WHY DO CATS MEOW?

The cat-centered companion to Why Do Dogs Sniff Bottoms? (2020).

Cats have been living with humans for at least 3,500 years according to Crumpton, “cat expert” and zoologist. Crumpton posits that cats were not tamed by humans but rather “domesticated themselves” to be near humans (who often have yummy meals). Each of the 19 double-page spreads deals with a different aspect of cat life or lore, and each begins with a question. In answer to “Why do cats meow?” Crumpton explains that the sound can mean several different things. However, across the spread, readers learn that: Cats make 100 different sounds; only kittens meow at other cats while adult cats meow only to humans; Siamese are the chattiest; and Maine coon cats chitter at birds. Are cats good or bad luck? Were cats ever worshipped? On several points, they are compared to dogs (cats see red and green, unlike canines; dogs have more scent receptors, but cats can differentiate more smells). With appealingly naïve styling, Snowden-Fine’s double-page spreads offer gentle humor as cats of vastly different species, colors, and sizes interpret the text. Humans depicted are racially diverse. The tone overall is light, but the information is sound, bolstered by a closing glossary of cat vocabulary. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11.9-by-18.2-inch double-page spreads viewed at 42.9% of actual size.)

A good addition to the cat canon.