I am David Grimm, author of Citizen Canine: Our Evolving Relationship with Cats and Dogs. The book explores the past, present, and future of our relationship with our companion animals. From probing the feline mind to giving dogs their own lawyers...

Why does my cat ALWAYS have to go to the bathroom with me. If I don't let her in, she flips her shit like there is some sort of "Potty Party" that she's going to miss out on. Then she wants to be petted while I'm trying to poo. It's an odd way to live man. Why does she DO that?

Jellybean plotting evil.

Wow, I've never heard of that. When our cats were kittens, they wouldn't go to the bathroom unless we were watching them--which is kind of the opposite of your situation. She's probably just taking advantage of a time where you're forced to keep petting her because you're, um, stuck. :-)

do you think that we get more from pets or they get more from us either physically or emotionally?

Great question. Honestly, I think it's a pretty even exchange. Pets get to be on permanent vacation and have their every whim and need catered to (at least the lucky ones), and we get companions that provide unconditional love. Pets may also provide us with health benefits like lower anxiety and blood pressure. I think we both make out like bandits!

What do you think should be done about breed standards that are propagating unhealthy traits for aesthetic reasons? There is so much scientific literature that points out the genetic basis of things like brachycephalic syndrome, yet nothing seems to change with the (majority of) breeders.

I'm not a huge fan of breeding. I think we should appreciate dogs (and cats) for what they are, not for what we can turn them into. I'd also like to see more people adopting pets than buying them from breeders. More than 3 million unwanted cats and dogs are killed in U.S. shelters every year.

Why do humans give their affection to cats and dogs and not pigs or cows?

Great question. There are millions of animals on earth, and dozens of domesticated animals. Yet we've largely singled out just two--cats and dogs--to be our family members. I think it may have something to do with the adaptability of cats and dogs, and the fact that they think a lot like we do. As a result, it's easier for us to form emotional bonds with them.

Why does it seem like everything we know about cats is based on rumor and innuendo but there's a new study on dog brains every week?

Great question! I wrote a piece for Slate on this very issue last year (http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2014/04/cat_intelligence_and_cognition_are_cats_smarter_than_dogs.html)

There are about a dozen labs around the world studying the canine mind, but almost no one is studying cats. For my book, I scoured the world to find someone--anyone--who studies the feline mind, and all I came up with was one scientist in Italy who usually studies fish, but who did one experiment (on counting ability) in cats. Fish, he told me, are easier to work with than cats.

And that's the crux of the problem: dogs don't mind being in a lab and doing tricks for experiments--heck, they love it. But cats don't want to be anywhere near a lab. So unfortunately, that's preventing us from knowing much about how their minds work. But hopefully advances in scientific techniques (like MRI imaging) may eventually help us shed light on the feline mind.

All the neighborhood cats shit in my moms garden. She is not that mobile so she cant do anything about it. How do I train these cats to take a dump somewhere else?

I would talk to the owners. We let our cats outside, but try to keep them from excreting anywhere they shouldn't. We should be responsible for our cats outdoors like we are for our dogs outdoors.

What is the country in the world that is the most advanced in terms of cats and dogs' legal rights and why ?

I believe other countries have classified animals as "sentient beings", while they're still "property" in the U.S. But I haven't heard of cases of dogs getting lawyers or federal laws impelling rescue agencies to save cats and dogs outside of the U.S.

But what about those states that still allow cats to be declawed? :(

Declawing is a hot-button issue. Several cities (and I believe some states) have bans or are planning bans. Some vets argue against these bans, noting that it's better for a cat to be missing his claws than to be abandoned at a shelter. We've also seen bans on debarking and tail docking for dogs.

Thank you for doing this AMA. My family likes to adopt shelter rescue animals when it's time for a new family pet. The pet's demeanor often changes from sad and defeated to playful and engaged. Sometimes we swear they are "thankful" for us because after they settle in to new surroundings they are often overly affectionate and submissive. Is that human projection, or can cats and dogs truly express complex emotions about their change? What are some intriguing ways that our pets have come to be more attuned to being human companions and not simply human property?

Dogs have lived with us for up to 30,000 years; cats, about 10,000. I think in this time they have evolved to become more attuned to our emotions. In fact, a recent study (http://news.sciencemag.org/brain-behavior/2015/04/how-dogs-stole-our-hearts) showed that dogs activate the same hormonal response in us that human infants do. So I do think both animals are capable of complex emotions.

What is your views on the hostility some cultures are facing for eating animals that other cultures consider pets?

Good question. I do think there's some hypocrisy in giving other cultures a hard time for killing dogs and cats, when we kill chickens and cows. (and i'm saying this as someone who's not a vegetarian... although i'm trying).

How can I get my asshole of a cat to stop meowing at night?

Haha! I wish I knew. Our cats got us up at 2:30 am last night.

I have a cat that insists on rubbing her face on our faces. What does this mean with a cat?

