THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW at the frontier of feline behavioral science, and Inside Your Cat's Mind aims to keep you informed. In the current issue, we report on new research tracing the microbiome (bacteria in the cat'sgut and anus) to behavior and health —along with corrective therapies when it needs repair.We bring you a Q&A with animal behaviorist Sarah Brown, who explains feline body language and vocalization based on her firsthand work in the field. And we cover the surprising new trend of some cat owners to introduce their cats to vegan diets, even though cats are born hunters and carnivores—another instinct we cover here. How do you keep the hunter happy through games alone, especially inside? There's so much more inside: What do cats dream about? How rich is the feline sense of smell? Should you buy pet insurance? How do you bathe and groom your cat at home? And as a bonus, read our special report on the irrepressible Ann-Margret and her lifelong love-affair with cats. Enjoy!
Notes From Catland
Who They Are • Thinkers, hunters, dreamers. Our cat companions live right alongside us, immersed in our lives yet traveling a parallel path to meet their unique desires and needs.
SUPER POWERED
HOW TO THINK LIKE A CAT • TUNING INTO THE FELINE BRAIN HAS ALWAYS BEEN TRICKY, BUT TREATING YOUR PET LIKE A TRUE FRIEND WHO SHARES YOUR HOME CAN BE A START.
Top Four Tips for Cat Lovers
HUNTER AT HEART • YOUR CAT IS A BORN CARNIVORE. HERE’S HOW TO PROTECT OTHER CREATURES AND FEED THE BEAST.
PROTECTING OTHERS
CATS IN DREAM LAND • DURING DEEP SLEEP AND WAKING REVERIES, THEY REPLAY THE EVENTS, ANXIETIES AND DESIRES THAT FUEL THEIR DAYS
Troubled Sleep • WE TEND TO THINK OF CATS AS EXCELLENT SLEEPERS. AFTER ALL, THEY CAN AVERAGE A DOZEN OR MORE HOURS OF SHUT-EYE EACH DAY. SOME OF THEM, HOWEVER, SUFFER FROM SLEEP DISORDERS—AND OTHERS ARE NIGHT OWLS.
How They Communicate • They have an ancient system of body language for each other—and a new method of vocalization, featuring meows, to get the message across to us.
THE SECRET SHARERS • FELINE BEHAVIORIST SARAH BROWN, PH.D., EXPLAINS HOW TO INTERPRET THE CAT’S MYSTERIOUS VOCALIZATIONS AND BODY LANGUAGE, FROM THE PITCH OF A MEOW TO THE POSITION OF THE EARS—AND TELLS US HOW TO TALK BACK.
What the Ears Say • You might look into a person’s eyes for their deepest secrets, but when it comes to felines, you just may want to observe the ears. Here are a few telling positions you should be taking note of.
THE WHISKER WHISPERER • SENSITIVE HAIRS ON YOUR CAT’S FACE AND LEGS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR PERCEPTION, BALANCE AND NAVIGATION. THEY ALSO OFFER A WINDOW INTO YOUR CAT’S MIND.
READING THE SIGNS • Whiskers provide a window into your cat’s state of mind. The cats depicted here are talking to you, and here’s what they have to say:
HIDDEN MEANINGS • 5 SUBTLE WAYS THAT CATS REVEAL THEIR FEELINGS
SPACE CAT • A HIGH-DEFINITION VIDEO OF TATERS, THE ORANGE TABBY, WAS TRANSMITTED TO EARTH BY LASER IN NEAR REAL TIME. THE NEXT GREAT CAT MEME TO SWEEP THE CULTURE COULD BE KITTIES FROM MARS.
The Human Touch • When we bathe, groom, feed, treat and attend to the health of our beloved pet cats, we bond for life.
HOME SPA • IF YOU DO IT RIGHT, GROOMING YOUR OWN CAT NOT ONLY SAVES YOU MONEY, BUT ACTUALLY ALLOWS YOU TO KEEP A CLOSER EYE ON HER HEALTH AND BUILD DEEPER PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL BONDS.
Cats With Special Grooming Needs • THESE BREEDS HAVE UNIQUE REQUIREMENTS, SO TAKE NOTE BEFORE DOING IT YOURSELF.
The Art of Tongue Inspection
THE CAT OWNER’S GUIDE TO PET INSURANCE • THE LIFETIME COST OF VET PAYMENTS CAN BE ASTRONOMICAL. SHOULD YOU PAY FOR COVERAGE, INSTEAD?
Insurance Speak • UNDERSTANDING INSURANCE TERMINOLOGY IS...