Cat Scientists

Testing gravity

 I have long maintained that cats can be scientists and make useful scientific contributions. After all, we love to test gravity, explore the properties of light, and observe the local fauna. However, it's not that often that we get opportunities to do real cutting-edge work.

To help remedy this situation, I have gathered the following short list of scientific opportunities that cats have pursued. You may find this list inspirational as you think about your own scientific feline career--or at least about ways to keep boredom at bay.

• A cat named Chester coauthored a paper in physics. Perhaps some of your humans are looking for coauthors? We cats are very good with paper.

Good with paper

• Others have donated SARS-CoV-2 samples to assist in understanding COVID-19. Cats may play a special role in this enterprise.
  
  
• Yet other cats are participating in various kinds of behavioral research. For example, one cat participated in a study of behavioral imitation. Humans can learn to communicate with cats by demonstrating what they want us to do.
  
  
• Some cats have participated in pawedness experiments. It turns out that if you prefer to do a task with your left or right paw, as opposed to not having a preference for either paw, that may be a good sign. 
  
  

Exhibiting pawedness

• Others have participated in experiments aimed at understand why we cats like enclosed spaces.
  
  

  

  Liking enclosed spaces

  
  
  
  
  
  If you have scientific insights or opportunities to share, let me know!
  
  

Ready for coauthorship