Parents' Guide to

Inside the Mind of a Cat

Movie NR 2022 67 minutes
Inside the Mind of a Cat movie poster image.

Common Sense Media Review

Sabrina McFarland By Sabrina McFarland , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 8+

Experts examine feline behavior in kid-friendly docu.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 8+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 2+

Based on 1 parent review

age 2+

Promotes cat love but woefully misses the mark on domestic cats' collective impact on wild birds

Even as a veteran cat owner, I learned a few new things about cat behavior. We're getting two kittens soon and I'm inspired to approach cat training in a new way this time around. My criticism of this film is with regard to its absolute ignorance and avoidance of domestic cats' global impact on native bird populations. This was woefully disappointing because the data exists and it would have been a great opportunity to educate people about how to keep happy cats indoors or provide enrichment that separates cats from birds. See the American Bird Conservancy's work on this subject - https://abcbirds.org/program/cats-indoors/cats-and-birds/. During one part of the film it spoke of one country's "progressive" legislation referring to cats as equals but the imagery was of stray cats roaming urban neighborhoods. No mention of the impacts on wildlife populations, disease, getting hit by cars, etc. Overall, the film - with its fun diversity of cats highlighted and great camera work - is beautiful and promotes good feelings. The filmmakers should tackle the cat impact on wild birds topic next - I'm sure it would also be a hit.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (2 ):

Whether you're already a furry friend fan or just cat curious, this documentary is a purr-fect primer for kids. For example, if someone wants to adopt a cat as a pet, it's a "huge deal," notes Inside the Mind of a Cat's Dr. Wailani Sung, a cat behaviorist and director of behavior and welfare at the San Francisco SPCA. A family should "do some homework," says Sung. "It's a big decision because you're adding a valuable family member."

Cat care may involve finding the proper carnivorous diet and learning how to interpret the 20 meows that felines use to express emotions. "It's pretty clear," explains Dr. Bruce Kornreich, a cat physiologist and director of the Cornell Feline Health Center in Ithaca, New York, "that cats provide emotional support, a feeling of wellness, happiness. This notion that you can come home and have unconditional love from your cat is something that's vital."

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