cats would get very excited about fresh cow’s milk. Cats are particularly fond of the cream that rises to the top of the fresh milk, as cats are naturally drawn to fatty foods that would help them survive in the wild where food is not guaranteed, and cream is certainly high in fat. It has also been demonstrated that cats relax while lapping milk (1), perhaps because it recalls pleasant maternal memories.

Brown and white calf
Intended recipient of cow’s milk – Photo by Couleur on Pexels

Unfortunately, the fact that cats like milk doesn’t mean they should drink it. Kittens drink their mother’s milk in order to gain vital nutrients and antibodies until they begin weaning. The milk of mammals contains a sugar called lactose, and infants produce an enzyme called lactase to break down this sugar which provides them with important energy for their development. As the kittens begin to eat solid food and less of their mother’s milk, they slowly stop producing lactase. The same is true of other mammals, including humans, but an unusual percentage of humans continue to produce enough lactase to digest dairy into adulthood. Cats, like other mammals, usually don’t. This means that most cats are lactose intolerant as adults.

Cats may enjoy milk or other dairy products while they’re eating them, but the majority who are lactose intolerant will pay for it later with gastrointestinal upsets. The undigested lactose can’t be absorbed into the bloodstream, so it moves straight through the intestines, drawing water with it and causing loose stools or diarrhea. They may also experience vomiting, and the action of intestinal bacteria fermenting the lactose can cause gas and bloating. Even cats that are not lactose intolerant may have dairy allergies that can also cause gastrointestinal and/or skin problems (2). Not the recipe for a happy cat, or a happy cat parent, for that matter.

Not all cats have this problem. There are some that can handle milk without an issue. Others are fine with small amounts from time to time but react negatively if given more. Regardless, it’s important to note that cow’s milk is not nutritious for cats even if they can tolerate it. It’s essentially junk food, high in calories but devoid of the protein and other nutrients that cats need. Obesity is a significant problem among pet cats. Whole milk especially poses a risk because it has so much fat. A well-nourished cat doesn’t need all that fat.

White goat
Goat’s milk can be a good treat for some cats – Photo by Ellie Cash on Unsplash

The healthiest cat treats are plain meat, cooked if you’re worried about contamination (which would be fair). Nutritious commercial treats can also be fine in moderation. However, if your cat is just crazy about milk, there are some options that are better for your cat. If you already know that your cat can tolerate lactose, then small amounts (think a teaspoon or so) of low-fat or skim milk as an occasional treat could be fine. Lower-lactose products such as plain yogurt or goat’s milk might also do. Goat’s milk has more vitamins and minerals than cow’s milk and contains the amino acid taurine, which cats require, so there’s a point in favor of the goats.

I have seen some claims that raw (unpasteurized) milk is preferable because the nutrients and enzymes present in the milk have not been heat-killed. I have also seen some information which suggests that it might be dangerous due to the presence of potentially harmful live microorganisms. Personally, I would err on the side of caution and choose pasteurized, but you can make your own decisions in the regard. Lactose-free milk products for humans are available, as well as “cat milk” products specially formulated for cats. They vary, but are generally lactose-free, low-fat, and more nutritious for cats. They are available online and at many pet stores. In any case, milk of whatever sort should be given only as a treat to adult cats, in small amounts.

Milk alternatives that should not be used include plant milks such as soy milk, almond milk, etc. Cats are carnivores and are not well-equipped to digest the carbohydrates in plants. Plant milks are often sweetened, and cats do not need all that sugar, either. Plus, it isn’t uncommon for cats to have allergies to soy.

In settling a great YouTube debate, it seems that cats should generally not drink milk, but there are cats who can handle it or other kinds of milk that cats can have. As long as it’s given as a treat, rather than used as a major part of their diet, a little dairy or an appropriate alternative can be okay. I would rather Rosie stayed out of my ice cream bowl, however.

