Cat research for students and researchers

How to use this list

• Students: start with the summary, then read the paper's abstract through the DOI link. Abstracts are free even when the full paper is not. Ask your school or public librarian if you need a paywalled paper.
• Teachers: several papers anchor lessons on our teachers hub, such as the sweet taste gene (Li 2005) for HS-LS3-1 and Scottish Fold genetics (Gandolfi 2016) for MS-LS4-5.
• Citing MeowWise: every article ends with a Cite this page box in APA, MLA and Chicago style. For research work, cite the original papers below.

Domestication, history and breeds

1. Driscoll C.A., Menotti-Raymond M., Roca A.L., Hupe K., Johnson W.E., Geffen E., Harley E.H., Delibes M., Pontier D., Kitchener A.C., Yamaguchi N., O'Brien S.J. and Macdonald D.W. (2007). The Near Eastern origin of cat domestication. Science, 317(5837), 519 to 523. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1139518. Free full text (PMC).
   A genetic study of 979 domestic cats and wildcats concluded that cats were domesticated in the Near East, probably alongside early farming villages, from at least five founders.
   Used on: Cat fact sheet, Cat science quiz.
2. Vigne J.D., Guilaine J., Debue K., Haye L. and Gérard P. (2004). Early taming of the cat in Cyprus. Science, 304(5668), 259. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1095335.
   Describes a cat buried close to a human grave at the Neolithic village of Shillourokambos, Cyprus, about 9,500 years ago. The authors call it taming rather than domestication, because the cat's skeleton shows no domestic changes.
   Used on: Cat fact sheet, Cat science quiz.
3. Ottoni C., Van Neer W., De Cupere B., et al. (2017). The palaeogenetics of cat dispersal in the ancient world. Nature Ecology and Evolution, 1, 0139. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-017-0139.
   Ancient DNA from archaeological cat remains shows that Near Eastern and Egyptian wildcat populations both contributed to domestic cats at different times, with spread along human trade routes. A blotched tabby coat variant became common only after the Middle Ages.
   Used on: Cat science quiz.
4. Lipinski M.J., Froenicke L., Baysac K.C., et al. (2008). The ascent of cat breeds: genetic evaluations of breeds and worldwide random-bred populations. Genomics, 91(1), 12 to 21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygeno.2007.10.009. Free full text (PMC).
   Genetic data from over 1,100 cats in 22 breeds and 17 random bred populations on five continents. Most breeds came from local cats of their claimed region of origin.
   Used on: Cat traits worksheet, Teacher lesson ideas.
5. Montague M.J., Li G., Gandolfi B., et al. (2014). Comparative analysis of the domestic cat genome reveals genetic signatures underlying feline biology and domestication. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, 111(48), 17230 to 17235. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1410083111. Free full text (PMC).
   A high quality cat reference genome. Found signs of selection in genes for fat metabolism (suited to a meat diet) and for vision and hearing, and an expanded pheromone detection system at the expense of odor detection.
   Used on: Cat adaptations lesson plan, Cat science quiz.

Behavior and cognition

1. Humphrey T., Proops L., Forman J., Spooner R. and McComb K. (2020). The role of cat eye narrowing movements in cat-human communication. Scientific Reports, 10, 16503. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-73426-0. Free full text (PMC).
   Two experiments in cats' homes: cats narrowed their eyes more when owners slow blinked at them, and were more likely to approach an unfamiliar experimenter who slow blinked.
   Used on: Why do cats slow blink?, Cat behavior, Myths vs facts.
2. Saito A., Shinozuka K., Ito Y. and Hasegawa T. (2019). Domestic cats (Felis catus) discriminate their names from other words. Scientific Reports, 9, 5394. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-40616-4. Free full text (open access).
   Four habituation experiments: household cats reacted more to their own name than to matched everyday nouns or housemates' names, including when strangers spoke; cat café cats did not separate their name from housemates' names.
   Used on: Do cats know their names?, Cat behavior.
3. Takagi S., Saito A., Arahori M., Chijiiwa H., Koyasu H., Nagasawa M., Kikusui T., Fujita K. and Kuroshima H. (2022). Cats learn the names of their friend cats in their daily lives. Scientific Reports, 12, 6155. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-10261-5. Free full text (open access).
   Household cats looked longer at a housemate's photo when it did not match the name they had just heard, suggesting they link cat names to faces without training; café cats did not.
   Used on: Do cats know their names?.
4. Saito A. and Shinozuka K. (2013). Vocal recognition of owners by domestic cats (Felis catus). Animal Cognition, 16(4), 685 to 690. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-013-0620-4.
   With 20 cats and a habituation test, cats responded less and less to strangers calling their name and then responded again to their owner's voice, mostly with ear and head movements. Cats can tell people apart by voice alone.
   Used on: Do cats know their names?, Cat fact sheet, Cat adaptations lesson plan.
5. Vitale K.R., Behnke A.C. and Udell M.A.R. (2019). Attachment bonds between domestic cats and humans. Current Biology, 29(18), R864 to R865. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.08.036.
   Using behavioral criteria from human infant research, the authors report that cats show distinct attachment styles toward their human caregivers.

