NPR 4 THE DEAF: We Hear It Even When You Can’t

FRESH AIR

Cats have come a long way from being animals charged with catching mice to treasured, adorable creatures that snuggle with us in our beds. But this relatively new arrangement is creating issues for cats and the people who live with them. John Bradshaw has studied the history of domesticated cats and how the relationship between people and cats has changed. He’s the author of the new book Cat Sense: How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet, which is a follow-up to his book Dog Sense. Bradshaw is the foundation director of the Anthrozoology Institute at the University of Bristol in England. As an anthrozoologist, he studies the interactions between people and animals. He’s also the former science chairman of the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations. He joins Fresh Air’s Terry Gross to talk about how our relationship with cats has evolved over time and how toning down cats’ hunting instincts will ensure them a future on an increasingly crowded planet. MORE