Cat Sense How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet

In Cat Sense, renowned anthrozoologist John Bradshaw takes us further into the mind of the domestic cat than ever before, using cutting-edge scientific research to dispel the myths and explain the true nature of our feline friends. Tracing the catand#8217;s evolution from lone predator to domesticated companion, Bradshaw shows that although cats and humans have been living together for at least eight thousand years, cats remain independent, predatory, and wary of contact with their own kind, qualities that often clash with our modern lifestyles. Cats still have three out of four paws firmly planted in the wild, and within only a few generations can easily revert back to the independent way of life that was the exclusive preserve of their predecessors some 10,000 years ago. Cats are astonishingly flexible, and given the right environment they can adapt to a life of domesticity with their ownersand#151;but to continue do so, they will increasingly need our help. If weand#8217;re to live in harmony with our cats, Bradshaw explains, we first need to understand their inherited quirks: understanding their body language, keeping their environmentsand#151;however smalland#151;sufficiently interesting, and becoming more proactive in managing both their natural hunting instincts and their relationships with other cats.

A must-read for any cat lover, Cat Sense offers humane, penetrating insights about the domestic cat that challenge our most basic assumptions and promise to dramatically improve our petsand#8217; livesand#151;and ours.

and#147;Bradshawand#8217;s book mixes pellets of cat lore with accounts of feline evolution, anatomy, genetics and development from newborn kitten to adulthood, plus descriptions of cat-psychology experiments in the laboratory, many of which he has conducted himself.... Inveterate cat-haters, those defective humans, probably wonand#8217;t appreciate this book, but anyone else might. It is written in a friendly and engaging way, has helpful tips for cat owners, and is packed with excellent cat facts.and#8221;

The Guardian, paperback

and#147;[A] thoughtful, useful and utterly absorbing book.and#8221;

The Observer

and#147;You could buy a dozen books by the many cat whisperers, cat gurus and cat therapists that exist in our feline-obsessed modern world, but their accumulated wisdom would probably not help you understand your cats and#150; where theyand#8217;ve come from, what they want from you, and where they might be going, if weand#8217;re not careful and#150; as well as Cat Sense.and#8221;

People

and#147;Drawing from research, the author cracks an enigma: the feline mind. A must for owners wondering how Fluffy really feels about them.and#8221;

The Sunday Times

and#147;[Bradshaw] starts with cat origins and works methodically and#150; and illuminatingly and#150; through the many daft anthropomorphic assumptions.... What makes Bradshawand#8217;s book so valuable is his positive thinking. How can we make the cat less anxious? How can we help?... [Cat Sense is] a mind-altering book.and#8221;

The Sunday Times, paperback

and#147;Cat Sense is rich in scientific research and historical anecdote.... Cat owners mostly believe that their pets look after themselves fairly well, so Bradshaw might not find an audience as avid as the one he found for dogs. It is a pity. This is a more entertaining book, written in a more relaxed style.and#8221;

The Guardian Books Blog

and#147;Weand#8217;re fond of cats. Our favourite cat book this year was animal behaviouralist, John Bradshawand#8217;s, Cat Sense, a truly scientific yet deeply affectionate look at the our feline companions.and#8221;

The Express

and#147;Bradshaw does a great job of explaining to the clueless cat owner what science has discovered about their pet.... [A] fascinating bookshelf essential for anyone whoand#8217;s ever looked at their cat and wondered whatand#8217;s going on behind those big eyes.and#8221;

Daily Mail

and#147;Cat lovers will certainly enjoy this book, though it does not pretend to solve all the mysteries cats present us with.and#8221;

People

and#147;Theyand#8217;re the worldand#8217;s most popular pet (sorry, Spot), but who knows what goes on behind those wide, inscrutable eyes? Bradshawand#8217;s bestseller will give you a clue.and#8221;

Science News

and#147;[Bradshaw] deftly sums up the latest science that attempts to discover whatand#8217;s going on inside the kitty brain.... A careful read can help a cat owner understand why cats donand#8217;t get along, guide efforts in training and even reveal whatand#8217;s behind kittyand#8217;s favorite toy.and#8221;

Tuscon Citizen

and#147;This is a fascinating book that reveals much new information.... Whether you share your home with a cat or just admire them from afar, this book is must reading. It is meticulously researched, crisply written, and an essential guide that offers penetrating insights about the domestic cat, many beliefs that will challenge our most basic assumptions but promise to dramatically improve not only the lives of our pets but ours as well.and#8221;

The Telegraph

and#147;Bradshaw is...a dedicated scientist, with much to teach us about our furry darlings.and#8221;

Smithsonian

and#147;Books about animals tend to swing from how-to manuals devoid of evidence for the tactics they propose to scientific tracts with little comment on the way we actually live with our four-legged friends. Cat Sense strikes a nice balance, perhaps because Bradshaw researched it for 30 years. He synthesizes academic articles, experiments and his own observations into a lively, readable text.and#8221;