Note: Kittens should never be given cow’s milk or any kind of alternative. They should only receive their mother’s milk or a kitten formula, if a mother isn’t available, until they are old enough for weaning.

Works Cited

  1. Cervantes, M., Ruelas, R., and Beyer, C. (1983). Serotonergic influences on EEG synchronization induced by milk drinking in the cat. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 18(6), 851-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0091-3057(83)80004-5
  2. Guilford, W.G., et al. (2001). Food sensitivity in cats with chronic idiopathic gastrointestinal problems. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 15(1), 7-13. DOI: 10.1892/0891-6640(2001)015<0007:fsicwc>2.3.co;2
  3. Kornreich, B.G. (2020, May 2). Dear Elizabeth: Is feeding cats milk safe for your kitty? [Email newsletter] Cornell Feline Health Center.

Published on May 8, 2020

Updated January 2, 2021

Culture

Chilean Market Cats: A Creative Approach to Strays

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Meredith Hemphill

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Encyclopaedia Felidae now has a Patreon! Go to www.patreon.com/EncyclopaediaFelidae if you want to help support this content!

When it comes to addressing populations of stray and feral cats, sometimes the answers are easily, but far more often they are not. There are so, so many homeless cats around the world, and every place has its own, unique set of challenges in attempting to handle this overwhelming problem. I am very interested in the creative solutions that different communities invent to help their local street cats. I think cat advocates can learn a lot from each other when we trade our ideas. With that in mind, I wanted to share the way cats and vendors in a Chilean market have formed a brilliant symbiotic relationship.

La Vega Central is a huge market in the middle of Santiago, Chile, the country’s capital. It’s primarily a farmer’s market, selling all manner of fresh produce, meats, eggs, and dairy, but other products such as dried goods, bakery products, and even tools and cleaning supplies are on offer. The market is open every day and is popular with locals, tourists, and cats.

Tabby cat resting on a bag of vegetables
Papita, market cat at La Vega – Photo by Francisco Cabezas Moreno at Gatos de la Vega

That stray cats would be drawn to a farmer’s market makes sense. The presence of so much food is sure to draw rodents and other pests, and they draw cats. But how do the vendors feel about having cats all over the place? They’re thrilled! The vendors don’t merely tolerate the cats for their convenient mousing. Each vendor has their own cat coworker with whom they share their stall. Cats are very territorial, so they tended to frequent the same space every day. The vendors became attached to the cats that took a shine to their booths. The vendors are quite proud of their own personal market cat (or sometimes dog). They will name their cat, feed them, and get them veterinary care if they can afford it.

The organization Gatos de la Vega was founded to raise money for the care of the market cats in La Vega Central. Some of the vendors have formed a collective called Callejeritos de la Vega to raise money themselves. They all want to make sure these cats are well-provided for, and it sure looks like it’s working. They are starting to get some of the market cats neutered, too, to keep the entire feline community healthier.

TNR (trap, neuter, and return) has started to take hold in Chile in the last few years. Still, Chile has struggled to find large-scale or governmental solutions for stray animals. In the meantime, the long-standing relationship between the humans and cats (and dogs) of the Chilean markets arose organically. It just goes to show that when we are flexible and hold compassion in our hearts, solving difficult issues gets a lot easier.

If you would like to help the market cats of Chile, see Gatos de la Vega’s website at https://gatosdelavega.cl/ and purchase something from their store. They have a photo book about the market cats as well as adorable t-shirts, postcards, and tote bags. You can donate to Callejeritos de la Vega at paypal.me/callejeritosdelavega or sponsor an animal at their website, http://www.fundacioncallejeritosdelavega.cl/.

Hannah Shaw (The Kitten Lady)’s video about the cats of La Vega Central

Published February 6, 2020

Updated June 8, 2021

Breed Profiles

Siamese: Thai Temple Cats

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Meredith Hemphill

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Encyclopaedia Felidae now has a Patreon! Go to www.patreon.com/EncyclopaediaFelidae if you want to help support this content!

