I love Cleo, and I know she loves me, but we don't always show it the same way. I like to show her my love by cuddling up with her when she's napping; she shows me her love by getting up and walking away. Mom says not to worry, that's pretty standard for a cat.

If you've ever wondered why, feline geneticist Dr. Leslie Lyons may have the answer. A reporter from the Associated Press got to do an interview with her, and managed to get through the entire thing without a Big Cat joke. (Her last name is Lyons! Hah! Get it? Okay, I thought it was funny.)

Did you know, for example, that people didn't domesticate cats? More like the cats domesticated them, I'd say! Also, no species of domestic cat is native to North America -- they all came over on boats. I thought this part was particularly interesting, and sad: when the reporter asks about the association between cats and witches, Dr. Lyons responds

Actually their association with witches might have had a dramatic impact on society. During the time of the bubonic plague, cats were persecuted along with witches. But the plague was carried by fleas that are on rats, and a dense cat population would kill rats. As we persecuted the cats, there were fewer cats and more rats, which meant more fleas carrying plague. The lack of cats contributed to the spread of the plague.

Imagine that! Makes me glad to have Cleo around.

Photo by Malingering.