Catnip, cat naps, and the history of house cats
MEDITERRANEAN/Getty
Curious about cats? Us too! Join Molly and co-host Lynx as they sniff out the answers to some of your most pressing cat questions.
They’ll head to a chaotic cat café to learn the history of house cats, they'll hear a song all about cat breeds, and chat with cat expert Mikel Delgado about catnip, cat naps, and why cats love to lick themselves! Plus a purr-plexing new mystery sound.
Featured expert: Read more about cat expert Dr. Mikel Delgado’s work here.
Audio Transcript
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LYNX: You're listening to Brains On, where we're serious about being curious.
CHILD: Brains On is supported in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
MOLLY BLOOM: Welcome to the Brains On headquarters studio. I'm your host, Molly Bloom.
LYNX: And I'm your co-host, Lynx.
MOLLY BLOOM: We're here today with Kitty the cat, who is not only an adorable kitty, but also an accomplished cat actor. She's here to promote her starring role in the blockbuster hit, How to Train Your Kitten. Hi, Kitty.
[KITTY MEOWS, PURRS]
LYNX: First, I just want to say I loved the movie. Your performance was purr-fect.
[KITTY MEOWS]
MOLLY BLOOM: You pulled off some serious stunts, Kitty. And you did them yourself, right? No stunt cat?
[KITTY MEOWS, CUP CLANKS]
Whoopsie-daisy, you knocked over my coffee cup. It almost looked like you did that on purpose.
LYNX: I'll grab a paper towel.
MOLLY BLOOM: Thanks, Lynx. Speaking of accidents, I heard there was a bit of a mishap during one of the stunts involving a truckload of kitty litter and 12 barrels of chocolate sauce, and you survived. Is the whole nine lives thing true?
[KITTY MEOWS]
Ouch. [LAUGHS] Watch those claws, Kitty.
LYNX: Oop. Are you OK, Molly?
MOLLY BLOOM: Yeah, no problem. Kitties have claws and don't always mean it when they scratch. Isn't that right, Kitty?
[KITTY MEOWS]
OK.
LYNX: So, Kitty, how was it wearing that hat in The Cat in the Hat heist scene?
[KITTY CHEWS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, Kitty, let's not chew on the microphone wire, OK? Come. Get-- no, no, the wire is not for eating.
[KITTY GROWLS]
Ow! OK, the wire is yours. Maybe we should wrap this up. What do you think, Lynx?
LYNX: Good idea, Molly. Kitty, any final thoughts you'd like to share about the filming process? Wait. No, Kitty, don't walk on the sound effects board.
[COW MOOS]
Kitty, come back.
[FUNKY MUSIC, CAT MEOWING]
MOLLY BLOOM: You're listening to Brains On from APM Studios. I'm your host, Molly Bloom. And I'm here with Lynx from Minnetonka, Minnesota. Hi, Lynx.
LYNX: Hi, Molly.
MOLLY BLOOM: Our interview with Kitty the cat actor went a little haywire, but it was still really fun. So we decided to go to a cat café to surround ourselves with even more cats.
[CAT MEOWS]
LYNX: A cat café is a café full of cats. Most are up for adoption. It's a great way to find feline friends while you have a frappucino. And at this cat café, there are cats everywhere.
MOLLY BLOOM: On the bookshelves.
[CAT MEOWS]
LYNX: On the counter, all over the couches and tables.
[CAT MEOWS]
MOLLY BLOOM: And rubbing up against my leg.
[CAT MEOWS]
Aw, kitten. Lynx, you sent us a question about cats. What was it?
LYNX: I wanted to know when cats sleep.
MOLLY BLOOM: So I know you thought of this question several years ago. Do you still want to know the answer?
LYNX: I kind of already figured out the answer.
MOLLY BLOOM: OK, tell me what you think.
LYNX: Well, when I came up with the question, I noticed that my cats would-- they didn't really seem to sleep deeply. Like they would be very easily woken up. So it was like, are they actually asleep, or are they just closing their eyes and resting?
MOLLY BLOOM: And what do you think now?
LYNX: I think they are sleeping, but just, like, evolution had them be able to wake up really easily so that they can survive.
MOLLY BLOOM: Smart. So you have cats. Can you please tell us how many you have?
LYNX: I have three of them. Their names are Lily, Kite, and Stormy.
MOLLY BLOOM: And what do they look like?
LYNX: Kite is this tabby cat, but her stripes are more like wavy and splotchy. Lily is a tabby with, like, straight stripes.
MOLLY BLOOM: Mm-hmm.
LYNX: And Stormy is black cat who-- in the sunlight, he actually looks like he's really dark brown.
MOLLY BLOOM: Cool. So what do you like about cats in general?
LYNX: I like how agile they are. And they're also really smart, so I like that.
MOLLY BLOOM: Nice. So do you like to play with your cats?
LYNX: Yep.
MOLLY BLOOM: What's your favorite thing to do when you play with them?
LYNX: Like drag a long string behind me as I run down the hallway.
MOLLY BLOOM: And they chase you?
LYNX: Yeah.
MOLLY BLOOM: That's super fun. And how about, like, relaxing with the cats? What's your favorite thing to do to relax with your cats?
LYNX: Probably read a book while they sit on me. Sometimes they end up sitting on the book, though.
MOLLY BLOOM: That makes it hard to read.
LYNX: Yes.
MOLLY BLOOM: I like cats, like, to be right in the middle of the action. Like if you're on your computer, they're like, let me sit on the keyboard.
LYNX: It's like when you're reading, they're like, no, don't read, pay attention to me.
MOLLY BLOOM: Exactly. Well, you are not the only listener of Brains On who loves our feline friends. We have received a lot of cat questions over the years.
JONATHAN: Hi, my name is Jonathan. I live in Houston, Texas. My question is, why do we keep cats as pets?
ELODIE: Hi, my name is Elodie from Halifax. And my question is, what's in catnip that cats like?
MAY: My name is May, and I'm from Thornton, Colorado. And my question is, why do cats lick themselves?
BOY: I want to know why cats don't like water and dogs do.
MOLLY BLOOM: We'll answer those in a bit, but first--
[CAT PURRING]
Aw, look at this little kitty coming up to me. Hello, kitty.
KATARINA: The cat's name is Reginald. And he does not appreciate being called a kitty when he is, in fact, a dignified, gentle cat.
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh. Hello, Reginald.
[REGINALD MEOWS]
KATARINA: I'm Katarina, the human who runs this place.
MOLLY BLOOM: I'm Molly.
LYNX: And I'm Lynx. We're here today to learn more about cats.
KATARINA: That's too much espresso, Princess Meowser.
[MEOWSER MEOWS]
If you thought herding cats was hard, try getting them to make lattes. What can I get for you?
MOLLY BLOOM: We've got some cat questions that need answers like this one from Jonathan in Houston, Texas.
LYNX: Why do we keep cats as pets?
KATARINA: This is a cat café, not a cat university. Do you want a coffee or not?
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, sure. I'll have a decaf cappuccino.
LYNX: And I'll have the dandelion sun tea.
KATARINA: Mr. Nibbles, we need a decaf number 4 and a number 11.