Siamese cats may be one of the most recognizable breeds today, but for centuries they were one of Thailand’s best kept secrets. They stalked the halls of Thai palaces and temples at a time when the country was still known as Siam, hence their name. Siamese cats are believed to have occurred naturally in Thailand and later been selectively bred for certain traits. Though Siamese cats only began to spread outside Thailand during the late 1800s, they have quickly become one of the most popular breeds of cats in the world.

Siamese kitten
Siamese kittens are born white – Photo by TaniaVdB on Pixaby

Siamese cats are easily recognized by their long, lithe, and angular bodies, as well as their color-point patterning which arose in the Thai cat population as a genetic mutation. It causes cats to have a light background color, ranging from white to tan, with darker coloration on the ears, face, paws, and tail. Kittens are born white and their points darken as they age. Many cat show organizations, including the Cat Fanciers Association, only recognize seal (dark brown-black), chocolate, blue, and lilac points, but almost any color of point is possible, including patterned points, i.e. tabby.

Siamese cats have long, slim bodies with wedge-shaped heads and large, triangular ears. Their hind legs are longer than their forelegs, and they have small, dainty, oval-shaped paws. Their almond-shaped eyes are a vibrant blue, one of their most alluring and unusual traits. They occasionally have crossed eyes or kinked tails. These are harmless deformities that were once very prominent in the breed but which breeders have tried to eliminate, with only partial success.

It is commonly believed that Siamese cats have been bred to have a more thin, angular, and generally extreme shape in more recent years, and that the original breed that arose in Thailand had a more moderate body plan and rounder face. There are still Siamese cats being bred to this form today. Sometimes they are recognized as a separate breed, called the Thai. Other times they are referred to as “traditional” or “applehead” Siamese cats.

Lilac-point siamese cat
Sleepy blue eyes – Photo by TaniaVdB on Pixaby

Siamese cats have a rich history in their native Thailand. They are thought to be a very old breed, but exactly how old is uncertain. The Tamra Maew manuscript, called The Cat Poems in English, was discovered in a royal Buddhist temple and depicts lucky and unlucky cats (1). One of the lucky cats has a white body and dark or black tail, ears, paws, and mask (1). Manuscripts such as these were handwritten on palm-leaves or bark, which would become fragile with age and need to be painstakingly copied periodically.

The Cat Poems originated in Ayutthaya, a city which was later destroyed, but some of the manuscripts from its temple survived and were taken to Bangkok, including The Cat Poems (1). The copy of the Tamra Maew which was discovered has been dated to between 1840 and 1850 by The International Maew Boran Association (TIMBA) but research suggests that it may date to the Khmer Empire (802 to 1432), making Siamese cats a very old breed indeed (1).

Thai legends account for the crooked tails and crossed eyes that used to be so common to the breed (2). One tells of a princess who was bathing in a river. She feared that her rings would be lost in the swift current, but her favorite cat was close at hand, as usual, so she placed her rings on its tail for safekeeping (2). The loyal cat made sure to keep the rings on its tail, but it had a little kink in its tail forever after (2). In another tale, pun intended, a royal guard cat is tasked with watching over a gold goblet (2). The cat wraps its tail tightly around the stem of the goblet so it can’t let its charge out of its sight (2). The determined guard proceeds to watch the goblet so long and with such fierce focus that it goes cross-eyed (2).

These stories also allude to the personality of Siamese cats which are a very people-oriented and loyal breed. Highly social and intelligent, this is one breed that does not like to be left alone and does best if they have a similarly playful friend to keep them occupied while their human is at work. Siamese cats get along well with other cats as well as dogs and children. They just want to be friends. And they want someone to talk to. Siamese are well known for being “talkers,” with a loud, unique meow that they use all the time to tell you about everything.