The cat is marking you as his/her own. Be honored!

cats or dogs?

Ha! Well I'm a cat person, but I love dogs too. I think we get different things from each pet. Dogs are faithful companions who become like our children. Cats let us bring a bit of the wild into our homes--they allow us to caress the tiger, as someone once said--but they are also "love sponges", as Ernest Hemmingway called them. Why chose? Get both! :-)

Hi David, [serious question:] My roommate's ginger cat, a male who has no noted aversion to male humans, would poo the world's smelliest poo every time my ginger boyfriend entered the apartment. Is this a coincidence? Was he put off by no longer being the only ginger male in the apartment? Or perhaps had he taken a liking to me and realized this human was about to draw away my attention so he needed to make sure we all knew how displeased he was?

It sounds like the cat may have been asserting dominance. Some cats won't bury their poop in their litter box as a sign to other cats in the house that they're in charge.

What are your thoughts on dog owners who flaunt flout leash laws because their dog is "perfectly behaved" or similar sentiment?

We have that problem in our neighborhood. The issue is that these owners don't know how their dogs are going to react to cats or children, and I've been involved in situations where dogs lunged at both (my cats and my toddlers). So I think all dogs owners should err on the side of caution and leash their pets.

What would you say about a pitbull in a Manhattan apartment?

I think we should love our pets, but also respect their needs. A big dog needs big space, and if it lives in a small apartment it should at least be allowed to go outside a few times a day.

Are you and your brother going to write the 8th edition any time soon?

It never gets old :-)

Do you think primates should have more rights/legal protection than our pets?

That's a timely question. As you may know, the Nonhuman Rights Project, headed by animal lawyer Steve Wise, is pushing for chimpanzee "personhood" in new york. (http://news.sciencemag.org/plants-animals/2015/04/judge-s-ruling-grants-legal-right-research-chimps) Wise argues that chimps (and dolphins and elephants) are so cognitively advanced that they should be granted some human-like rights. But others argue that we should reserve rights for animals that we already treat like people--i.e. dogs and cats. And we've certainly seen dogs and cats get more rights (if you want to call them that) than chimps: dogs have gotten lawyers in 3 recent court cases, pets can inherit money, and felony anticruelty laws tend to be harshest for those who abuse dogs and cats.

And then there are those, of course, who say no animals should have rights.

So, what do you think about the Yulin Dog Festival?

It's obviously horrific for those of us who love animals to see them treated this way. If you oppose the festival, there are many animal welfare groups trying to stop it. I encourage you to support those organizations.

The obvious question: residential dog breed restrictions. Warranted? Misguided? Unwarranted?

Unwarrented. I did a lot of research on this for my book, and breed restrictions tend to be misguided. For one thing, most of the problem appears to lie with the owner (neglecting or mistreating the pet), not the dog. For another, these bans are hard to enforce--"pit bull" isn't a recognized breed, for example, and DNA tests usually show it's a different breed than what people thought. Some studies have also shown that these bans can be counterproductive.

A feral cat takes a dump right outside my door sometimes. Right on the damn doorstep. Our theory is that he thinks we're holding one of his friends captive (we rescued a street cat from the area) and is pooping in protest. Do you know why a feral cat would torture us so?

My guess is that he's trying to get the attention of the other cat. If you have the time and the resources, I'd consider trapping him and getting him neutered. That may solve the problem.

Thanks!

On a more serious note, what was your favorite part about writing and researching for your book? It sounds really interesting!

Getting to travel so many places and meet so many interesting people. I traveled to about 15 places for the book--including Los Angeles to ride along with LAPD's animal cruelty task force, and Wolf Park, IN, where i got to interact with gray wolves.

My cat keeps kneading my stomach. Will he ever succeed in getting it to produce milk?

I hope not!

Canine behavior has changed drastically from their wolf-roots due to selective breeding, etc. Cats, on the other hand, seem to behave just like African Wildcats and other felines.

My question: Is there really such a thing as a domestic cat? Or do we just call them "domestic" because we let them live in our homes?

Great question! I'm about to write a piece for Slate on this very topic. Stay tuned!

But short answer: yes, cats are as domestic as any other animal.

I'm gonna be asking this girl out and she's a cat person while I'm a dog person and I know you don't have a crystal ball ....do you think it can work based on our preferred companions ?

Absolutely. I don't think cat people and dogs people are as different as the stereotypes suggest. In fact, many households have both pets. What you have in common is your love for animals. I think that should take you pretty far. :-)

Some have said, after studying the history of canid domestication, that without dogs civilization would not have come so far so fast. For example, the selfless pack animal will hunt and gather food, and then share it. What are you thoughts on the validity of such a statement?

Yes, some have said that we wouldn't be here without dogs. I think there's some truth to that, as dogs made us more successful hunters and herders. They may have even helped us out-compete Neandertals, according to some theories. But cats may have also made us what we are today, by protecting our grain stores and protecting us from disease.

