Parents' Guide to

Inside the Mind of a Cat

By Sabrina McFarland, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Experts examine feline behavior in kid-friendly docu.

Movie NR 2022 67 minutes

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 2+

Based on 1 parent review

Angie K
Angie K Adult
September 13, 2022
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.
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What's the Story?

In INSIDE THE MIND OF A CAT, global scientists share studies about the psyche and physique of cats. The film features firsthand interviews, archival footage, photos, and illustrations about one of the earth's longest inhabitants and supposedly most flexible mammals on the planet. The journey moves from the centuries-old coexistence between cats and people to Herman the Cat, a U.S. Coast Guard member who was paw-printed and photographed for official documents in the 1940s, to present-day online acclaim for cat videos as a top form of family entertainment with reportedly more than 25 billion views.

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."

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the communication of the cast in Inside the Mind of a Cat. How do they demonstrate curiosity and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?

  • The Savitsky Cats are a celebrated team of performing felines shown in the documentary. What are your thoughts about showcasing animals as a form of entertainment?

  • In what ways are cats and people different? What are their shared similarities?

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