[NIBBLES MEOWS]
Yes, I mean, right away. [SIGHS] Why is it so hard to find a cat that is both adorable and a good barista? Your drinks will be out in a minute or 10, and they may or may not be filled with cat hair.
LYNX: Katarina, do you think maybe you could tell us about why humans keep cats as pets? I mean, you do seem to know cats very well.
KATARINA: I should think so. I just did performance reviews with all of them. I've been running this cat café for the past 27 years and--
[WHISKERS SLURPS]
Mrs. Whiskers, don't you dare lick that cappuccino. We just talked about this yesterday.
[WHISKERS MEOWS]
Most cats are lactose intolerant, so they shouldn't have dairy. But yeah, I can help answer your question. Humans and cats started hanging out together around 10,000 years ago at the end of the last Ice Age. And it will be the next Ice Age before Mr. Meowser remembers to wash his paws before returning to work.
LYNX: What?
KATARINA: Never mind. Anyway, around that time, the Earth was getting warmer, and humans started farming for the first time in history.
MOLLY BLOOM: They were farming cats?
KATARINA: What? No, food and stuff. A lot of these farms were in a part of the world called the Fertile Crescent. And speaking of crescents, Captain Caterwaul, I can smell the almond croissants in the oven. They're burning.
[CATERWAUL MEOWS]
Oh, my gosh. [SPEAKING FRENCH] They're burning.
[CATERWAUL MEOWS]
Fine. [SPEAKING FRENCH]
MOLLY BLOOM: Do you need to go help with that?
KATARINA: No, he's fine. He's just such a snob about his French pastries. So you would think he would remember to set a timer.
[CATERWAUL MEOWS]
Anyway, where was I?
LYNX: Around 10,000 years ago, people were farming in the Fertile Crescent, which is in the area we now call the Middle East. That includes countries like Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, and Iraq.
KATARINA: Right, right, right, right, right. Anyway, these farms were growing lots of wheat, barley, and other grains. The farmers needed to store these grains so they could eat them later. But the mice living around these farms were like, wait, what if we ate all these grains now?
MOLLY BLOOM: So mice came to eat up all the wheat and stuff the farmers were growing?
KATARINA: Uh-huh. And the cats came to eat up all the mice. But these cats weren't like the ones we know today. They were African wildcats, solitary creatures just a bit bigger and more muscular than pet cats are today. They're yellowish brown and striped like a tiger.
LYNX: So these wildcats hung around farms because they knew they were guaranteed to find mouse snacks.
[CATS MEOWING]
KATARINA: You just had to say mouse snacks. Everybody, just chill out. No, I don't have any mouse snacks for you today, but there are some burnt croissants in the kitchen. Hey, you can't all take your break at the same time.
[THUDS]
Well, might be a longer wait for your beverages.
MOLLY BLOOM: That's OK. This history is fascinating.
KATARINA: Anyway, after a while, farmers must have realized that these wildcats were great at catching rodents, so they probably invited them to stay or at least didn't shoo them away.
MOLLY BLOOM: So that's when cats made the jump from farms to laps?
KATARINA: Yes and no. That's when cats started hanging out with humans more. But were they friendly with each other? Or were cats and people more like co-workers who both wanted to get rid of mice? We don't know. But archaeologists did discover a grave in modern-day Cyprus from about 10,000 years ago that contained a man and a cat.
LYNX: He must have loved the cat if he was buried with it.
KATARINA: I suppose so. And that's how we know at least some cats probably started becoming pets around that time.
LYNX: Archaeologists also found mummified pet cats in ancient Egypt from about 6,000 years ago.
KATARINA: Oh, yes. Did you know the ancient Egyptians domesticated African wildcats a second time? This was completely different from the Fertile Crescent cats. Scientists analyzed cat ancestry and realized cats today come from two different African wildcat lines.
[METAL CLANGS]
LYNX: Whoa, what was that.
KATARINA: Probably Captain Caterwaul and his band of artiste getting créatif again. If I find paw prints on the menus again, no one is getting promoted.
[CAT MEOWS]
LYNX: But the Egyptians--
KATARINA: Yes, they loved their pet cats. Cats kept ancient Egyptians safe from animals like snakes and scorpions and were even mummified alongside their owners. Sometimes ancient Egyptians mummified mice, too, to keep the kitties company in the afterlife.
[MOUSE SQUEAKS]
Dr. Zhivago, what is in your mouth?
LYNX: Is that a mouse?
KATARINA: A mouse in my café? [LAUGHS] Shh, shh. Dr. Zhivago, outside now!
[THUDS]
LYNX: Whoa, that mouse came to the wrong café.
MOLLY BLOOM: There's no way this place is up to health code.
KATARINA: Can I get you two anything while I wait for your beverages? I don't know what's going on back there.
[CAT MEOWS]
MOLLY BLOOM: No, no, we're OK. Right, Lynx?
LYNX: Yeah. So how did cats get from the Fertile Crescent to the rest of the world?
KATARINA: Well, farmers and traders in the Fertile Crescent probably introduced cats to parts of Europe. And Egyptian cats made their way to places like Germany on Vikings ships. Vikings loved cats because they helped control rat and mouse populations on their ships. These kitties sailed around the world and hopped off ships in Europe and beyond like pudding drop.
[PUDDING DROP MEOWS, PURRS]
His family's from Hawaii. And he's employee of the week. Aren't you my little puddy?
[PUDDING DROP MEOWS, PURRS]
LYNX: Wow. Pudding Drop is gorgeous. I've never seen an all-white cat with blue eyes.
MOLLY BLOOM: Neither have I. If all domesticated cats are descended from striped African wildcats, how did we get white cats like Pudding Drop?
KATARINA: Mhm, because of breeding. Breeding is when humans encourage animals with certain traits to have babies so their babies look or act a certain way.
MOLLY BLOOM: So breeds are different versions of animals?
KATARINA: Yes, like Dalmatians and Bulldogs, both dogs, very different breeds. There are lots of different dog breeds, but not so much with cats.
LYNX: Why?
KATARINA: Because humans have done way more dog breeding than cat breeding. Dogs were bred to do jobs like herding sheep or helping firefighters. Cats, sadly, have not been, which is why they make such questionable baristas!
[CAT MEOWS]
Most cats were bred for their looks. And cat breeding also wasn't a thing until the late 1800s, while dog breeding is much older. So cats haven't had as much time to change. They're still pretty similar to their wild ancestors.
LYNX: How many cat breeds are there?
KATARINA: Around 45, maybe more. Did you just ask to hear my song about my favorite breeds?
LYNX: No.
KATARINA: Come, join me around the piano.
[DISCORDANT PIANO MELODY]
No, no. Petunia, no.
[PETUNIA TRILLS]
Off the keys. You have to learn how to clean the espresso machine before you get promoted to accompanist. OK, here we go, my song about cat breeds. This is my happy place.
[PIANO MELODY]
(SINGING) Kitties they are purr-fect in every single way
Ones that like to be alone and ones that like to play
Purebreds they are finicky, fancy, and for show
But they are cats just the same
And breeds are fun to know
So here's a little ditty to keep each type in mine
Listen on to hear a list of all the breeds I find divine
Bengals they are spotted like a ladybug
Maine Coons they are gentle
Good for a furry hug
Garfield is a Persian and orange and lazy cat
Sphinxes they are hairless
They look a bit like bats
Ragamuffins can do tricks
Go saggy in your arms
Siamese like to meow and sound off the alarm
These are breeds I like best
There are so many more
Scritchy scratch, mhm, what's that
More kitties at my door
MOLLY BLOOM: Bravo.
