Companion Animal Psychology Book Club November 2024
"At last, a brilliant voice to give cats the recognition they deserve."--Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods, coauthors of The Genius of Dogs.
By Zazie Todd, PhD
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This month, the Animal Book Club is reading The Hidden Language of Cats: How They Have Us at Meow by Sarah Brown.
From the publisher,
" Descended from shy, solitary North African wild cats, domestic cats set up homes with devoted owners all over the world by learning how to talk to us. This book translates—in case you missed anything.
A renowned cat behavior scientist of over thirty years, Dr. Sarah Brown has been at the forefront of research in the field, discovering how cats use tail signals to interact with each other and their owners. Now, she reveals the previously unexplored secrets of cat communication in a book that is both scientifically grounded and utterly delightful.
Each chapter dives into a different form of communication, including vocalizations, tail signals, scents, rubbing, and ear movements. The iconic meow, for example, is rarely used between adult cats—cleverly mimicking the cries of a human infant, the meow is a feline invention for conversing with people. Through observing the behavior of two cat colonies in rural England, readers will also have the opportunity to glimpse into the lives of some of the cats behind Dr. Brown's science.
Can we understand what cats’ meows and other signals mean? How do cats actually perceive us? And how can we use this information to inform how we talk back to our feline friends? Referencing historical records, exploring modern scientific studies of cat-human communication, and including simple, elegant line drawings, The Hidden Language of Cats is perfect for any cat lover who wants to learn more about their companion."
The Hidden Language of Cats is available from all good bookstores and my Amazon store.
The book club is open to subscribers to the Companion Animal Psychology newsletter or substack. Details of how to join are included in your welcome emails.
Here's the first sentence of the introduction to whet your appetite:
"It was the late 1980s when, as a young scientist, I embarked on an exciting adventure."
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