Movie Review: Inside the Mind of a Cat (Netflix documentary)

Inside the Mind of a Cat (2022, 67 minutes, Netflix documentary) Review by Skye Anderson

Previously, DogEvals reviewed Inside the Mind of a Dog, so it is only "fitting and proper" that we give equal time (and space) to their nemesis, the cat, in Inside the Mind of a Cat. Consequently, as promised yesterday, here is the other side of the story. . . . 

Our Most Puzzling Companions

I am not a cat person but I loved this documentary - for its educational value. It almost made me want to live with a cat. Almost.

With a population of four million, cats are in the top ten of animals species that have ever walked the earth. They have a fondness for boxes and bags because they are ambush predators from way back. Cats also like to climb but do not need to be taught how to do so. This is a left-over trait from many many years ago and if you do not  provide cat furniture, your cat may just find the Christmas tree or the venetian blinds or . . . !

These most puzzling companions are the fastest land animals, thanks to their oh-so-flexible spines: plus they can jump 5-6 times their height.

Why Do Cats Do What They Do?

Ask a cat psychologist! Or ask Dr. Wailuni Sung, a veterinarian.

But, "Forget everything you think you know about cats." It's true that feline research is logging behind canine research* by about 15 years, but cats have done amazing tricks on America's Got Talent (e.g., the Savitsky Sisters' cats from Ukraine) - the same tricks dogs can do: jump through hoops, weave through weave poles (albeit slowly), . . . . We have discovered that they even know their names but whether they choose to respond is another story. (Haven't dog people always known that?)  They also understand pointing, just as dogs do but chimpanzees do not (and neither do wolves).

How To Read a Cat

What are whiskers for? What is the difference between a dog wagging its tail and a cat swishing its tail? How do cats purr and why? Can you clicker train a cat? Why do cats bring their owners 'gifts'?

Low and slow is the way to go - not a hand coming down from above to pet a cat: that is like a bird of prey coming in to attack.

*Comparing this documentary to the Netflix documentary on dogs, Cats is more educational and perhaps fascinating for the new cat owner while Dogs focuses more on cutting-edge research about our best friends (dogs) (and on service dogs).