LYNX: Nice work.
MOLLY BLOOM: So wonderful.
KATARINA: Thank you. Four years at Juilliard, and here I am managing a coffee shop full of cats, really putting my talents to use.
[OBJECT SCRATCHES]
LYNX: Hey, do you hear that scratching sound?
[MOUSE SQUEAKING]
MOLLY BLOOM: And that squeaking. Is that another mouse?
KATARINA: A mouse? Definitely not. You must be mistaken. But I do need to visit the laboratory if you'll excuse me. [LAUGHS] Dr. Zhivago, where is it? Where is the mouse? I know, I just heard it.
[MOUSE SQUEAKING, ZHIVAGO TRILLS]
MOLLY BLOOM: All right. Well, speaking of sounds, it's time for the [BELL TOLLS] mystery sound. All right, Lynx, are you ready to hear it?
LYNX: Yeah.
MOLLY BLOOM: Great. Here it is.
[MACHINE WHIRRING]
What do you think?
LYNX: Sounds like waves because it, like, gets louder, and then it gets softer and louder and softer. I guess it also made me think of an angry swarm of bees.
MOLLY BLOOM: Mhm, OK. Yes, I can hear both of those. I also have no idea what this is. So maybe it's an angry swarm of bees in the ocean playing in the waves.
LYNX: That seems unlikely.
MOLLY BLOOM: Mhm, you're correct. You're correct. You want to hear it again?
LYNX: Yeah.
MOLLY BLOOM: OK, let's hear it again.
[MACHINE WHIRRING]
What do you think?
LYNX: They're, like, getting louder or softer, louder, softer sound. But then there's also a sound in the background that's, like, steady all the time.
MOLLY BLOOM: Yeah. What could that be? I'm going to guess someone blow-drying their fancy cat's hair.
[LAUGHS]
I think maybe your ocean guess is better, but we're going to find out. Do you have any other guesses?
LYNX: I guess it could also be like that thing where you-- leaf blower.
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, yeah, totally. I could hear that. Like someone just going outside and like--
LYNX: Oh, or a vacuum cleaner.
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, vacuum cleaner. That's a really good guess.
LYNX: Because when you do a vacuum cleaner, you move it forward, backwards, forward, backwards.
MOLLY BLOOM: And the angry bees are the ones doing the vacuuming.
LYNX: No.
MOLLY BLOOM: No, no. OK, that's a totally different guess.
LYNX: Yeah, that's separate.
MOLLY BLOOM: That's separate. OK, I love that. Excellent guess. Well, we'll hear it again, have another chance to guess and hear the answer after the credits, so stick around.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Listeners, we love getting mail from you. Head to brainson.org/contact to send us your mystery sounds, drawings, and questions.
LYNX: Like this one.
GIRL: My question is, how do owls turn their heads 360 degrees?
MOLLY BLOOM: You can find answers to questions like these on the Moment of Um podcast, a short dose of facts and fun every weekday. Find Moment of Um and more at brainson.org.
LYNX: So keep listening.
WOMAN: Brains On Universe is a family of podcasts for kids and their adults. Since you're a fan of Brains On, we know you'll love the other shows in our universe. Come on, let's explore.
ROBOT: Entering Brains On Universe [ZINGS] to find my favorite podcasts.
[BEEPS]
Brains On.
[BEEPS]
Smash Boom Best.
[BEEPS]
Forever Ago.
[STATIC]
[GASPS] Picking up signals.
[BEEPS]
Smash Boom Best, the smart, funny debate show.
[STATIC, PINGS]
MAN 1: Squeak squeak, squeak, squeak.
MAN 2: Skitter, skitter, skitter.
MAN 1: Tail, tails, tail, turn.
MAN 2: Tail, turn. Skitter, skitter, skitter,
MAN 1: Skitter, tail, turn.
MAN 2: Is that a rat noise I hear?
MAN 1: That is a rat noise.
WOMAN 1: Oh, my god.
WOMAN 2: You know a classic rat noise. [LAUGHS]
MAN 2: Tail, tail, tail, yeah.
MAN 1: Tail, turn.
WOMAN 2: Turn, turn, turn, skip.
[BUZZES, BEEPS]
ROBOT: Lorp, where did the signal go?
[BEEPING]
Must find Smash Boom Best now!
[EXPLODES]
ANNOUNCER: Listen to Smash Boom Best wherever you get your podcasts.
[TECHNO MUSIC] Brains on, on, on
LYNX: You're listening to Brains On. I'm Lynx.
MOLLY BLOOM: And I'm Molly. And we're back in the studio at Brains On headquarters.
LYNX: That cat café was fun, but I am pretty sure there was cat hair all up in my drink, which took 20 minutes to make. It was fun watching all the kitties, though.
MOLLY BLOOM: It was quite captivating.
LYNX: Yeah, those cats were very--
MOLLY BLOOM: Tail-ented.
LYNX: Yeah, sort of.
MOLLY BLOOM: The cat-mosphere there was purr-fect.
LYNX: Molly, the line between witty banter and dad jokes is a thin one.
MOLLY BLOOM: I think you mean kitty banter and cat jokes.
LYNX: Molly.
MOLLY BLOOM: OK, you're right. You're right. I can't resist a pun. But we have to focus. We have tons of listener questions about cats and not a lot of time to answer them. Here to help is author, scientist, and cat behavior expert Mikel Delgado. Mikel, of course, is a cat person as well.
MIKEL DELGADO: I have three cats. Their names are Ruby, Coriander, and Professor Scribbles.
LYNX: Professor Scribbles.
MOLLY BLOOM: I know, such a great name. OK, let's get right to it. Here's our first question.
MAY: Why do cats lick themselves?
MIKEL DELGADO: They're creating this identity through their scent when they lick themselves all over their body. Their breath has a distinct smell, and they're probably distributing that all over themselves so that other cats will recognize them. And they also are just doing it to stay clean. And I think probably it's perhaps like a pleasant thing. Like if you think about cats who really enjoy being brushed or petted, like they like that touch. And so maybe it's like scratching an itch. It feels good.
LYNX: So cool. Also, fun fact-- cat tongues are covered in tiny hooks made of the same stuff our fingernails are made out of.
MOLLY BLOOM: So it's like they're scratching their own backs with lots of tiny fingernails.
LYNX: OK, next question.
ELODIE: What's in catnip that cats like?
MIKEL DELGADO: People always have questions about catnip and what it is that their cat is doing when they interact with catnip. It's a plant. But it produces a specific chemical called nepetalactone. They roll in it. They rub on it. They chew it. They sniff it. Now, the cool thing about catnip is you might think like, why would they do this? Like, what would be the benefit of rubbing on a plant, and sniffing it, and chewing it?
And researchers also shown that the chemicals in catnip and other similar plants is that these chemicals repel mosquitoes. And so it's possible that one of the reasons that cats have this response to catnip is when they rub on it and roll in it, it's like putting mosquito repellent on themselves, making them less likely to get bitten by mosquitoes.