I'm very excited that you're doing this AMA. I'm actually studying the child - animal bond for my Masters degree and looking at how companion animals can help foster empathy and prosociality. There are many recent studies suggesting a link between having animals in the home and a greater understanding and respect of animals. What do you think about this evolving area of research?

I will be picking up your book as well. I'm very excited to read this!

Thanks for your question. Yes, I do think that having pets increases our empathy for all creatures. I think one of the reason we're so pro-animal welfare in this country is because of our cats and dogs!

At Christmas my brother unfortunately had to give his cats away due to him moving back home with my parents. Do you think they will still miss and remember him? :(

I wish there weren't so many stories like this--people giving up pets that have grown attached to them. Yes, I do think our pets miss us. For my book, I visited a jail in Colorado where the inmates spoke of their cats and dogs snuggling into their old clothing while they were behind bars. I think we should absolutely try to avoid abandoning our pets if at all possible.

Hi David, thanks for being here. This is a sort of weird ontological debate about cats that me and my brother have been having for a while. Do cats know they're cats? Do they think of humans as big cats, or of themselves as little people? In what ways does this sense of being affect their behavior?

I think John Bradshaw discusses this in his recent book, Cat Sense. But bottom line: Cats don't see us a big cats. They see as as big, unpredictable apes. But they're mostly cool with it.

I haven't been following this as much in the past few years, but you're an expert! What is some of the newest, most interesting and groundbreaking research on dog and cat evolution and domestication that you're aware of?

Well, I hate to be self-serving (actually, I don't really--that's why i'm here!), but I've rounded all of it up in my book. Check it out!

http://www.amazon.com/Citizen-Canine-Evolving-Relationship-Cats/dp/1610391330

Is there anything so new that it didn't make it into your book?

Yea, check out this story I wrote on dog domestication http://davidhgrimm.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Dawn-of-the-Dog.pdf

and this one on cat evolution

http://news.sciencemag.org/biology/2014/11/genes-turned-wildcats-kitty-cats

Do dogs feel and express guilt? I read once that they didn't, but I know better.

Good question. I talk about this in my book. A study that came out a few years ago suggested that the "guilty look" given by dogs isn't a true expression of guilt. But that doesn't mean dogs don't feel guilt--we just haven't found a good way to measure it.

Case on point. I came downstairs once to see my dog slinking, head down walking perpendicular to my path. I then see that he had gotten into the trash. What was going on? Fear of punishment? Guilt?

yea, that sounds like the "guilty look". but whether he really felt guilty is unclear.

Hi there! I have a German Shepherd mix with Red Heeler pup. We think he was taken from his mom too young. He bites, not hard but enough to freak people out. I scold him when he does with a harsh "No!" and give him all the praise and love I can when he doesn't but nothing seems to be working. Do you have any advice for me?

I know a ton about cats and dogs, but not so much on the training side. It might be time to consult a professional trainer.

Hey David,

What are you opinions on Cesar Millan's advice on being the pack leader to help maintain order in a house ?

I have a big german shepard and his advices did help me but I was wondering if there are 2nd opinions about this method

I don't have strong feelings, but some people have said that dogs are no more like wolves than we're like chimpanzees. Dogs have lived with us for somewhere between 15,000 and 30,000 years. That's a long time for co-evolution!

What's the best argument you've every heard in favor of denying domesticated animals more rights?

At least for cats and dogs: that it would make pet ownership more onerous and thus scare people away from adoption.

Do you agree killing street dogs? Is there any other way?

Yes, spay/neuter. Some groups are also working on an injectable contraceptive: http://www.acc-d.org/

Do you feel that thousands of dollars are better spent on keeping a cat alive, than instead saving many, many human lives with that money?

I think we all spend our money on things that are important to us, whether it be big screen TVs, or vacations, or our pets. I don't think we should feel guilty about saving a life, whether it be animal or human.

Do cats have "packs" like dogs?

Feral cats sometimes hang out in large groups. But dogs are definitely more of a pack animal.

A follow up! Do you have any idea what cats think when we meow at them? Are we in anyway actually communicating or are we just making a noise at them?

I think it's just noise. I don't think we can speak cat. :)

What is your opinion on breeders and breeding? My sister has a German Shephard who is his own grandpa's cousin's niece's uncle's sister because breeders disregard generics entirely just to make the dog they want.

please see my response below

Morgan Freeman, aka God, told me (& everyone else) on his Through the Wormhole show, that cats are the one species that domesticated themselves. Is this true?

Yes, cats domesticated themselves. At least that's what scientists think. They came into early farming villages to hunt rodents, and realized if they were well behaved humans would keep them around.

Interestingly, dogs may have also domesticated themselves. Some wolves, it's thought, got more food by cozying up to hunting-gathereing humans. Later, we domesticated dogs further by breeding them for specific tasks.