Have you ever noticed a quirky behavior from your cat? Perhaps it goes wild when you try to eat a piece of whole wheat bread without sharing, races around the house after using the litterbox, or insists on sitting in a spot filled with delicate papers you’d rather it didn’t touch. Over time, you might have come to accept these unique traits of your feline companions. But now, scientists at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, alongside UMass Chan Medical School, are working on a project called Darwin’s Cats, which aims to understand more about these behaviors.
Their goal is to build a comprehensive database of behavioral and genetic traits of cats. This project follows in the footsteps of Darwin’s Ark, which previously conducted a similar study focused on dogs. For the Darwin’s Cats project, volunteer cat owners are being asked to collect fur samples from their cats and complete surveys about their pets’ behaviors. The project plans to recruit 100,000 cats by June of 2026. After collecting the samples, the researchers will sequence the DNA of the cats to explore the genetic influences behind various traits, behaviors, and health issues.
The ultimate aim is to create the largest database of feline genetics and behaviors. This information will help answer many questions about cats, including insights into their physical traits, behavioral evolution, and the health challenges they face. Understanding the factors behind these issues could help improve the lives of cats everywhere. Since the project began in 2024, nearly 5,000 cats have already been registered.
Cat owners interested in participating can sign up on the Darwin’s Ark website, where a $15 donation per cat is requested to support the research and cover sequencing costs. Despite the progress, there are still many unanswered questions about cats, such as why some cats prefer certain foods, like whole wheat bread, over others. Hopefully, this scientific initiative will provide valuable insights into the mysteries of our feline friends, including the reasons behind the mischievous grin of internet-famous cats like Monkey.
Related Topics