These cats are very affectionate. They like to follow their people around to see what they’re doing or just cuddle and tell you about their day. Because they are so intelligent, Siamese cats can get bored, and therefore get into trouble. Giving them puzzle toys or taking them on walks to give their brains as well as their bodies something to do is a good idea.

Siamese tom showing off the breed’s distinctive voice

Siamese cats have a short, fine-textured coat that requires very little grooming, only a weekly combing. As they are attention sponges, they usually enjoy being groomed. Dental care may need to be more intensive. The wedge shape of their heads makes Siamese cats prone to periodontal disease, so daily brushing is recommended. This is easiest when begun as a kitten. Weekly brushing or other dental care options are less effective but may still do the trick. Consult a vet to see what your cat needs. The shape of their heads also increases the risk of respiratory problems. The breed carries a risk of developing eye problems, such as retinal atrophy or glaucoma, heart problems, and bladder stones. These conditions are more likely later in life.

The enduring popularity of Siamese cats makes a lot of sense. They are a friendly and beautiful breed with a lot to say for themselves. They make excellent family pets because they get along so well with other pets and children. While a chatty cat isn’t for everyone, its clear that many people, including Thai royalty, love this special feline.

Fun Facts

  • The Siamese was one of the original breeds recognized by the CFA when it was founded in 1906.
  • Siamese cats first arrived in the United States in 1878 when one was gifted to President Rutherford B. Hayes’s wife, Lucy, by a diplomat. The cat was named, very creatively, “Siam.”
  • The Siamese may have been displayed at the first major cat show in 1871 at London’s Crystal Palace. A journalist with Harper’s Weekly described the breed as “an unnatural, nightmare kind of cat.”
  • A pair of Siamese cats alerted their owner to the presence of Russian espionage in the 1960s (3). Dutch ambassador Henri Heib was woken up by his yowling cats scratching at the wall in the middle of the night as he slept in the embassy in Moscow, possibly when the 30 hidden microphones turned on and made a noise only the cats could hear (3). The ambassador chose to leave the bugs in his apartment, and he and his wife used them to manipulate their eavesdroppers into doing favors for them such as getting packages unstuck from customs (3).
  • The Thai name for the native Siamese breed is “wichienmaat,” which means “gold diamond.”

Works Cited

  1. The International Maew Boran Association. (2020). http://www.timba.org/
  2. Geyer, G.A. (2004). When cats reigned like kings: On the trail of the sacred cats. Andrews McMeel Publishing.
  3. Reuter. (1964, May 26). Microphone revealed by cats: Ambassador made use of it. The Glasgow Herald, p. 9.

Published January 30, 2020

Updated June 4, 2021

Behavior

Why do cats knead?

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Meredith Hemphill

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Encyclopaedia Felidae now has a Patreon! Go to www.patreon.com/EncyclopaediaFelidae if you want to help support this content!

This behavior goes by many names: kneading, making biscuits, making cookies, paddling, or smurgling. Most people know what kneading is, but allow me to overexplain so we’re all on the same page. Kneading is when a cat snuggles up on or next to a beloved human (or object, or other animal) and begins massaging the target of their affection with alternating forepaws. They may also begin to purr, salivate, or suckle on fabric or other available material, depending on the cat. That suckling habit is sometimes called wool-chewing or wool-sucking. Some people find kneading to be super cute while others find it annoying. It can certainly be unpleasant if your cat decides to make biscuits on your bare legs. But whatever your opinions on being kneaded, you’ve probably wondered, “why does my cat do this?”

Ginger and white kitten suckling
Image by Antonios Ntoumas from Pixabay

As is so often the case with feline behavior, the reason for kneading is not known for certain. The most well-known theory is that it is a carry-over from kittenhood. Kittens begin to knead almost immediately. They place their paws on their mother’s abdomen as they suckle and knead her to stimulate the flow of milk. Kneading is believed to release endorphins to encourage bonding between kittens and mother. That neurological process, as well as the comforting memories, remain into adulthood. Cats may knead their favorite human in a similar bonding process, a show of affection and contentment. They may also knead to soothe themselves if they feel anxious, trying to take themselves back to a happier state of mind.

