Articles

A cropped photo of a black cat's right ear and green right eye.

Cats Use Sounds to Track Where You are in the House

Caitlin Dempsey

Cats can form mental maps of where their owners are in the house based on sounds.

An orange tabby sleeping on his side.

When Did Cats Become Indoor Pets?

Caitlin Dempsey

Nowadays, cats are indoor pets for most pet owners in the United States.

Drawing recreating what the American Lion looked like. NPS illustration by Benji Paysnoe.

The American Lion

Caitlin Dempsey

The American Lion was the largest cat to roam North America during the Pleistocene.

A gray tabby and a black kitten cuddling.

How Cats Communicate Through Purring

Caitlin Dempsey

Purring is one way that cats communicate.

Stray cats at the São Jorge Castle in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo: Caitlin Dempsey.

Facts About Feral and Stray Cats

Caitlin Dempsey

Stray and feral cats are free-roaming domestic cats that have no owners.

Orange tabby yawning.

Why Do Adult Cats Only Meow to People?

Caitlin Dempsey

Meowing is a way that cats communicate with humans.

A photo of a blue of garlic and an onion.

Why are Garlic and Onions Bad for Cats?

Caitlin Dempsey

Even small amounts of garlic and onion can be toxic to cats.

Kao Taem (Nine Points). Treatise on Cats, 19th Century, British Library, Or 16008.

How Thai People Felt About Cats in the 19th Century

Caitlin Dempsey

19th century Thai culture believed that different cats, as well as other animals, could have different effects on their owners.

Orange tabby sleeping.

Why Cats Sleep A Lot

Caitlin Dempsey

Cats can sleep up to 70% of their day.

A cheetah sitting against a dark blue sky.

Cheetah Claws Don’t Fully Retract

Caitlin Dempsey

Besides the cheetah, only three other cats are known to have semi-retractable claws.

Closeup of a gray tabby cat's face.

How Well Can Cats Smell?

Caitlin Dempsey

Cats have a keen sense of smell that they use to hunt, determine enemies, and find mates.