Senses and nutrition

1. Heffner R.S. and Heffner H.E. (1985). Hearing range of the domestic cat. Hearing Research, 19(1), 85 to 88. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-5955(85)90100-5.
   Behavioral hearing tests in two cats found a range of 48 Hz to 85 kHz for sounds at 70 dB SPL, one of the broadest hearing ranges among mammals.
   Used on: Cat adaptations lesson plan, Cat science quiz.
2. Li X., Li W., Wang H., Cao J., Maehashi K., Huang L., Bachmanov A.A., Reed D.R., Legrand-Defretin V., Beauchamp G.K. and Brand J.G. (2005). Pseudogenization of a sweet-receptor gene accounts for cats' indifference toward sugar. PLoS Genetics, 1(1), 27 to 35. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.0010003. Free full text (PMC).
   The cat Tas1r2 gene carries a 247 base pair deletion and stop codons and is not expressed, so cats lack a working sweet taste receptor. Tigers and cheetahs share the change.
   Used on: Cat fact sheet, Cat adaptations lesson plan.
3. Pion P.D., Kittleson M.D., Rogers Q.R. and Morris J.G. (1987). Myocardial failure in cats associated with low plasma taurine: a reversible cardiomyopathy. Science, 237(4816), 764 to 768. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.3616607.
   Low blood taurine was linked to heart muscle failure in cats, and taurine supplements were associated with normal heart function returning.
   Used on: Cat nutrition, Cat fact sheet.
4. Sadek T., Hamper B., Horwitz D., Rodan I., Rowe E. and Sundahl E. (2018). Feline feeding programs: addressing behavioral needs to improve feline health and wellbeing. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 20(11), 1049 to 1055. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X18791877. Free full text (PMC).
   AAFP consensus statement on feeding in a way that fits natural cat behavior: frequent small meals, puzzle feeders, foraging and separate food and water stations.
   Used on: Cat nutrition, Cat care basics.

Genetics and health

1. Gandolfi B., Alamri S., Darby W.G., et al. (2016). A dominant TRPV4 variant underlies osteochondrodysplasia in Scottish fold cats. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 24(8), 1441 to 1450. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2016.03.019.
   A genome wide study of 44 Scottish Fold and 54 control cats found that the breed's dominantly inherited folded ears and bone and cartilage disease are associated with a variant in the TRPV4 gene, absent in 648 unaffected cats.
   Used on: Cat science quiz, Cat traits worksheet.
2. Longeri M., Ferrari P., Knafelz P., et al. (2013). Myosin-binding protein C DNA variants in domestic cats (A31P, A74T, R820W) and their association with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 27(2), 275 to 285. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.12031. Free full text (PMC).
   Genotyped 1,855 cats from 28 breeds and random bred cats worldwide for MYBPC3 variants, comparing results with heart scans in 446 cats.
   Used on: Cat breeds, Cat science quiz.
3. Taylor S., Boysen S., Buffington T., Chalhoub S., Defauw P., Delgado M.M., Gunn-Moore D. and Korman R. (2025). 2025 iCatCare consensus guidelines on the diagnosis and management of lower urinary tract diseases in cats. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 27(2), 1098612X241309176. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X241309176. Free full text (PMC).
   Expert consensus on diagnosing and treating lower urinary tract diseases in cats, including urethral obstruction.
   Used on: Cat straining to pee.

Veterinary care guidelines (peer reviewed consensus)

1. Ellis S.L.H., Rodan I., Carney H.C., Heath S., Rochlitz I., Shearburn L.D., Sundahl E. and Westropp J.L. (2013). AAFP and ISFM feline environmental needs guidelines. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 15(3), 219 to 230. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X13477537. Free full text (PMC).
   Treats meeting a cat's environmental needs as essential, not optional, and organizes them around five pillars meant to reduce stress, stress related disease and unwanted behavior.
   Used on: Cat care basics, Cat behavior, How many litter boxes?.
2. Carney H.C., Sadek T.P., Curtis T.M., et al. (2014). AAFP and ISFM guidelines for diagnosing and solving house-soiling behavior in cats. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 16(7), 579 to 598. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X14539092. Free full text (PMC).
   Practical guidance for preventing and solving house soiling, including litter box number, size and placement.
   Used on: How many litter boxes?, Cat behavior, Cat care basics.
3. Quimby J., Gowland S., Carney H.C., DePorter T., Plummer P. and Westropp J. (2021). 2021 AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 23(3), 211 to 233. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X21993657. Free full text (PMC).
   Divides a cat's life into kitten, young adult, mature adult and senior stages plus end of life, with care recommendations for each.
   Used on: How often should a cat see the vet?.
4. Ray M., Carney H.C., Boynton B., Quimby J., Robertson S., St Denis K., Tuzio H. and Wright B. (2021). 2021 AAFP Feline Senior Care Guidelines. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 23(7), 613 to 638. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X211021538. Free full text (PMC).
   Guidance on assessing and caring for older cats, introducing frailty as part of the senior cat assessment.
   Used on: Senior cats.

Want a paper added?

Researchers and educators: if you know a peer reviewed study that should be here, or spot an error in a citation, please use the contact details at the bottom of this page. We add papers only after reading them.