So not only does it feel good, but it protects them from mosquito bites. I think that's pretty cool. Cats also like to rub and roll in other plants. Silver vine is one of them. Tatarian honeysuckle is another. Valerian is another one. So don't limit your cat's fun to just catnip.
LYNX: Yeah, not all cats are into catnip, but they might like one of these other plants. Give them a try.
MOLLY BLOOM: Do your cats like catnip?
LYNX: Lily does. The others-- not so much.
MOLLY BLOOM: Mhm, so you got to try the other ones maybe. Here's our next listener question.
BOY: I want to know why cats don't like water and dogs do.
MIKEL DELGADO: First of all, I want to correct this assumption that all dogs like water. That is not true. Likewise, not all cats like water. A few breeds seem to like water, but most cats don't like water. Being wet is uncomfortable for cats. They groom themselves so much. And the water is going to make their fur very heavy. And so then they're going to have to groom all that water off. So that could be part of it is just don't feel good to them.
However, what I will say is that a lot of cats do like to play with water. So it's not like they're afraid of any interaction with water. I have these little fish toys that when I put them in water, they wave around. My cats like to dunk their paws in and play with the fish.
And the other thing I think people need to know is, like, you should not need to bathe your cat. There's a few breeds that do need to be bathed. Those are usually the hairless breeds. They can get cheesy stuff in their skin. It's gross, but your average short-haired or long-haired cat should never need a bath. I've never actually bathed any of my cats. They take very good care of themselves. They like to groom themselves and keep themselves very clean. So for most cats, there's just not a lot of reason for them to get in the water.
MOLLY BLOOM: To be fair, I don't really like getting wet, either. All right, our final question comes from you, Lynx.
LYNX: When do cats sleep?
MIKEL DELGADO: Cats sleep a lot. So cats are interesting. I think a lot of people think that cats are naturally nocturnal, and that they stay up all night. And that's not necessarily true. Cats are naturally crepuscular. And that word means that they're active at dawn and dusk. So that is when their prey is naturally active.
So mice and birds tend to be more frisky at dawn and dusk. So cats are naturally just-- their body says like, oh, you should be alert and active right now because this is a hunting opportunity. And that really hasn't changed. So you will notice that cats get the zoomies. 8:00, 9:00 PM-- they're running around. And then maybe as the sun's coming up, they're starting to stir and show interest in what's going on around them.
I personally like for cats to sleep at night because that's when their humans are usually sleeping. So I always encourage people to play with their cats a lot during the day. Make sure you're giving your cats things to do during the day like toys to play with and problem-solving opportunities like a food puzzle, where they have to interact with a little toy to get treats or kibble out, things that will keep your cat awake during the day and that will help them sleep more overnight so they don't wake their human up.
LYNX: Playing with your cat is fun, and it helps them sleep better. Win-win. So for all you kitties listening out there, it's time to go night night.
MOLLY BLOOM: And our cat café friend, Katarina, has a little lullaby to whisker you off into a-meow-zing dreams.
KATARINA: (SINGING) Kitties get the zoomies at bedtime and at dawn
Then they snooze through breakfast
Find lunch time quite a yawn
Cat naps are their specialty
Cozy, short, and sweet
Curl up with your kitty for a snuggly treat
[FUNKY MUSIC, CAT MEOWING]
MOLLY BLOOM: Pet cats are descended from African wildcats.
LYNX: They were first domesticated around 10,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent, which is now the Middle East.
MOLLY BLOOM: Today, there are over 45 special breeds. But cats haven't changed much over the years. They're still pretty similar to their wild ancestors.
LYNX: They lick their fur to stay clean and make themselves smell unique.
MOLLY BLOOM: Lots of cats love catnip, and it might help keep mosquitoes away.
LYNX: And they take lots of little naps up to 20 hours a day.
MOLLY BLOOM: That's it for this episode of Brains On.
LYNX: This episode was written and produced by--
MOLLY BLOOM: Molly Bloom.
LYNX: And--
ROSE DUPONT: Rose DuPont.
LYNX: Our editors are--
SANDEN TOTTEN: Sanden Totten.
LYNX: And--
SHAHLA FARZAN: Shahla Farzan.
LYNX: Fact checking by--
NICO WISLER: Nico Gonzalez Wisler.
MOLLY BLOOM: We had engineering help from Derek Ramirez with sound design and original music by--
RACHEL BREES: Rachel Brees.
MOLLY BLOOM: Original theme music by--
MARC SANCHEZ: Marc Sanchez.
LYNX: We had production help from the rest of the Brains On Universe team.
ANNA GOLDFIELD: Anna Goldfield.
RUBY GUTHRIE: Ruby Guthrie.
LAUREN HUMPERT: Lauren Humpert.
JOSHUA RAY: Joshua Ray.
MARC SANCHEZ: Marc Sanchez.
CHARLOTTE TRAEBER: Charlotte Traeber.
ANNA WEGGEL: Anna Weggel.
LYNX: And--
ARON WOLDESLASSIE: Aron Woldeslassie.
MOLLY BLOOM: Beth Pearlman is our executive producer. And the executives in charge of APM Studios are Chandra Kavati and Joanne Griffith. Special thanks to Juan Garzon, Clara Salgado, and Matthias.
LYNX: Brains On is a nonprofit public radio program.
MOLLY BLOOM: There are lots of ways to support the show. Subscribe to Brains On Universe on YouTube, where you can watch animated versions of some of your favorite episodes, or head to brainson.org.
LYNX: While you're there, you can send us mystery sounds, drawings, and questions.
MOLLY BLOOM: OK, Lynx, are you ready to listen to that mystery sound again?
LYNX: Yeah.
[MACHINE WHIRRING]
MOLLY BLOOM: OK, so last time you were like leaf blower, vacuum, ocean, angry bees. I was like, maybe a blow dryer. What do we think?
LYNX: I think vacuum cleaner cleaning cat fur from a rug.
MOLLY BLOOM: Yes, I like that idea a lot.
LYNX: You can hear, like, the suction disconnecting and then connecting.
MOLLY BLOOM: I love it.
LYNX: And it's also recognizable because when my mom vacuums, someone knocked [INAUDIBLE].
[LAUGHS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Like I am familiar. All right, should we hear the answer, see if we got it right?
LYNX: Yes.
MOLLY BLOOM: OK, here it is.
ROY: Hi, my name is Roy. I'm from Erie, Colorado. The sound you just heard was the sound of a rowing machine. And what I like about that sound is it sounds like the wind.
MOLLY BLOOM: A rowing machine. Have you seen a rowing machine?
LYNX: Oh, yeah. My dad has one.
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh.
LYNX: It does sound like that. So the wave guess was similar because it has water.
MOLLY BLOOM: Totally. OK, so you were right. You were, like, very close.
LYNX: Yes.
MOLLY BLOOM: I'm giving it to you.
LYNX: Water.
MOLLY BLOOM: Water and rowing machine. So rowing machine is, like, a piece of exercise equipment?
LYNX: Yeah.
MOLLY BLOOM: And you, like, pretend you're rowing a boat, basically.
LYNX: Basically.
