A dog with soulful eyes looking directly at the camera

Research-driven animal psychology

Animals are speaking constantly.
Most humans just miss the language.

Science-backed answers for people who love animals deeply

Your pet
cannot explain
itself.
Science can.

Deeply researched explanations for the behaviors dog and cat owners search every day — built from peer-reviewed studies, veterinary science, and animal cognition research.

21
Deep-dive articles
12+
Peer-reviewed sources
0
Unsourced claims
Sources include
Alexandra Horowitz · Barnard College John Bradshaw · University of Bristol Patricia McConnell · UW–Madison Stanley Coren · UBC Current Biology · Applied Animal Behaviour Science

Start with a question

What is your pet doing?

Dog behavior & health

Dogs

Every dog behavior question you've ever Googled — answered completely, with real science.

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"Dogs do speak. But only to those who know how to listen."
Orhan Pamuk

Cat behavior & health

Cats

The most Googled cat questions answered with peer-reviewed science and no guesswork.

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Latest questions

Animal Behavior

01

Why Does My Cat Slow-Blink at Me? (The Science of the Cat Kiss)

The Short Answer The slow blink — when a cat half-closes its eyes and opens them slowly —...

02

Why Does My Cat Make That Weird Chattering Noise at Birds?

The Short Answer The chattering, chittering, or “clacking” noise cats make at birds and squirrels is an involuntary...

03

Why Does My Cat Sleep So Much? (Up to 16 Hours? Really?)

The Short Answer Cats sleep 12-16 hours a day because they’re obligate carnivores whose hunting strategy is high-intensity...

04

Why Is My Cat Lying in the Litter Box? (It’s Either Sweet or a Red Flag)

The Short Answer A cat lying in the litter box is either a new or stressed cat seeking...

05

Do Cats Miss Their Owners? (Yes. They’re Just Not Going to Make a Thing of It.)

The Short Answer Yes, cats miss their owners — though the way they experience and express that absence...

06

Why Are Cats Afraid of Cucumbers? (And Why You Should Stop Testing It)

The Short Answer Cats startle at cucumbers because they’re startled by unexpected objects appearing in a place they...

07

Why Does My Cat Knead? (The Biscuit-Making Explained)

The Short Answer Kneading — the rhythmic pushing of paws alternately into a soft surface — originates in...

08

Why Does My Cat Head-Butt Me? (You’ve Been Claimed)

The Short Answer Your cat head-butting you — technically called bunting — is a scent-marking behaviour that also...

Scientist Spotlight

Alexandra Horowitz

Cognitive scientist and director of the Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard College. Specialises in canine perception, social cognition, and the human-dog bond.

Author of: Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know Scribner, 2009 — New York Times #1 Bestseller

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About

Why Pawsidor exists

Most pet advice online is vague, unsourced, or padded to fill a word count. Every post here answers one question completely — the short answer for skimmers, the actual science for the curious, health flags for when it matters, and a practical takeaway for what to do.

Real books. Real researchers. Real answers.

Horowitz, A. — Inside of a Dog (2009, Scribner)
Bradshaw, J. — Cat Sense (2013, Basic Books)
McConnell, P. — The Other End of the Leash (2002)
Coren, S. — Do Dogs Dream? (2012, W.W. Norton)