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Pets and Their People

How biological science can illuminate human-animal relationships

Health
Are Dogs Getting Cuter?

John Bradshaw Ph.D. on August 7, 2017

Dogs that fit Lorenz's 'Kindchenschema' are becoming ever more popular, but at great cost to their welfare.

Dogs that fit Lorenz's 'Kindchenschema' are becoming ever more popular, but at great cost to their welfare.

Genetics
Domestication, It's Complicated

John Bradshaw Ph.D. on June 19, 2017

Cats may have been domesticated twice, or more. A new study shows that today’s domestic cats have two sets of maternal ancestors.

Cats may have been domesticated twice, or more. A new study shows that today’s domestic cats have two sets of maternal ancestors.

Intelligence
Think Like a Cat

John Bradshaw Ph.D. on November 17, 2016

Since cats' brains are evidently not like our own, the way they think could be very different from the way we do.

Since cats' brains are evidently not like our own, the way they think could be very different from the way we do.

Play
Dogs Are Dogs, Not Slightly Dumb Chimps

John Bradshaw Ph.D. on December 23, 2015

Dogs show empathy when playing? Unfortunately, play-bow and play-face are both canid fixed-action-patterns, so no mimicry involved. No mimicry, no empathy.

Dogs show empathy when playing? Unfortunately, play-bow and play-face are both canid fixed-action-patterns, so no mimicry involved. No mimicry, no empathy.

Animal Behavior
Pets As Ambassadors?

John Bradshaw Ph.D. on August 13, 2015

Affection for animals may be expressed in many, possibly interlocking, ways. New research suggests that pet-keeping is linked to positive attitudes towards the natural world, indicating that conservationists may need to rethink their antipathy towards cat owners.

Affection for animals may be expressed in many, possibly interlocking, ways. New research suggests that pet-keeping is linked to positive attitudes towards the natural world, indicating that conservationists may need to rethink their antipathy towards cat owners.

Motivation
"Killer" Cats?

John Bradshaw Ph.D. on July 6, 2015

Conservationists have been scapegoating cat owners for decades, but hard evidence that pet cats (as distinct from feral cats) actually have any long-term effect on the populations of their prey has proved hard to come by. New approaches will be needed if there is to be any meaningful dialogue between the two camps.

Conservationists have been scapegoating cat owners for decades, but hard evidence that pet cats (as distinct from feral cats) actually have any long-term effect on the populations of their prey has proved hard to come by. New approaches will be needed if there is to be any meaningful dialogue between the two camps.

Cat meowing at a window
Identity
Cats Get Bad Press (Again)

John Bradshaw Ph.D. on February 4, 2015

British columnist Caitlin Moran confesses to hating one of her cats—but it’s all down to a misunderstanding (or two).

British columnist Caitlin Moran confesses to hating one of her cats—but it’s all down to a misunderstanding (or two).

Genetics
Lucky Thirteen (For Cats, Anyhow)

John Bradshaw Ph.D. on November 17, 2014

The sequencing of the feline genome continues to shed light on the domestication of the cat, which may now be attributed to changes in as few as 13 genes.

The sequencing of the feline genome continues to shed light on the domestication of the cat, which may now be attributed to changes in as few as 13 genes.

Genetics
The Cat's Journey from the Wild

John Bradshaw Ph.D. on December 23, 2013

The domestication of the cat probably began when wildcats started preying on rodent pests of stored grain. The first archaeological evidence for this process has come from an unexpected location, China, thousands of miles from the domestic cat’s wild origins.

The domestication of the cat probably began when wildcats started preying on rodent pests of stored grain. The first archaeological evidence for this process has come from an unexpected location, China, thousands of miles from the domestic cat’s wild origins.

Anxiety
Two Shakes Of A Dog’s Tail

John Bradshaw Ph.D. on November 1, 2013

Research into the way dogs communicate with one another, recently neglected in favour of dog-human interaction, is receiving attention once again, spurred on by a desire to understand the lateralisation of mammalian brain function.

Research into the way dogs communicate with one another, recently neglected in favour of dog-human interaction, is receiving attention once again, spurred on by a desire to understand the lateralisation of mammalian brain function.

Stress
LOL Cats Fight Back

John Bradshaw Ph.D. on October 21, 2013

Contrary to a recent flurry of press reports, few pet cats become stressed when they’re stroked by their owners—but an already-stressed cat may resent being stroked for too long.

Contrary to a recent flurry of press reports, few pet cats become stressed when they’re stroked by their owners—but an already-stressed cat may resent being stroked for too long.

Animal Behavior
The Bond Between Pet and Owner

John Bradshaw Ph.D. on November 19, 2012

We may refer to cats, dogs, and other companion animals as “pets," but each species has a very different concept of what constitutes an “owner.”

We may refer to cats, dogs, and other companion animals as “pets," but each species has a very different concept of what constitutes an “owner.”

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November 2024 magazine cover
November 2024
The Perfectionism Trap

When we fall prey to perfectionism, we think we’re honorably aspiring to be our very best, but often we’re really just setting ourselves up for failure, as perfection is impossible and its pursuit inevitably backfires.

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