The New Statesman

and#147;On physiology, Bradshaw goes well beyond charming did-you-knows to provide insights that could transform the average cat ownerand#8217;s understanding of their pet.... After reading Cat Sense, you will never look at your cat in the same way again.and#8221;

Shelf Awareness for Readers

and#147;Using research, his background in anthrozoology and his personal experiences with cats, Bradshaw has written a scientific book that remains easily accessible to any cat owner. He admits up front there is still plenty to learn about the domestic cat, but Cat Sense is a solid starting point and a must for present owners and potential owners alike. Readers will be more aware of their companionsand#8217; behaviors and what those behaviors mean in terms of the human-cat relationship, thereby creating a richer, more fulfilling connection for each.and#8221;

Natural History

and#147;[Bradshaw] offers plenty of insights into what makes your tabby purr and how those insights can make a difference in your domestic life.... The understanding you gain should make for a happier cat-human household.and#8221;

Writer's Voice

and#147;Cat Sense goes a long way toward educating humans about their feline companions so that we can continue to enjoy them and#150; and, perhaps more importantly, make them happier to be around us.and#8221;

Booklist, Starred Review

and#147;This fascinating book will be a bible for cat owners.and#8221;

Modern Cat

and#147;[I]nsightful.... Using cutting-edge research, Bradshaw takes us into the mysterious mind of the domestic cat, explaining the catand#8217;s nature and needs, and, in doing, so deepens our understanding of our wild housemates and improves our relationships with them.and#8221;

Global Animal

and#147;[A] go-to cat guide in one easy read.... For cat lovers, this book gives a vital look into the perspective of the cat.... The insight this book provides will not only help cat companions better understand their pet, it will allow them to create an ideal living situation for their cat. Keeping your cat happy and stress-free will ensure a comfortable home for everyone.and#8221;

Cat Wisdom 101

and#147;Cat Sense paves the way for the greatest gift we can give our cats: learning what makes them tick.... Cat Sense, a well-researched reference book (chock-full of lovely illustrations) delves into fascinating insights into the feline mind and their physical evolution to the present day.... No one book encompasses all aspects of cats but Cat Sense is a valuable resource with plenty of food for thought about cats today and their future as a species.and#8221;

Globe and Mail

and#147;In his wide-ranging new book, Cat Sense, English anthrozoologist John Bradshaw calls on all his scientific resources to interpret our enigmatic felines for the 21st century and#150; a restrictive era far removed from the predatory instincts of these not-quite-domesticated animals.and#8221;

Library Journal

and#147;With more than 30 years of experience studying animal behavior, [Bradshaw] is able to convey valuable information to cat owners, regardless of their experience with the species, that will assist them in providing the stable physical environment that cats crave, as well as promoting the healthiest of relationships between cat and owner.... [E]nlightening.and#8221;

Publishers Weekly

and#147;[Bradshaw] engagingly synthesizes recent academic research about cats.... Readable, practical, and original, this is likely to become the go-to book for understanding cat behavior.and#8221;

Kirkus

and#147;A useful guide to help cat lovers better understand their elusive pets.and#8221;

Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, author of When Elephants Weep and The Nine Emotional Lives of Cats

and#147;This fascinating book is one of the finest ever written about cats. There was hardly a page where I did not learn something new, and John Bradshawand#8217;s many practical suggestions are truly excellent. Any cat lover is bound to discover in it much that is useful, interesting, and entertaining.and#8221;

Alexandra Horowitz, author of Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know and On Looking: Eleven Walks with Expert Eyes

and#147;John Bradshaw knows cats. Cat Sense brims with many details sure to engage owners and animal lovers alikeand#151;and possibly even felines.and#8221;

Tracie Hotchner, author of The Cat Bible and host/ producer of Dog Talk (and Kitties, Too!) on NPR and Cat Crazy and Cat Chat and Dog Talk on the Radio Pet Lady Network

and#147;Cat Sense makes sense of cats for us from an entirely fresh perspective, using a combination of history, science, logic, and a heartfelt compassion, certainly inspired by his own lovely kitty, Splodge. John Bradshaw has given us all the gift of being able to truly comprehend our pussycats and offer them the unselfish and satisfying life we have never quite known how to do until this book opened our eyes.and#8221;

Hal Herzog, author of Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why Itand#8217;s So Hard To Think Straight About Animals

and#147;Based on rock solid science, Cat Sense is a beautifully written whirlwind tour of all things felineand#151;from the influence of ancient Egyptian funeral rites on the behavior of modern cats to practical tips on how to keep an indoor cat happy. I am so glad I read this bookand#133; and so is my cat Tilly!and#8221;