[ROWING MACHINE WHIRRING]
MOLLY BLOOM: Now it's time for the Brains Honor Roll. These are the kids who keep the show going with their questions, ideas, mystery sounds, drawings, and high fives.
[TECHNO MUSIC]
[LISTING HONOR ROLL]
We'll be back next week with an episode all about singing.
LYNX: Thanks for listening.
CHILD: Brains On is supported in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
MOLLY BLOOM: Welcome to the Brains On headquarters studio. I'm your host, Molly Bloom.
LYNX: And I'm your co-host, Lynx.
MOLLY BLOOM: We're here today with Kitty the cat, who is not only an adorable kitty, but also an accomplished cat actor. She's here to promote her starring role in the blockbuster hit, How to Train Your Kitten. Hi, Kitty.
[KITTY MEOWS, PURRS]
LYNX: First, I just want to say I loved the movie. Your performance was purr-fect.
[KITTY MEOWS]
MOLLY BLOOM: You pulled off some serious stunts, Kitty. And you did them yourself, right? No stunt cat?
[KITTY MEOWS, CUP CLANKS]
Whoopsie-daisy, you knocked over my coffee cup. It almost looked like you did that on purpose.
LYNX: I'll grab a paper towel.
MOLLY BLOOM: Thanks, Lynx. Speaking of accidents, I heard there was a bit of a mishap during one of the stunts involving a truckload of kitty litter and 12 barrels of chocolate sauce, and you survived. Is the whole nine lives thing true?
[KITTY MEOWS]
Ouch. [LAUGHS] Watch those claws, Kitty.
LYNX: Oop. Are you OK, Molly?
MOLLY BLOOM: Yeah, no problem. Kitties have claws and don't always mean it when they scratch. Isn't that right, Kitty?
[KITTY MEOWS]
OK.
LYNX: So, Kitty, how was it wearing that hat in The Cat in the Hat heist scene?
[KITTY CHEWS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, Kitty, let's not chew on the microphone wire, OK? Come. Get-- no, no, the wire is not for eating.
[KITTY GROWLS]
Ow! OK, the wire is yours. Maybe we should wrap this up. What do you think, Lynx?
LYNX: Good idea, Molly. Kitty, any final thoughts you'd like to share about the filming process? Wait. No, Kitty, don't walk on the sound effects board.
[COW MOOS]
Kitty, come back.
[FUNKY MUSIC, CAT MEOWING]
MOLLY BLOOM: You're listening to Brains On from APM Studios. I'm your host, Molly Bloom. And I'm here with Lynx from Minnetonka, Minnesota. Hi, Lynx.
LYNX: Hi, Molly.
MOLLY BLOOM: Our interview with Kitty the cat actor went a little haywire, but it was still really fun. So we decided to go to a cat café to surround ourselves with even more cats.
[CAT MEOWS]
LYNX: A cat café is a café full of cats. Most are up for adoption. It's a great way to find feline friends while you have a frappucino. And at this cat café, there are cats everywhere.
MOLLY BLOOM: On the bookshelves.
[CAT MEOWS]
LYNX: On the counter, all over the couches and tables.
[CAT MEOWS]
MOLLY BLOOM: And rubbing up against my leg.
[CAT MEOWS]
Aw, kitten. Lynx, you sent us a question about cats. What was it?
LYNX: I wanted to know when cats sleep.
MOLLY BLOOM: So I know you thought of this question several years ago. Do you still want to know the answer?
LYNX: I kind of already figured out the answer.
MOLLY BLOOM: OK, tell me what you think.
LYNX: Well, when I came up with the question, I noticed that my cats would-- they didn't really seem to sleep deeply. Like they would be very easily woken up. So it was like, are they actually asleep, or are they just closing their eyes and resting?
MOLLY BLOOM: And what do you think now?
LYNX: I think they are sleeping, but just, like, evolution had them be able to wake up really easily so that they can survive.
MOLLY BLOOM: Smart. So you have cats. Can you please tell us how many you have?
LYNX: I have three of them. Their names are Lily, Kite, and Stormy.
MOLLY BLOOM: And what do they look like?
LYNX: Kite is this tabby cat, but her stripes are more like wavy and splotchy. Lily is a tabby with, like, straight stripes.
MOLLY BLOOM: Mm-hmm.
LYNX: And Stormy is black cat who-- in the sunlight, he actually looks like he's really dark brown.
MOLLY BLOOM: Cool. So what do you like about cats in general?
LYNX: I like how agile they are. And they're also really smart, so I like that.
MOLLY BLOOM: Nice. So do you like to play with your cats?
LYNX: Yep.
MOLLY BLOOM: What's your favorite thing to do when you play with them?
LYNX: Like drag a long string behind me as I run down the hallway.
MOLLY BLOOM: And they chase you?
LYNX: Yeah.
MOLLY BLOOM: That's super fun. And how about, like, relaxing with the cats? What's your favorite thing to do to relax with your cats?
LYNX: Probably read a book while they sit on me. Sometimes they end up sitting on the book, though.
MOLLY BLOOM: That makes it hard to read.
LYNX: Yes.
MOLLY BLOOM: I like cats, like, to be right in the middle of the action. Like if you're on your computer, they're like, let me sit on the keyboard.
LYNX: It's like when you're reading, they're like, no, don't read, pay attention to me.
MOLLY BLOOM: Exactly. Well, you are not the only listener of Brains On who loves our feline friends. We have received a lot of cat questions over the years.
JONATHAN: Hi, my name is Jonathan. I live in Houston, Texas. My question is, why do we keep cats as pets?
ELODIE: Hi, my name is Elodie from Halifax. And my question is, what's in catnip that cats like?
MAY: My name is May, and I'm from Thornton, Colorado. And my question is, why do cats lick themselves?
BOY: I want to know why cats don't like water and dogs do.
MOLLY BLOOM: We'll answer those in a bit, but first--
[CAT PURRING]
Aw, look at this little kitty coming up to me. Hello, kitty.
KATARINA: The cat's name is Reginald. And he does not appreciate being called a kitty when he is, in fact, a dignified, gentle cat.
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh. Hello, Reginald.
[REGINALD MEOWS]
KATARINA: I'm Katarina, the human who runs this place.
MOLLY BLOOM: I'm Molly.
LYNX: And I'm Lynx. We're here today to learn more about cats.
KATARINA: That's too much espresso, Princess Meowser.
[MEOWSER MEOWS]
If you thought herding cats was hard, try getting them to make lattes. What can I get for you?
MOLLY BLOOM: We've got some cat questions that need answers like this one from Jonathan in Houston, Texas.
LYNX: Why do we keep cats as pets?
KATARINA: This is a cat café, not a cat university. Do you want a coffee or not?
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, sure. I'll have a decaf cappuccino.
LYNX: And I'll have the dandelion sun tea.
KATARINA: Mr. Nibbles, we need a decaf number 4 and a number 11.
[NIBBLES MEOWS]
Yes, I mean, right away. [SIGHS] Why is it so hard to find a cat that is both adorable and a good barista? Your drinks will be out in a minute or 10, and they may or may not be filled with cat hair.
LYNX: Katarina, do you think maybe you could tell us about why humans keep cats as pets? I mean, you do seem to know cats very well.
