Hiss & Tell: Cat Behavior and Beyond

Send us Fan Mail Cats have a reputation for being mysterious, stubborn, and “low maintenance” but that story falls apart fast when you look at the science. I’m joined by Dr. Monique Udell, professor at Oregon State University and director of the Human Animal Interaction Lab, to unpack what research reveals about feline cognition, cat communication, and the everyday ways cats pay attention to us. W...

Send us Fan Mail Grief gets policed in ways we rarely admit, and pet loss is where that policing shows up fast. When someone says “it was just a cat,” they’re not only dismissing your relationship, they’re dodging the reality that love creates responsibility and loss. I’m joined by journalist and author s.e. smith to talk about their upcoming book, *All My Dead Cats and Other Losses*, and how pet...

Send us Fan Mail Cat pee on the rug. Poop beside the box. A cat who “always used it before” and suddenly won’t. Those moments feel personal, but they’re usually biology, stress, or a litter box setup that isn’t working anymore. I’m joined by Dr. Jacklyn Ellis, Director of Behavior at the Toronto Humane Society, to get uncomfortably specific about what cats are doing in the litter box and what they...

Send us Fan Mail Cat aggression, overgrooming, and litter box “problems” are easy to label and surprisingly hard to solve, especially when we treat the behavior as the diagnosis. We sit down with veterinary psychiatrist Dr. Sagi Dennenberg to get underneath the label and into what’s actually driving the cat’s behaviors: fear, anxiety, frustration, learned patterns, pain, and even underdiagnosed sk...

Send us Fan Mail Your cat is “telling you” what they feel. The problem is that most of us are listening with the wrong cues. I sit down with Professor Serenella d'Ingeo , an animal physiology and behavior researcher, to unpack what the science of feline communication actually says and why humans routinely miss stress signals that are right in front of us. We talk about why cats can seem aloof...

Send us Fan Mail Your cat isn’t “fine” just because they’re quiet! Cats are built to hide pain, and that’s exactly why so many chronic issues like kidney disease, dental disease, arthritis, hypertension, and even heart disease get missed until they explode into a crisis. I sit down with veterinarian Dr. Kevin Toman, who has 40 years in practice and now focuses on pet longevity science, to talk abo...

Send us Fan Mail Your cat is missing and everyone has advice, but a lot of it can make things worse. I sit down with Kimberly Freeman, a professional lost cat finder who has reunited cats with their families across nearly every state and more than 24 countries, to lay out what actually works when a missing cat disappears into stress mode. We dig into lost cat behavior: why cats often hide in silen...

Send us Fan Mail “My cat is being difficult” is one of the most common lines I hear as a clinical feline behaviorist, and it’s usually pointing to something deeper than “bad behavior.” I’m joined by Dr. Zazie Todd, psychologist, animal behavior expert, psychologist and author of Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy , to unpack what’s really going on when cats swat, bite, hide, scratch the wr...

Send us Fan Mail Kindness is having a weird moment right now, and I mean that as a compliment. I sit down with CatBeats, a cat-loving electronic musician (and my longtime friend), to talk about how cats can pull us out of our heads and back into the present, whether that shows up as music, meditation, or just learning to live by consent and patience. We dig into how CatBeats began: two cats, a noi...

Send us Fan Mail A cat’s skin ripples, the tail whips, and suddenly the whole house feels on edge. We sit down with Dr. Stefania Uccheddu, a veterinary behaviorist and diplomate of the European College of Animal Welfare and Behavioral Medicine, to decode feline hyperesthesia - a condition that blurs the boundaries between neurology, dermatology, and behavior.  We share what caregivers actually see...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a rising hip-hop artist swaps tour buses for cat traps? Sterling “Trap King” Davis joins us to break down humane TNR with uncommon clarity and even rarer heart. We dig into how trap, neuter, return actually works, why the R is essential for cat safety, and how colony maintenance - shelters, feeding stations, heated water, and quiet routines - turns chaos into cal...

Send us Fan Mail A cat peeing outside the box isn’t a grudge - it’s often pain. We bring back Dr. Gina Rendon, Medical Director of Williamsburg Vets, to decode FLUTD and idiopathic feline cystitis and show how stress biology, environment, and hydration collide to shape behavior. If you’ve wrestled with “inappropriate urination,” this conversation reframes the problem with compassion and clear next...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered why your cat saves their biggest “hello” for you at the door—and why some people get louder greetings than others? We sit down with Dr. Kaan Kerman to unpack a new study showing that cats vocalize more during greetings when their caregiver is male. The result surprised the team and opens a fresh window into human – cat communication, where meows, trills, and chirps a...

Send us Fan Mail Senior 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...

Send us Fan Mail Ever 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 f...

Send us Fan Mail A 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 st...

Send us Fan Mail What 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 explain...

Send us Fan Mail A 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 li...

Send us Fan Mail Sean from Canopy Cat Rescue takes us behind the scenes of an extraordinary mission—saving cats from towering trees across Washington State. As a professional arborist and mountain guide, Sean reveals how he and his partner Tom turned their climbing expertise into a specialized rescue organization that's saved nearly 8,000 feline lives. The conversation unpacks the fascinating...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered what's really going on inside your cat's mind? Prepare to have your understanding of feline behavior completely transformed in this captivating conversation with Dr. Kristyn Vitale, a certified applied animal behaviorist and pioneering researcher in feline social cognition. Dr. Vitale dismantles the persistent myth that cats are solitary creatures, revealin...

Send us Fan Mail Ever brought home a beautiful houseplant only to discover your cat treating it like an all-you-can-eat buffet? You're not alone. The delicate balance between maintaining a green home and keeping our feline friends safe is something many pet parents struggle with. Hiss and Tell welcomes plant and pet specialist Anastasia from Leaf & Paw to explore this crucial intersection...

Send us Fan Mail This episode addresses the recent concerns surrounding avian influenza and its potential effects on cats, offering vital information and practical advice for cat owners. We explore how avian influenza spreads, its symptoms, and essential steps pet owners can take to protect their feline companions. • Overview of avian influenza and its two strains  • Understanding the risks for ca...

Send us Fan Mail Unlock the secrets to a happier, healthier cat through the innovative use of pattern games. Join us for a captivating conversation with Beth Brown, a certified cat behavior consultant, as we uncover how these structured exercises can transform your feline friend’s life. From providing predictability for shy cats to reducing stress for high-energy felines, Beth shares insights that...

Send us Fan Mail What secrets do our feline friends hold in their DNA? Join us on a captivating exploration into the world of cat genetics with the esteemed Dr. Leslie Lyons.  We promise you'll gain a newfound appreciation for how cats, with their genetic parallels to humans, serve as invaluable models in biomedical research and how their genetic diversity enriches our understanding of their...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered what goes on in the minds of our feline friends? Join me as I sit down with Dr. Jennifer Vonk, a trailblazer in comparative and cognitive psychology, to uncover the mysteries of animal cognition and behavior. From her journey transitioning from human cognition research to studying a variety of species like orangutans and domestic cats, Dr. Vonk offers enlightening in...