Hiss & Tell: Cat Behavior and Beyond

Send us a textSenior cats rarely complain, but their brains may be asking for help. We sit down with ethologist Dr. Federica Pirrone from the University of Milan to unpack new research that ties subtle stress behaviors and low-grade inflammation to measurable changes in feline cognition. Using simple, at-home tests — a spatial memory task and an “unsolvable” problem that tracks gaze alternation — her team found that many older cats display greater social flexibility, a kind of earned wisdom. Yet when age intersects with heightened inflammatory markers like interleukin-1β, that flexibility drops, and cats are less likely to look to their caregiver for information or help.We explore what inflammaging actually is and how a persistent, low-level inflammatory state can reach the brain, slowing neural signaling, blunting motivation, and making complex social cues harder to process. You’ll hear practical, science-backed ways to support cognition: predictable routines without boredom, short play sessions, gentle food puzzles, three-dimensional spaces with perches and hiding spots, and consistent nutrition that maintains a healthy body condition. We also share why twice-yearly vet visits for seniors are non-negotiable and how to track “that’s different” moments before they snowball.There’s a hopeful thread through it all: early support can slow decline and extend health span. We talk through a real case where small environmental changes and added food bowls restored confidence and weight in a 14-year-old cat who had started to give up on simple tasks. We also dig into why cats are underrepresented in cognition research, how a supervised, video-based citizen science approach kept cats calm at home, and what longitudinal studies could unlock next.If this conversation helps you spot one subtle shift sooner, share it with a fellow cat guardian, subscribe for more evidence-based insights, and leave a review to help others find the show.

Send us a textEver wonder what your cat’s DNA can tell us about fetching, affection, and health? We teamed up with Dr. Elinor Karlsson, chief scientist at Darwin’s Ark and professor at UMass Chan and the Broad Institute, to unpack how a simple fur-combing kit and smart surveys can unlock big answers about everyday feline life. No lab coats at home required - just your observations, your cat’s fur, and a few minutes of thoughtful reporting.We dig into why cats are such a powerful, understudied genetic model compared with dogs. Because most cats aren’t shaped by recent, narrow breed histories, their diversity offers cleaner signals for behavior genetics and disease research. That opens the door to questions we’ve struggled to answer: Are fetching and other elements of the predatory sequence strongly heritable? How does early socialization change adult confidence and play? Which common diseases in cats have measurable genetic risk, and which are driven by environment? We also confront internet myths with data. The “orange cats are dumb” trope? Not supported by early looks, and ongoing work aims to test these claims at scale. Affection comparisons with dogs? Careful measures suggest cats are just as attached as many guardians know firsthand. Best of all, Darwin’s Ark is open data, so researchers everywhere can build on these findings - and your contributions fuel that progress. If you’re ready to help, there’s a limited-time $50 sequencing offer (use code Hiss&Tell25) using a gentle fur comb, making participation easier and less stressful for cats.Join us as we connect guardian insights with modern genomics to advance feline science. Subscribe, share this episode with a cat-loving friend, and leave a review so more people discover the project - and consider enrolling your cat at darwinsark.org with the code shared on the show. Your cat’s fur might change what we know about cats forever.

Send us a textA rescue cat walks into a historian’s life and suddenly the archive looks different. That’s the spark behind this wide-ranging conversation with cat historian Jodie Stewart, who explores how felines traveled with colonists, curled up in family photos, comforted soldiers, and later became flashpoints in conservation and culture wars. If you’ve ever wondered why cats provoke such strong feelings — or why they’re often missing from national stories — this is a tour through the ships, letters, laws, and myths that shaped Australia’s relationship with its most polarizing companion animal.We dig into the big questions: competing theories of how cats reached Australia and the DNA that points to European origins; the Victorian-era “cult of the cat” and how British tastes crossed oceans; and the moment Federation recast native fauna as national symbols while introduced animals fell down a perceived hierarchy. Jodie unpacks the 1990s Great Cat Debate — cat curfews, containment, registration, household caps — and the warlike language that still colors public policy. Along the way, we meet Trim, the seafaring cat immortalized by Matthew Flinders, and discover archival glimpses of veterans holding their cats as they recover, proof that emotion belongs in the historical record.This episode invites you to see cats as historical agents — observers and participants whose presence reveals how identity, ecology, and policy intertwine. We talk evidence vs. rhetoric, why lethal control keeps failing, and how better language and community-centered strategies could improve both conservation outcomes and public trust. Whether you’re a cat lover, cat skeptical, or simply curious about Australian history, you’ll leave with a richer sense of how private affections shape public narratives and why love itself has a history.If this resonates, tap follow, share the episode with a friend, and leave a quick rating or review to help others find the show. Your thoughts matter—tell us how cats show up in your family’s story.

