Why So Many People Have Pets
People have an innate interest in other species, but we like having pets for a variety of social reasons
Features
What Your Pet Reveals about You
Is there a typical cat person or snake owner? The jury is still out
Why Dogs Fit into Families So Well
Behavioral scientists explore the reasons
How to Decode Cat Behaviors
Clues to reading feline body language
Can Animals Be Therapeutic?
Is animal-assisted therapy the cat’s meow or a red herring?
New Clues about the Evolution of Dogs
Scientists are racing to solve the enduring mystery of how a large, dangerous carnivore evolved into a playful companion
A Dog Expert Talks about the Canine Mind
New science reveals the multiple intelligences of our best friend
What It Means When a Dog Rolls onto Its Back
The belly-up maneuver does not always signal submission
Look to Yourself If a Dog Won't Play
You may be giving the wrong signals
Don't Be Fooled When a Dog Looks Guilty
Often that look is really meant to avoid scolding
Why Dogs Like People
The hormone oxytocin plays a role
Does Your Dog Love You?
The answer could well be “no”
Owners Often Miss Dogs' Fear Signals
The key is looking for multiple signs
What Barks Say
Different sounds mean different things
15 Citizen Science Projects for Dog Lovers
You can help to advance studies of dog behavior
For a Model of Fair Play, Look to Dogs
Looking for the roots of human morality in the animal kingdom? Focus on canines: they know how to play fair
That Dog Is Too Fat
Many dogs are overweight or obese, but their owners don’t seem to notice
Why to Keep Pennies Away from Dogs
The zinc in the coins can poison your pet
Researchers Seek Cancer Clues from Pet Dogs
Cancer studies in dogs can offer unique help in the fight against human malignancies while improving care for our pets
How House Cats Evolved
Genetic and archaeological findings hint that wildcats became house cats earlier—and in a different place—than previously thought
Your Cat Questions Answered
A cat expert fields a host of questions from cat owners
Be a Cat Researcher
Try these five citizen science projects focused on cats
Why Do Cats Love Catnip?
In many, but not all, cats, the plant trips a brain switch
Why Cats Taste No Sweets
An old gene mutation is at fault
The Mystery of the Cat's Inner Eyelid
The real question is, why don’t humans have one, too?
A Case for Cat Contraception
Strategies that prevent pregnancy without requiring surgery could improve the health of free-living cats
How a Cat Parasite Controls Other Animals' Brains
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
Evidence Implies That Animals Feel Empathy
We call a callous turncoat a “rat.” Rats and other animals, however, are giving scientists clues to the evolutionary origins of empathy
Humans Are Not the Only Creatures Who Mourn
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
Animals Have More Social Smarts Than You May Think
New research reveals that animals interact in surprisingly sophisticated ways
Sad, Funny Accounts of When Animals Accidentally Attack
Every so often a critter takes a shot at making headlines
Departments
- From the Editor
Introduction to a Special Edition on Cats and Dogs
