• Cat Sense

  • How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet
  • By: John Bradshaw
  • Narrated by: Graeme Malcolm
  • Length: 11 hrs and 1 min
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (271 ratings)

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Cat Sense  By  cover art

Cat Sense

By: John Bradshaw
Narrated by: Graeme Malcolm
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Publisher's summary

Cats have been popular household pets for thousands of years, and their numbers only continue to rise. Today there are three cats for every dog on the planet, yet cats remain more mysterious, even to their most adoring owners. In Cat Sense, renowned anthrozoologist John Bradshaw takes us further into the mind of the domestic cat than ever before, using cutting-edge scientific research to explain the true nature - and needs - of our feline friends. Tracing the cat’s evolution from solitary hunter to domesticated companion, Bradshaw shows that cats remain independent, predatory, and wary of social contact, qualities that often clash with the demands of our modern lifestyles.

If we’re to live in harmony with cats, Bradshaw contends, we first need to understand and adapt to their ancient quirks. A must-listen for any cat lover, Cat Sense challenges our most basic assumptions about cats and promises to dramatically improve their lives - and ours.

©2013 John Bradshaw (P)2013 Audible Inc.

What listeners say about Cat Sense

Average customer ratings
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  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Not what I had expected

As a cat lover, I was looking for a book that could "make you a better friend to your pet", but this wasn't it. Though impressed by the endless genetic and genealogical information, it was a very tedious listen for me. The few snippets relating to contemporary diet, behaviour and breeding were great and had me listening to every word. Probably 1 interesting hour out of an 11 hour audiobook.

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20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Educational, thought it could be more actionable

I've been thinking about getting a cat, and this was the only cat book on audible that seemed remotely appropriate. On the whole, it was a very interesting listen. Although it started slow, by the end, it had covered just about every subject I was interested in hearing about, and a few I'd never have thought of. I'd've liked it if it had been more prescriptive (or if it came with a written cheat sheet of action items), but on the whole I feel like it helped me reach decisions on the major questions I've been struggling with (one cat or two, what kind of food, what kind of toys, declawed or not, etc.). I'll probably listen to it again at some point, and recommend it to anyone who has or is thinking about getting a cat.

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent and essential- though not as expected

Would you consider the audio edition of Cat Sense to be better than the print version?

Yes. This could have been more boring in text though images would be nice to complement this kind of information. I thought this would be about how to handle or live with cats effectively (for all). It ended that way but was mostly about the history and evolution of the cat and it's relationship with humanity. Therefore most of the narration was about the history of cruelty and brutality visited upon the cat by humans for centuries at a time. When I realized the whole book would focus on this history I went to turn it off but then decided I really should know more about this history. And I noticed this presentation was more palatable than when I have read of this dark history.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Cat Sense?

The discussion about PENDING inadvertent harm to the cat species due to 'blanket neutering' was alarming. Points out that when we neuter all pet cats before they reproduce, we prevent all human-friendly cats from reproducing.Therefore only more feral and untamable cats will be available for reproduction leading to a return to mutual hostility between cats and humans. This can only bring a return to cultural acceptance of the brutal treatment of cats. He points out that unthinkable cruelty from humans has returned to regions that had grown in affection and respect for cats. Therefore the cat's acceptance by humans is very shallow culturally across the globe. This suggests humans are more likely to reject and abuse the more wild cats we are grooming genetically.He suggests only a global collaboration between cat advocates and breeders (who are now adding to the problem) can turn the current tide to avoid a most unfortunate future for cats as well as the humans who love them.

What does Graeme Malcolm bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He did a nice job of keeping the information unemotional as well as frank and compassionate toward the cat. He continually spoke of the cat's personality (as well as cultural ignorance and hysteria) as the driver as well as victim of its mostly unfortunate history.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

What we think we know about the cat and how wrong we are.

Any additional comments?

WE SHOULD ALL HEAR THIS INFORMATION BECAUSE THE CAT'S WELFARE CONTINUES TO BE ON THIN ICE. Most of the recent writings about cat behavior are introducing awareness that has been missing in most of the common lore about cats. Those of us who love cats the most must update our information and participate in correcting public consciousness. We still have a long way to go even for the cats we now care for.

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Stereotypical English Academic

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

If you really love cats you will find this book somewhat interesting and useful. If you don't *really* love cats, then you will probably be bored to tears. The author is the ultimate stereotypical English academic focusing on obscure facts like the percentage of cats that where spotted tabbies in 16th century England and spends less time on things that will actually help you be a better friend to your cat. However, I suppose if you have spent little time thinking about your cat's inner world there will be some very useful insights here particularly in understanding that cats are still essentially wild animals that have had very little genetic domestication unlike dogs and the implications of that. The author does make a reasonably good argument to not have fluffy immediately neutered before she has a litter or two which was interesting and new info for me.

What three words best describe Graeme Malcolm’s voice?

Appropriate for the writing but make it even more stuffy.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Less scientific and more anecdotal than I'd like

Much of this book seems to be author opinion and extrapolation from minimal survey sizes. That the author promotes allowing cats to breed, while thousands are killed in shelters, without anything more than a hypothesis to support the notion is pretty irresponsible. He has no evidence that breeding mix breed cats does anything other than make more cats, and while the observations about nurture over nature are good, there's no conclusive evidence that this ideology actually helps cats, especially when the nurture aspect can be applied to deliberately bred cats. Despite his scare mongering, cats will not go extinct any time soon. There is no need to breed random cats.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Thorough, sympathetic and beautifully read!

Where does Cat Sense rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I learned SO MUCH about cats from this book. Am now reading his book The Trainable Cat. Mr. Bradshaw is a true friend and important ally to cats.

What does Graeme Malcolm bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Narrator captures the tone perfectly.

Any additional comments?

Just loved it!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

hours of tedium

Hours and hours of repetitive historical information and about 15 minutes of useful tidbits. This is not a book for cat-lovers!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

LIKE READING THE ENCYCLOPEDIA

What did you like best about Cat Sense? What did you like least?

Good information. Good for reference material, but not accessible. You have to go through the whole thing if you're only looking for one problem.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Street Cat Bob

What didn’t you like about Graeme Malcolm’s performance?

Droned. But what can you do with the encylopedia?

Was Cat Sense worth the listening time?

Not really

Any additional comments?

I couldn't get through it because it was so dry.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Informative

Comprehensive and informative review of cat evolution and behavior. Not the most exciting audiobook but definitely helpful in understanding cat behavior.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Cat senseless

This book was very informative. I feel like it covered everything and anything to do with cats. Whether in the wild or in the home, I know it all now.

My lower rating is for several reasons:

The narrator was very dry and boring. He read it as if it were a text book not a leisure read.

The recording was poor. Some chapters would repeat midway through. It was as if it would rewind and begin again.

Hard to hold my attention. Though informative there were chapters that could have been edited better.

Overall not wonderful but educational.

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1 person found this helpful