KATARINA: I should think so. I just did performance reviews with all of them. I've been running this cat café for the past 27 years and--
[WHISKERS SLURPS]
Mrs. Whiskers, don't you dare lick that cappuccino. We just talked about this yesterday.
[WHISKERS MEOWS]
Most cats are lactose intolerant, so they shouldn't have dairy. But yeah, I can help answer your question. Humans and cats started hanging out together around 10,000 years ago at the end of the last Ice Age. And it will be the next Ice Age before Mr. Meowser remembers to wash his paws before returning to work.
LYNX: What?
KATARINA: Never mind. Anyway, around that time, the Earth was getting warmer, and humans started farming for the first time in history.
MOLLY BLOOM: They were farming cats?
KATARINA: What? No, food and stuff. A lot of these farms were in a part of the world called the Fertile Crescent. And speaking of crescents, Captain Caterwaul, I can smell the almond croissants in the oven. They're burning.
[CATERWAUL MEOWS]
Oh, my gosh. [SPEAKING FRENCH] They're burning.
[CATERWAUL MEOWS]
Fine. [SPEAKING FRENCH]
MOLLY BLOOM: Do you need to go help with that?
KATARINA: No, he's fine. He's just such a snob about his French pastries. So you would think he would remember to set a timer.
[CATERWAUL MEOWS]
Anyway, where was I?
LYNX: Around 10,000 years ago, people were farming in the Fertile Crescent, which is in the area we now call the Middle East. That includes countries like Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, and Iraq.
KATARINA: Right, right, right, right, right. Anyway, these farms were growing lots of wheat, barley, and other grains. The farmers needed to store these grains so they could eat them later. But the mice living around these farms were like, wait, what if we ate all these grains now?
MOLLY BLOOM: So mice came to eat up all the wheat and stuff the farmers were growing?
KATARINA: Uh-huh. And the cats came to eat up all the mice. But these cats weren't like the ones we know today. They were African wildcats, solitary creatures just a bit bigger and more muscular than pet cats are today. They're yellowish brown and striped like a tiger.
LYNX: So these wildcats hung around farms because they knew they were guaranteed to find mouse snacks.
[CATS MEOWING]
KATARINA: You just had to say mouse snacks. Everybody, just chill out. No, I don't have any mouse snacks for you today, but there are some burnt croissants in the kitchen. Hey, you can't all take your break at the same time.
[THUDS]
Well, might be a longer wait for your beverages.
MOLLY BLOOM: That's OK. This history is fascinating.
KATARINA: Anyway, after a while, farmers must have realized that these wildcats were great at catching rodents, so they probably invited them to stay or at least didn't shoo them away.
MOLLY BLOOM: So that's when cats made the jump from farms to laps?
KATARINA: Yes and no. That's when cats started hanging out with humans more. But were they friendly with each other? Or were cats and people more like co-workers who both wanted to get rid of mice? We don't know. But archaeologists did discover a grave in modern-day Cyprus from about 10,000 years ago that contained a man and a cat.
LYNX: He must have loved the cat if he was buried with it.
KATARINA: I suppose so. And that's how we know at least some cats probably started becoming pets around that time.
LYNX: Archaeologists also found mummified pet cats in ancient Egypt from about 6,000 years ago.
KATARINA: Oh, yes. Did you know the ancient Egyptians domesticated African wildcats a second time? This was completely different from the Fertile Crescent cats. Scientists analyzed cat ancestry and realized cats today come from two different African wildcat lines.
[METAL CLANGS]
LYNX: Whoa, what was that.
KATARINA: Probably Captain Caterwaul and his band of artiste getting créatif again. If I find paw prints on the menus again, no one is getting promoted.
[CAT MEOWS]
LYNX: But the Egyptians--
KATARINA: Yes, they loved their pet cats. Cats kept ancient Egyptians safe from animals like snakes and scorpions and were even mummified alongside their owners. Sometimes ancient Egyptians mummified mice, too, to keep the kitties company in the afterlife.
[MOUSE SQUEAKS]
Dr. Zhivago, what is in your mouth?
LYNX: Is that a mouse?
KATARINA: A mouse in my café? [LAUGHS] Shh, shh. Dr. Zhivago, outside now!
[THUDS]
LYNX: Whoa, that mouse came to the wrong café.
MOLLY BLOOM: There's no way this place is up to health code.
KATARINA: Can I get you two anything while I wait for your beverages? I don't know what's going on back there.
[CAT MEOWS]
MOLLY BLOOM: No, no, we're OK. Right, Lynx?
LYNX: Yeah. So how did cats get from the Fertile Crescent to the rest of the world?
KATARINA: Well, farmers and traders in the Fertile Crescent probably introduced cats to parts of Europe. And Egyptian cats made their way to places like Germany on Vikings ships. Vikings loved cats because they helped control rat and mouse populations on their ships. These kitties sailed around the world and hopped off ships in Europe and beyond like pudding drop.
[PUDDING DROP MEOWS, PURRS]
His family's from Hawaii. And he's employee of the week. Aren't you my little puddy?
[PUDDING DROP MEOWS, PURRS]
LYNX: Wow. Pudding Drop is gorgeous. I've never seen an all-white cat with blue eyes.
MOLLY BLOOM: Neither have I. If all domesticated cats are descended from striped African wildcats, how did we get white cats like Pudding Drop?
KATARINA: Mhm, because of breeding. Breeding is when humans encourage animals with certain traits to have babies so their babies look or act a certain way.
MOLLY BLOOM: So breeds are different versions of animals?
KATARINA: Yes, like Dalmatians and Bulldogs, both dogs, very different breeds. There are lots of different dog breeds, but not so much with cats.
LYNX: Why?
KATARINA: Because humans have done way more dog breeding than cat breeding. Dogs were bred to do jobs like herding sheep or helping firefighters. Cats, sadly, have not been, which is why they make such questionable baristas!
[CAT MEOWS]
Most cats were bred for their looks. And cat breeding also wasn't a thing until the late 1800s, while dog breeding is much older. So cats haven't had as much time to change. They're still pretty similar to their wild ancestors.
LYNX: How many cat breeds are there?
KATARINA: Around 45, maybe more. Did you just ask to hear my song about my favorite breeds?
LYNX: No.
KATARINA: Come, join me around the piano.
[DISCORDANT PIANO MELODY]
No, no. Petunia, no.
[PETUNIA TRILLS]
Off the keys. You have to learn how to clean the espresso machine before you get promoted to accompanist. OK, here we go, my song about cat breeds. This is my happy place.
[PIANO MELODY]
(SINGING) Kitties they are purr-fect in every single way
Ones that like to be alone and ones that like to play
Purebreds they are finicky, fancy, and for show
But they are cats just the same
And breeds are fun to know
So here's a little ditty to keep each type in mine
Listen on to hear a list of all the breeds I find divine
Bengals they are spotted like a ladybug
Maine Coons they are gentle
Good for a furry hug
Garfield is a Persian and orange and lazy cat
Sphinxes they are hairless
They look a bit like bats
Ragamuffins can do tricks
Go saggy in your arms
Siamese like to meow and sound off the alarm
These are breeds I like best
There are so many more
Scritchy scratch, mhm, what's that
More kitties at my door
MOLLY BLOOM: Bravo.
