MSI Press Blog

  CB Leaver with Happy Cat There are reasons that people and cats bond so easily (generally). Here are some evolutionary traits that endear cats to humans: 😺 1. Neotenous (juvenile-like) features Cats retain kitten-like traits into adulthood—big eyes, round faces, small noses, soft fur. Humans are biologically wired to respond to “baby schema,” which triggers caregiving behavior. This is not unique to cats, but cats hit the sweet spot: cute, small, non-threatening, and expressive. Why it matters: Humans instinctively interpret these features as “cute,” “vulnerable,” and “worth caring for.” 🧬 2. Genetic and biological similarity to humans Cats share about 90% of their DNA with humans , and many of their biological systems parallel ours. This doesn’t mean we’re closely related—but it does mean their behavior, communication, and emotional expressions fall into ranges humans intuitively understand. Why it matters: We can read cats more easily than we can read many other a...

Bobolink's last loving and painful minutes, nestled against owner, Luna .   Integrating New Cats When Older Cats Are Dying Integrating new cats into an established cat family is always a delicate dance, but it becomes even more complex when one of the older cats is nearing the end of life. The emotions in the household shift—grief, vigilance, and quiet respect settle in—and the dynamics between the cats can change in ways that are subtle, profound, or both. In most cases, the cat who is dying has been part of the family for many years, often serving as a social anchor. The newcomers, in addition to finding their place among the living members, must navigate the emotional space left by the one who is leaving. Snyezhka, Happy Cat, and the Distance of Newcomers When Snyezhka was dying from breast, liver, and lung cancer, it wasn’t the new cats who stepped in to care for her—it was Happy Cat, her longtime companion and the beta heart of the household. Happy Cat washed her when she coul...

  Precerpt (excerpt from prepublication book) from Raising Happy Cat Families by Luna Norwood -- Coming in from the Cold And then there is the situation where a feral cat literally comes in from the cold (often not by request). One moment, they’re out there, surviving in the chaos of open space, and the next—they’re dropped into a world bounded by walls, filled with strange smells, expectations, and no visible escape routes. For a feral cat, this abrupt shift in territory can be deeply shocking. Outdoors, territory is fluid and layered: open air, moving sunlight, shifting alliances, and the constant demands of self-defense. Indoors, by contrast, is static and enclosed. It smells of humans and other cats. Boundaries are suddenly vertical—cat trees, shelves, window sills—not horizontal. Social rules are tighter, proximity is unavoidable, and the absence of hiding places can feel like exposure rather than comfort. Some cats take this change in stride. Many do not. While some cats thr...