SA Special Editions

People have an innate interest in other species, but we like having pets for a variety of social reasons

Is there a typical cat person or snake owner? The jury is still out

Behavioral scientists explore the reasons

Clues to reading feline body language

Is animal-assisted therapy the cat’s meow or a red herring?

Scientists are racing to solve the enduring mystery of how a large, dangerous carnivore evolved into a playful companion

New science reveals the multiple intelligences of our best friend

The belly-up maneuver does not always signal submission

You may be giving the wrong signals

Often that look is really meant to avoid scolding

The hormone oxytocin plays a role

The answer could well be “no”

The key is looking for multiple signs

You can help to advance studies of dog behavior

Different sounds mean different things

Looking for the roots of human morality in the animal kingdom? Focus on canines: they know how to play fair

Many dogs are overweight or obese, but their owners don’t seem to notice

The zinc in the coins can poison your pet

Cancer studies in dogs can offer unique help in the fight against human malignancies while improving care for our pets

Genetic and archaeological findings hint that wildcats became house cats earlier—and in a different place—than previously thought

A cat expert fields a host of questions from cat owners

Try these five citizen science projects focused on cats

In many, but not all, cats, the plant trips a brain switch

An old gene mutation is at fault

The real question is, why don’t humans have one, too?

Strategies that prevent pregnancy without requiring surgery could improve the health of free-living cats

Toxoplasma gondii, an insidious and common parasite spread by cats, controls its rodent host's brain—and may be manipulating our own behavior as well

We call a callous turncoat a “rat.” Rats and other animals, however, are giving scientists clues to the evolutionary origins of empathy

Mounting evidence from species as diverse as cats, dogs, giraffes and dolphins indicates that humans are not unique in grieving over the loss of loved ones

New research reveals that animals interact in surprisingly sophisticated ways

Every so often a critter takes a shot at making headlines