What Goes on in those Furry Feline Brains? Netflix takes us "Inside the Mind of a Cat", to find out... (REVIEW)

There are lots of self-proclaimed “dog people” out there (like everyone walking their very own Rover, Benji, or Miss Precious between, say, 6 and 7pm), who are allowed to do all sorts of things with their BFF (best furry friend). There are dog parks, sure, and they can go to PetSmart together… but they can also go into a surprising number of other shops, restaurants, and businesses, with Lola the Labradoodle or Sam the Shih Tzu, in tow. 

The thing is, that only accounts for about half of the “pet pawrent” population… which begs the question, what about everyone else… namely, the “cat people”?

There’s still something of a societal disconnect—I mean, where’s the canine equivalent to “crazy cat lady”, hmm?—about sharing your life with one (or more… no judgement!) fluffy feline(s), unlike there is with dogs. 

As a proud “catmom” (hmph), I’ve heard it all. 

• They’re so aloof and anti-social! [Baloney. They just have no incentive to interact with you, especially not if you have that sort of attitude about them.]
• They don’t do what you tell them to do! [Well, no (and neither would I, for that matter). They weren’t domesticated to serve us. Instead, they have minds of their own, and prefer to do things that make them happy. It’s called independence.]
• You can’t DO stuff with them! [Oh, really? I’ve gone on hikes with my cat—who quite enjoys adventuring on his leash, even as a senior—and we regularly play “cat games” together.]

The thing is, there’s not enough SCIENCE about a lot of this stuff—certainly not to be able to educate the non-feline-friendly folks out there about the wonders of the other fluffy BFFS.

But all that is (thankfully!) starting to change… and Netflix’s new documentary, Inside the Mind of a Cat, shows just how it’s being done.

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Via a series of interviews with true cat experts—including a cat doctor, veterinary behaviorists, a feline psychologist, and professional cat trainers—the documentary attempts to delve a bit deeper into the motivations, mannerisms, and mystique of the domesticated house cat. 

If that were all Inside of the Mind of a Cat had to offer, it would be plenty interesting, because each of the experts is engaging, passionate, and most definitely well-educated on all things feline. (And don’t worry if you’re not super science-y. The pros keep it light, explaining all of their findings at a level suitable for the whole audience, from children to adults.)

The program isn't just full of neat information, though. Under director Andy Mitchell, the accompanying filmed scenes (by cinematographer David Woo), showing cats—well, being cats, in all the various and wonderful ways they do just that—are next-level awesome. From super-secret night haunts (tracked via GPS), to sequences showing the reverence held for them in places like Japan and Istanbul, to behavioral tests, to feats of derring-do (yes, really!), it’s gorgeous (and fascinating) just to look at. 

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My 15-yr-old Ragdoll Boomer, on a walk

Inside the Mind of a Cat may not change the minds of certified “dog people” (the ones who are set on a dislike of cats)… but then again, it just might. 

As for all the “cat people” (and cat-friendly people) out there? It will be a delightful way to spend an hour feeling warm fuzzies about their favorite fluffsters… maybe even with one of them purring nearby.

~GlamKitty