LYNX: Nice work.
MOLLY BLOOM: So wonderful.
KATARINA: Thank you. Four years at Juilliard, and here I am managing a coffee shop full of cats, really putting my talents to use.
[OBJECT SCRATCHES]
LYNX: Hey, do you hear that scratching sound?
[MOUSE SQUEAKING]
MOLLY BLOOM: And that squeaking. Is that another mouse?
KATARINA: A mouse? Definitely not. You must be mistaken. But I do need to visit the laboratory if you'll excuse me. [LAUGHS] Dr. Zhivago, where is it? Where is the mouse? I know, I just heard it.
[MOUSE SQUEAKING, ZHIVAGO TRILLS]
MOLLY BLOOM: All right. Well, speaking of sounds, it's time for the [BELL TOLLS] mystery sound. All right, Lynx, are you ready to hear it?
LYNX: Yeah.
MOLLY BLOOM: Great. Here it is.
[MACHINE WHIRRING]
What do you think?
LYNX: Sounds like waves because it, like, gets louder, and then it gets softer and louder and softer. I guess it also made me think of an angry swarm of bees.
MOLLY BLOOM: Mhm, OK. Yes, I can hear both of those. I also have no idea what this is. So maybe it's an angry swarm of bees in the ocean playing in the waves.
LYNX: That seems unlikely.
MOLLY BLOOM: Mhm, you're correct. You're correct. You want to hear it again?
LYNX: Yeah.
MOLLY BLOOM: OK, let's hear it again.
[MACHINE WHIRRING]
What do you think?
LYNX: They're, like, getting louder or softer, louder, softer sound. But then there's also a sound in the background that's, like, steady all the time.
MOLLY BLOOM: Yeah. What could that be? I'm going to guess someone blow-drying their fancy cat's hair.
[LAUGHS]
I think maybe your ocean guess is better, but we're going to find out. Do you have any other guesses?
LYNX: I guess it could also be like that thing where you-- leaf blower.
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, yeah, totally. I could hear that. Like someone just going outside and like--
LYNX: Oh, or a vacuum cleaner.
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, vacuum cleaner. That's a really good guess.
LYNX: Because when you do a vacuum cleaner, you move it forward, backwards, forward, backwards.
MOLLY BLOOM: And the angry bees are the ones doing the vacuuming.
LYNX: No.
MOLLY BLOOM: No, no. OK, that's a totally different guess.
LYNX: Yeah, that's separate.
MOLLY BLOOM: That's separate. OK, I love that. Excellent guess. Well, we'll hear it again, have another chance to guess and hear the answer after the credits, so stick around.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Listeners, we love getting mail from you. Head to brainson.org/contact to send us your mystery sounds, drawings, and questions.
LYNX: Like this one.
GIRL: My question is, how do owls turn their heads 360 degrees?
MOLLY BLOOM: You can find answers to questions like these on the Moment of Um podcast, a short dose of facts and fun every weekday. Find Moment of Um and more at brainson.org.
LYNX: So keep listening.
WOMAN: Brains On Universe is a family of podcasts for kids and their adults. Since you're a fan of Brains On, we know you'll love the other shows in our universe. Come on, let's explore.
ROBOT: Entering Brains On Universe [ZINGS] to find my favorite podcasts.
[BEEPS]
Brains On.
[BEEPS]
Smash Boom Best.
[BEEPS]
Forever Ago.
[STATIC]
[GASPS] Picking up signals.
[BEEPS]
Smash Boom Best, the smart, funny debate show.
[STATIC, PINGS]
MAN 1: Squeak squeak, squeak, squeak.
MAN 2: Skitter, skitter, skitter.
MAN 1: Tail, tails, tail, turn.
MAN 2: Tail, turn. Skitter, skitter, skitter,
MAN 1: Skitter, tail, turn.
MAN 2: Is that a rat noise I hear?
MAN 1: That is a rat noise.
WOMAN 1: Oh, my god.
WOMAN 2: You know a classic rat noise. [LAUGHS]
MAN 2: Tail, tail, tail, yeah.
MAN 1: Tail, turn.
WOMAN 2: Turn, turn, turn, skip.
[BUZZES, BEEPS]
ROBOT: Lorp, where did the signal go?
[BEEPING]
Must find Smash Boom Best now!
[EXPLODES]
ANNOUNCER: Listen to Smash Boom Best wherever you get your podcasts.
[TECHNO MUSIC] Brains on, on, on
LYNX: You're listening to Brains On. I'm Lynx.
MOLLY BLOOM: And I'm Molly. And we're back in the studio at Brains On headquarters.
LYNX: That cat café was fun, but I am pretty sure there was cat hair all up in my drink, which took 20 minutes to make. It was fun watching all the kitties, though.
MOLLY BLOOM: It was quite captivating.
LYNX: Yeah, those cats were very--
MOLLY BLOOM: Tail-ented.
LYNX: Yeah, sort of.
MOLLY BLOOM: The cat-mosphere there was purr-fect.
LYNX: Molly, the line between witty banter and dad jokes is a thin one.
MOLLY BLOOM: I think you mean kitty banter and cat jokes.
LYNX: Molly.
MOLLY BLOOM: OK, you're right. You're right. I can't resist a pun. But we have to focus. We have tons of listener questions about cats and not a lot of time to answer them. Here to help is author, scientist, and cat behavior expert Mikel Delgado. Mikel, of course, is a cat person as well.
MIKEL DELGADO: I have three cats. Their names are Ruby, Coriander, and Professor Scribbles.
LYNX: Professor Scribbles.
MOLLY BLOOM: I know, such a great name. OK, let's get right to it. Here's our first question.
MAY: Why do cats lick themselves?
MIKEL DELGADO: They're creating this identity through their scent when they lick themselves all over their body. Their breath has a distinct smell, and they're probably distributing that all over themselves so that other cats will recognize them. And they also are just doing it to stay clean. And I think probably it's perhaps like a pleasant thing. Like if you think about cats who really enjoy being brushed or petted, like they like that touch. And so maybe it's like scratching an itch. It feels good.
LYNX: So cool. Also, fun fact-- cat tongues are covered in tiny hooks made of the same stuff our fingernails are made out of.
MOLLY BLOOM: So it's like they're scratching their own backs with lots of tiny fingernails.
LYNX: OK, next question.
ELODIE: What's in catnip that cats like?
MIKEL DELGADO: People always have questions about catnip and what it is that their cat is doing when they interact with catnip. It's a plant. But it produces a specific chemical called nepetalactone. They roll in it. They rub on it. They chew it. They sniff it. Now, the cool thing about catnip is you might think like, why would they do this? Like, what would be the benefit of rubbing on a plant, and sniffing it, and chewing it?
And researchers also shown that the chemicals in catnip and other similar plants is that these chemicals repel mosquitoes. And so it's possible that one of the reasons that cats have this response to catnip is when they rub on it and roll in it, it's like putting mosquito repellent on themselves, making them less likely to get bitten by mosquitoes.
So not only does it feel good, but it protects them from mosquito bites. I think that's pretty cool. Cats also like to rub and roll in other plants. Silver vine is one of them. Tatarian honeysuckle is another. Valerian is another one. So don't limit your cat's fun to just catnip.