Taking our cats even further back in time, we can find a reason for kneading in the evolution of their wild ancestors. Domestic cats will often knead beds, blankets, pillows, etc. before settling down on them to sleep. It’s thought that ancestral wild cats kneaded down grass or other vegetation in the same manner to make a soft place to sleep or give birth. In the arid environments where they lived, soft sleeping spots could be scarce unless you made one yourself.

Another possibility is that kneading, at least in adult cats, has to do with those special little kitty paws. There are scent glands on cats’ paws, so whenever they knead something, they mark it with their scent. Maybe your cat just wants everyone to know that this blanket is theirs, and that pillow, and their bed, and your bed…

There may not be only one reason why cats knead. They are complex and mysterious creatures, after all. What does seem clear is that when a cat kneads their owner, it can be taken as a compliment. It’s also certain that kneading is a hard-wired and instinctive behavior. If you don’t like being kneaded, you cannot stop your cat from kneading entirely, but you may be able to stop them from kneading you, or at least make the process easier on yourself.

Cat behaviourist Jackson Galaxy explains smurgling

If your cat kneads with their claws out, there are two simple solutions. One is to keep their claws trimmed, which will protect both you and anything else they knead. Or, put a blanket or towel over your lap whenever they want to snuggle so they don’t sink their claws into you. If you just do not want them kneading you at all, you can try distracting them by petting them or giving them a toy. You can gently pick them up and move them whenever they start to knead on you. Picking a designated blanket, pillow, or cat bed to move them to can teach them to make their biscuits there. The most important thing is to NOT PUNISH a cat for kneading. They will not understand.

I often feel that I don’t deserve the little goddess that is my cat. But when she cuddles up to me and starts purring and paddling those paws, I know that she loves me despite the fact that I am a mere human bumbling about in her apartment. Maybe she does value me for something other than slinging food in her bowl.

Published January 23, 2020

Updated June 1, 2021

Culture

Is Your Zodiac Sign a Cat?

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Meredith Hemphill

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Encyclopaedia Felidae now has a Patreon! Go to www.patreon.com/EncyclopaediaFelidae if you want to help support this content!

Zodiac reading neon sign
Photo by pixel parker on Unsplash

In the Western world, people are most likely to be familiar with the Chinese Zodiac, which features a tiger but not the felines many of us share our homes with. The Vietnamese Zodiac, however, honors the domestic cat as its fourth sign, in place of the rabbit in the Chinese line-up. Why there is this notable difference between the two very similar zodiacs is unsure. Possibilities include the words for rabbit (mao) and cat (meo) sounding very similar or the Vietnamese of yore simply choosing to replace the rabbit with an animal that their agrarian society deemed much more useful, the pest-controlling cat. Whatever the reason, some cat lovers can reference the Vietnamese Zodiac to state with certainty that they themselves are cats.

Those born in the year of the cat are said to have personalities that resemble our furry friends. Cat signs are curious, but cautious as well, and show good judgement. They’re creative people, likely to be talented and ambitious. They are sociable but enjoy their alone time as well. Cat signs are a bit secretive, always keeping something hidden for themselves. They are also said to be superficial and self-indulgent, prone to mood swings, and–like every cat ever–stubborn.

Cat and pig bobble-head figures
Cats and pigs are highly compatible signs. Photo by Jerry Wang on Unsplash

Cat signs are very compatible with pigs and goats but do not get along with rats and roosters. An old folktale called The Great Race tells how the animals of the zodiac were invited to meet with the Jade Emperor. The rat and the cat were the cleverest of the bunch, but both were poor swimmers, so when they came to a river they convinced the ox to let them ride across on his back. But just when all three were about the reach the other side, the rat push the cat off the ox’s back. The rat made it to the Jade Emperor’s palace first and became the first animal in the zodiac. Cats have been the mortal enemies of rats ever since. I myself am Year of the Rat. Please nobody tell my cats.

