Inside the Mind of a Cat

The documentary proceeds from a simple question: what is a cat thinking. For an answer it goes to behavioural scientists, vets and cat trainers. What emerges is more concrete than expected: cats recognise their names but choose whether to respond, they can distinguish emotion in a human face, and the frequency of a purr has been linked to healing. The most interesting section is the history of domestication. Unlike the dog, the cat's move towards people was not the result of breeding; they came to the grain stores on their own and the relationship was built on mutual benefit. They are still less dependent than dogs, and the documentary does not present that as a fault. Andy Mitchell directed, for Netflix. There are training sections too, recording experiments in walking cats on a lead and teaching them commands. Who it is for: anyone interested in animal behaviour, and cat owners. Who it is not for: anyone expecting serious science. It is short, the subjects are covered on the surface, and some claims rest on a single expert's word.