Send us a textWhat if the path from feral to friendly begins in the gut? We sit down with evolutionary biologist Dr. Tom Gilbert to explore how cat microbiomes act like tiny chemical factories, converting food into signals that can shape fear, calm, vigilance, and even training success. Drawing on a global shelter study across Denmark, Malaysia, Cabo Verde, Brazil, Spain, and Aruba, Tom explains why geography and diet change which microbes take root—yet similar biochemical functions keep showing up in feral versus household cats. That pattern hints at a quiet engine behind behavior: microbial metabolites that reach the brain and nudge temperament at the edges.We unpack why domestic cats often host carbohydrate-digesting microbes, how feral diets drive broader microbial toolkits, and why early-life seeding can set long-lasting trajectories. The conversation turns practical for rescuers and guardians: could slow, thoughtful diet shifts and prebiotic strategies reduce arousal and stress in shelters or at home? What are the real limits of probiotics, and when does the “garden” of gut microbes resist change without a reset? Along the way, we wrestle with ethics—should we try to calm animals through diet—and examine obesity, energy harvest, and the challenge of tailoring nutrition to an individual cat’s biology.The bigger story reaches into domestication. If microbes could buy time for genetic change, did they help early humans live alongside once-wary animals? We compare cats and canids, question what “tame” really means, and consider how behavior, diet, and environment entangle over generations. Whether you work in shelters, foster kittens, or want a healthier, happier home for your cat, this conversation blends fresh science with grounded advice you can test gently and safely. If this sparked new questions for you, follow, share with a cat-loving friend, and leave a review—then tell us: what would you try first to nudge a microbiome toward better welfare?If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review wherever you listenFor more information and to support our podcast, check out our website at hissandtellpodcast.comYou can also find us on Instagram @hissandtellpodcast. To book my services as a cat behaviorist go to https://www.cattitude-adjustment.com/

Send us a textA wobbly step can still lead to a full, joyful life. We invited Dr. Gina Rendon, medical director at Williamsburg Vets, to demystify cerebellar hypoplasia (CH) and share how cats with this condition learn, adapt, and thrive. From the cerebellum’s real job in refining movement to the viral roots of CH through panleukopenia, we break down the science without losing sight of daily life at home. You’ll hear how to recognize early signs beyond normal kitten wobble, what makes CH different from vestibular issues, and why the condition is non-progressive—meaning time, smart setups, and practice truly pay off.We also walk through practical, budget-friendly solutions you can use right away. Think traction over tile, foam tiles over hardwood, and soft bumpers where enthusiastic sprints end. Learn how to build simple standing troughs for balance training, use passive range-of-motion to keep limbs limber, and pick feeding stations with the right height and tilt to reduce mess and frustration. We share litter strategies—from low-entry boxes to mats with lips—that support independence, plus the surprising tail-base stabilization trick some caregivers use to help kittens practice standing. Along the way, meet Egg, our fearless CH kitten who turned wobble into willpower, teaching us why these cats are resilient, social, and often hilariously bold.If you’re considering adopting or fostering a CH cat, we’ve got you covered on commitment and real expectations. You’ll get straight talk on home prep, cleaning routines, and the small accommodations that make a big difference. We also point you toward active CH communities packed with DIY ideas, gear tips, and vet recommendations. Whether you’re here for animal behavior insights, feline neurology, or heartwarming rescue stories, this episode offers tools and hope in equal measure. Subscribe, share with a cat-loving friend, and leave a review to help more people discover how special-needs cats shine.