Quick Facts

  • Element: Wood, Yin
  • Lucky Numbers: 3, 4, 6
  • Unlucky Numbers: 1, 7, 8
  • Lucky Flowers: plantain lily, jasmine, and snapdragon
  • Lucky Colors: pink, red, blue, and purple
  • Unlucky Colors: dark yellow, dark brown, white
  • Famous Cat Signs: Nicholas Cage, Brad Pitt, Cesar Chavez, Frank Sinatra, Andy Warhol, and Pope Benedict XVI

Published January 16, 2020

Updated May 5, 2021

Science

Music for Cats

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Meredith Hemphill

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Encyclopaedia Felidae now has a Patreon! Go to www.patreon.com/EncyclopaediaFelidae if you want to help support this content!

Does your cat like to listen to music with you? Some pets do, but it’s more often the case that they seem simply to tolerate our tunes. Or not, if you have a cat that leaves the room when you put on your favorite song. Why don’t our furry friends enjoy music as much as most of us do? David Teie, a cellist, composer, and researcher, wondered if other animals would like music that was composed with their audio processing in mind. He partnered with Dr. Charles T. Snowdon at the Department of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to test out his theory of species-specific music [1].

Teie and Snowdon aimed to compose music that would elicit positive emotions in cats, target frequency ranges suitable for feline ears, and make use of sounds natural to cat communication. Teie composed two songs for the study. They had an average pitch of 1.34 kHz, significantly higher than is typical of human music. Sounds within the cat vocal range of 55-200 Hz were a focal point, but frequencies related to howls and frustrated vocalizations were excluded. A large percentage of melodic sliding frequencies were included in the compositions, as cats use a lot of sliding frequencies in their vocalizations. One of the songs, “Cozmo’s Air,” was given a tempo of 1,380 bpm to resemble purring. “Rusty’s Ballad” had a tempo of 250 bpm, reminiscent of the suckling of kittens. To hear a sampling of Teie’s compositions for cats, play the video below.

The researchers paired each of Teie’s species-specific songs with a classical song chosen for its pleasing qualities for human listeners. 47 housecats were played 3 minutes of all four songs with a 3 minute rest period in between. Their behaviors during the music were observed and scored for “orient/approach” or “avoidant/fearful” actions. The time between the beginning of the song and onset of any resulting behavior, termed “latency,” was also measured. Very few fearful behaviors were seen, and there was no difference between cat or human music in the rate thereof. However, significantly more approach behaviors, such as purring or rubbing against the speakers, were observed while playing the cat music. There was also a significantly shorter latency period before the cats began to react, suggesting that the music geared for their ears caught their attention faster.

This research has a lot of possible applications. Teie and Snowdon suggest it may be used for calming cats with separation anxiety while their owners are away or for helping shelter cats to feel less stress. A study at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine using Teie’s cat-specific music found that it reduced stress during veterinary exams [2]. Personally, I listen to music just because it makes me happy. If this species-specific music brings cats joy, I say that is an end unto itself.

Tortoiseshell cat between speakers
All about that sliding frequency – Image by Anfesamo from Pixabay

Teie has since composed even more songs for cats. You can sample them for yourself–and your cat–at https://www.musicforcats.com/. He has CDs and digital downloads for sale, should your cat respond well and you’d like to buy full tracks to play for them.

Works Cited

  1. Snowdon, C.T., Teie, D., & Savage, M. (2015). Cats Prefer Species-Appropriate Music. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 166, 106-111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2015.02.012
  2. Hampton, A., et al. (2019). Effects of music on behavior and physiological stress response of domestic cats in a veterinary clinic. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 22(2), 122-128. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X19828131

Published January 6th, 2019

Updated May 12th, 2023