logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2021
11m 42s

Does Your Cat Like You — Or Just Tolerat...

NPR
About this episode
(Encore episode) It's another installment of our series, "Animal Slander," where we take a common phrase about animals and see what truth there is to it. The issue before the Short Wave court today: "Do cats deserve their aloof reputation?" We look at the evidence with cat researcher, Kristyn Vitale of Oregon State University.

Follow Maddie Sofia on Twitter @maddie_sofia and Emily Kwong @emilykwong1234. Email the show at shortwave@npr.org.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
Up next
Yesterday
Sea Camp: To Mine Or Not To Mine
Deep sea mining for rare earth elements could start as early as 2026, even as 38 countries have called for a moratorium on it. The metals that companies are targeting are used in many green technologies like electric cars and wind turbines – but mining them is destructive to the ... Show More
13m 17s
Aug 22
Could labs replace your natural chocolate?
Chocolate may fill grocery store shelves around the world, but the raw product that powers chocolate is far more selective. The majority of chocolate farms are found in West Africa and South America – just 20 degrees north or south of the equator. Each farm produces chocolate of ... Show More
8m 50s
Aug 20
The Yellowstone Wolf Controversy
Thirty years ago, park rangers reintroduced grey wolves into Yellowstone National Park. They wanted to restore the ecosystem and get the elk population, which had decimated the plant community, in check. And it worked – or so the popular narrative suggests. But is it really so si ... Show More
13m 55s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2022
Ep 31: How to better understand your cat
We’ve lived side-by-side with domestic cats for thousands of years, yet they maintain an aura of mystery and a reputation for aloofness and even outright disdain for humans. But are cats really so enigmatic – or are we only just beginning to understand them? In this episode, Ella ... Show More
22m 9s
Mar 2022
In Defence Of The 'Crazy' Cat Ladies
For thousands of years women have had a unique relationship with cats in many different cultures, often associated with fertility and protection, yet somehow in modern representations, women with cats are often portrayed as sad and lonely. So how did we go from revering women wit ... Show More
17m 1s
Nov 2021
Would my cat survive in the wild?
Cats started hanging out with humans thousands of years ago, and nowadays these fluffy, lovable pets are found in many of our homes. But there is no doubt lots of them still have keen hunting instincts - witness all the birds and small mammals they kill each year. CrowdScience li ... Show More
30m 39s
Aug 2020
SYSK Choice: The Quirkiness of Genius & How Cats Work
TV networks manipulate programs to make more time for commercials – a LOT more time. I’ll discuss that and you might want to watch this YouTube video that demonstrates just how it works. Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6i1VVikRu0. And here is the source for this ... Show More
46m 18s
Oct 2024
Tiere verstehen? - Zwischen Deutung und Forschung
Können wir Tiere verstehen? Die Verhaltensbiologie sucht nach wissenschaftlichen Antworten, Tierfreunde ziehen ihre Erkenntnisse aus dem Zusammenleben mit dem Vierbeiner. Und Philosophen haben dazu ihre eigenen Meinungen. (BR 2019) Autorin: Christiane Seiler Credits Autor/in dies ... Show More
22m 45s
Jul 2021
My Cat, The Judge
Meet Velma: a cat with attitude. (Possibly...)And her owner, ​comedian Suzi Ruffell, who adores her pet - but thinks she's been getting a tad tetchy since they started spending more time together during the past year's various lockdowns.Is Suzi just projecting her own feelings on ... Show More
29m 16s
Feb 2024
What’s going on inside your cat’s head? With Kristyn Vitale, PhD
Cats have long had a reputation as standoffish pets, but many cat owners will tell you that the cat-human bond can run deep. Cat psychologist Kristyn Vitale, PhD, talks about new research on cats’ cognitive and social abilities; why cats really are as emotionally attached to us a ... Show More
31m 54s
Mar 2021
Killer Kitties
Realising your pet cat has brought home a 'gift' or perhaps a snack they plan to eat in front of you is never pleasant. Many owners will scramble to intercept and release the poor prey but that may be too little, too late. Cats have been blamed for an estimated 100million wildlif ... Show More
27m 53s
Sep 2019
How Are Maine Coons Different From Other Cats?
The Maine Coon breed of cats has a reputation for being more doglike than catlike. Learn about how they stand out in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
4m 15s
Apr 2016
Our cats episode - right here, right meow
Cats are the most popular pet in the United States, despite the fact that we've only been keeping them indoors for 50-60 years. Learn about more cat facts in today's episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for p ... Show More
56m 4s