National Geographic – The Secret Lifes of Cats

What if Everything You Think About Cats Is Wrong?
A study of feline behavior shows that cats can be taught—despite their reputation for being untrainable and aloof.

Scientists are working hard to solve such feline mysteries. Last year a Swedish university launched a five-year study into human-cat communication. The goal: to see if cats react to different ways humans speak to them, and to translate meows into emotions and desires.

The Science of Cats

Independent Streak When dogs and cats were tasked with solving a puzzle, a study in the Journal of Comparative Psychology found, dogs looked to humans for help with an impossible task while cats kept trying on their own.