LYNX: Yeah, not all cats are into catnip, but they might like one of these other plants. Give them a try.
MOLLY BLOOM: Do your cats like catnip?
LYNX: Lily does. The others-- not so much.
MOLLY BLOOM: Mhm, so you got to try the other ones maybe. Here's our next listener question.
BOY: I want to know why cats don't like water and dogs do.
MIKEL DELGADO: First of all, I want to correct this assumption that all dogs like water. That is not true. Likewise, not all cats like water. A few breeds seem to like water, but most cats don't like water. Being wet is uncomfortable for cats. They groom themselves so much. And the water is going to make their fur very heavy. And so then they're going to have to groom all that water off. So that could be part of it is just don't feel good to them.
However, what I will say is that a lot of cats do like to play with water. So it's not like they're afraid of any interaction with water. I have these little fish toys that when I put them in water, they wave around. My cats like to dunk their paws in and play with the fish.
And the other thing I think people need to know is, like, you should not need to bathe your cat. There's a few breeds that do need to be bathed. Those are usually the hairless breeds. They can get cheesy stuff in their skin. It's gross, but your average short-haired or long-haired cat should never need a bath. I've never actually bathed any of my cats. They take very good care of themselves. They like to groom themselves and keep themselves very clean. So for most cats, there's just not a lot of reason for them to get in the water.
MOLLY BLOOM: To be fair, I don't really like getting wet, either. All right, our final question comes from you, Lynx.
LYNX: When do cats sleep?
MIKEL DELGADO: Cats sleep a lot. So cats are interesting. I think a lot of people think that cats are naturally nocturnal, and that they stay up all night. And that's not necessarily true. Cats are naturally crepuscular. And that word means that they're active at dawn and dusk. So that is when their prey is naturally active.
So mice and birds tend to be more frisky at dawn and dusk. So cats are naturally just-- their body says like, oh, you should be alert and active right now because this is a hunting opportunity. And that really hasn't changed. So you will notice that cats get the zoomies. 8:00, 9:00 PM-- they're running around. And then maybe as the sun's coming up, they're starting to stir and show interest in what's going on around them.
I personally like for cats to sleep at night because that's when their humans are usually sleeping. So I always encourage people to play with their cats a lot during the day. Make sure you're giving your cats things to do during the day like toys to play with and problem-solving opportunities like a food puzzle, where they have to interact with a little toy to get treats or kibble out, things that will keep your cat awake during the day and that will help them sleep more overnight so they don't wake their human up.
LYNX: Playing with your cat is fun, and it helps them sleep better. Win-win. So for all you kitties listening out there, it's time to go night night.
MOLLY BLOOM: And our cat café friend, Katarina, has a little lullaby to whisker you off into a-meow-zing dreams.
KATARINA: (SINGING) Kitties get the zoomies at bedtime and at dawn
Then they snooze through breakfast
Find lunch time quite a yawn
Cat naps are their specialty
Cozy, short, and sweet
Curl up with your kitty for a snuggly treat
[FUNKY MUSIC, CAT MEOWING]
MOLLY BLOOM: Pet cats are descended from African wildcats.
LYNX: They were first domesticated around 10,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent, which is now the Middle East.
MOLLY BLOOM: Today, there are over 45 special breeds. But cats haven't changed much over the years. They're still pretty similar to their wild ancestors.
LYNX: They lick their fur to stay clean and make themselves smell unique.
MOLLY BLOOM: Lots of cats love catnip, and it might help keep mosquitoes away.
LYNX: And they take lots of little naps up to 20 hours a day.
MOLLY BLOOM: That's it for this episode of Brains On.
LYNX: This episode was written and produced by--
MOLLY BLOOM: Molly Bloom.
LYNX: And--
ROSE DUPONT: Rose DuPont.
LYNX: Our editors are--
SANDEN TOTTEN: Sanden Totten.
LYNX: And--
SHAHLA FARZAN: Shahla Farzan.
LYNX: Fact checking by--
NICO WISLER: Nico Gonzalez Wisler.
MOLLY BLOOM: We had engineering help from Derek Ramirez with sound design and original music by--
RACHEL BREES: Rachel Brees.
MOLLY BLOOM: Original theme music by--
MARC SANCHEZ: Marc Sanchez.
LYNX: We had production help from the rest of the Brains On Universe team.
ANNA GOLDFIELD: Anna Goldfield.
RUBY GUTHRIE: Ruby Guthrie.
LAUREN HUMPERT: Lauren Humpert.
JOSHUA RAY: Joshua Ray.
MARC SANCHEZ: Marc Sanchez.
CHARLOTTE TRAEBER: Charlotte Traeber.
ANNA WEGGEL: Anna Weggel.
LYNX: And--
ARON WOLDESLASSIE: Aron Woldeslassie.
MOLLY BLOOM: Beth Pearlman is our executive producer. And the executives in charge of APM Studios are Chandra Kavati and Joanne Griffith. Special thanks to Juan Garzon, Clara Salgado, and Matthias.
LYNX: Brains On is a nonprofit public radio program.
MOLLY BLOOM: There are lots of ways to support the show. Subscribe to Brains On Universe on YouTube, where you can watch animated versions of some of your favorite episodes, or head to brainson.org.
LYNX: While you're there, you can send us mystery sounds, drawings, and questions.
MOLLY BLOOM: OK, Lynx, are you ready to listen to that mystery sound again?
LYNX: Yeah.
[MACHINE WHIRRING]
MOLLY BLOOM: OK, so last time you were like leaf blower, vacuum, ocean, angry bees. I was like, maybe a blow dryer. What do we think?
LYNX: I think vacuum cleaner cleaning cat fur from a rug.
MOLLY BLOOM: Yes, I like that idea a lot.
LYNX: You can hear, like, the suction disconnecting and then connecting.
MOLLY BLOOM: I love it.
LYNX: And it's also recognizable because when my mom vacuums, someone knocked [INAUDIBLE].
[LAUGHS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Like I am familiar. All right, should we hear the answer, see if we got it right?
LYNX: Yes.
MOLLY BLOOM: OK, here it is.
ROY: Hi, my name is Roy. I'm from Erie, Colorado. The sound you just heard was the sound of a rowing machine. And what I like about that sound is it sounds like the wind.
MOLLY BLOOM: A rowing machine. Have you seen a rowing machine?
LYNX: Oh, yeah. My dad has one.
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh.
LYNX: It does sound like that. So the wave guess was similar because it has water.
MOLLY BLOOM: Totally. OK, so you were right. You were, like, very close.
LYNX: Yes.
MOLLY BLOOM: I'm giving it to you.
LYNX: Water.
MOLLY BLOOM: Water and rowing machine. So rowing machine is, like, a piece of exercise equipment?
LYNX: Yeah.
MOLLY BLOOM: And you, like, pretend you're rowing a boat, basically.
LYNX: Basically.
[ROWING MACHINE WHIRRING]
MOLLY BLOOM: Now it's time for the Brains Honor Roll. These are the kids who keep the show going with their questions, ideas, mystery sounds, drawings, and high fives.
[TECHNO MUSIC]
[LISTING HONOR ROLL]
We'll be back next week with an episode all about singing.
LYNX: Thanks for listening.
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