The Nine Emotional Lives of Cats: A Journey Into the Feline Heart

by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson

In the hugely popular New York Times bestseller, Dogs Never Lie About Love, provocative psychoanalyst Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson brilliantly navigated the inner landscape of “man’s best friend.” Now he delves deep into the secretive, playful world of cats, revealing emotions, debunking myths, and honoring the feline’s evolution from solitary jungle creature to human companion.

Drawing from literature, history, animal behavioral research, and the wonderful true stories of cat experts and cat lovers around the world, Jeffrey Masson vividly explores the delights and mysteries of the feline heart. But at the core of this remarkable book are Masson’s candid, often amusing observations of his own five cats. Their mischievousness, aloofness, and affection provide a way to examine emotions from contentment to jealousy, from anger to love.

Consider the Are cats selfish? While human egocentricity is defined by how little a person cares about others, the cat’s narcissism is not like that at all. Cats may appear self-centered, but they watch us all the time, taking us in. They see us; they notice us–a far cry from vanity.

Cats are curious, a trait that rarely kills them. On the contrary, it gives them the chance to assess, in their own idiosyncratic way, whether we are worthy of their attention. Cats are happy to be themselves. What they think of us is a different question entirely. “We need cats to need us,” notes Masson, “It unnerves us that they do not. However, if they do not need us, they nonetheless seem to love us.”

The Nine Emotional Lives of Cats will captivate readers with its surprises and insights, offering a new perspective on the deep connection shared by humans and their feline friends. This is the book that Masson’s many fans and cat lovers everywhere have been waiting for.

Genres: Animals, Nonfiction, Cats, Science, Nature, Psychology, 21st Century

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

He has written several books books critical of psychoanalysis, psychotherapy and psychiatry as well as books on animals, their emotions and their rights.

He currently lives in New Zealand with his wife, two sons, three cats and three rats.

Reviews

[Marigold · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this more than I did. LOVED his book "When Elephants Weep". This book is really a story about Masson's own cats, & while they're beautiful & fascinating as all cats are, I thought I was going to get a more scientific discussion of cats & their emotions. Masson theorizes that cats have nine emotions, & breaks the book up into corresponding chapters, which is fine. But after that it's just a series of observations about his cats. He reads a lot of his own ideas into their heads, I thought. And I'm a cat lover so don't get me wrong! I also found myself annoyed with his constantly telling me about his idyllic life on the beach in New Zealand (I think that's where it was). He goes on daily beach walks with the cats (must be nice), & lets his cats wander in the nearby "jungle" - & then he makes those of us who live in urban areas feel bad about keeping our cats indoors - something I do because I feel it's the safest environment for a city cat. I feel guilty enough about my indoor cat without his help! I think he actually says in the book somewhere that people should consider moving to locations where their cats can run free. Um, hello? Reality? OK, other than that, nice cat stories.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

This guy writes about animals, but has no credentials. I like some of his ideas, but mostly he's just talking about out of his ass.

[Joon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book at the Lifeline Bookfest. A lucky find, I think, as I would never have thought to find a book like this! While I hoped to get a more general understanding of the psychology of cats, in the hopes of better understanding my cats, his observations on his 5 cats, made this a very enjoyable read. Masson references other titles which I would be interested in following up too.

I found that this book gave me some deeper insights into the emotional lives of my two cats, who seem to hate each other, or are they simply trying to learn to play together? I certainly feel that I have a greater insight into Sunny, the newest addition to my little cat family, a stray with a traumatic kitten life before she came to live with me. I feel that Masson has give me more insight into her life and feel that in the past couple of weeks while I read this book, has helped us bond.

My favourite quote comes at the end of the last chapter (before the epilogue):

"Cats have an emotional directness, a purity of purpose (or is it purposelessness?) - no compromise, especially with the honesty of their feelings. Here I am, every moment of the cat says, love me as I am or not at all.

With my cats I am learning the lesson of the sufficiency of the moment. No yesterday, no tomorrow, only the magic of today, of this single moment. No remorse, no regret, no yearning, just the play of now."

What better role models could I ask for?

I dedicate this review to my cats, Arora and Sunny, who bring so much joy and enchantment into my life.

[Vanessa Wolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Nine Emotional Lives of Cats," follows Jeffrey Moussaiff Masson as he adopts five cats and explores some of the psychological myths regarding cats such as aloofness, laziness, and inability to love. Some parts of this book are helpful and interesting like chapter four on "Attachment," others are downright ridiculous tack-ons from the previous chapter, like "Curiosity," and "Playfulness," but are enjoyable for the descriptive writing.

However, I checked the date of publication and was promptly horrified by how dated some of the material turned out. First, there is record of inter-species play beyond human initiated contact. Dolphins, chimps, wolves, some of the big cats, and some rodent species, regularly engage in inter-species play as children. Second, cat noises have indeed been researched and as recently as '02 we know a lot more about a cat's purr.

Secondly, this guy acknowledges he just let five predators run loose on an island unused to predators because he can't bear to contain his cats. I love cats (I have three), but I know my ability to have them comes from living in an area where it is safe to let one out (two are disabled and never going outside and one is the King of Wharf Rat Death) No wonder the cats eventually leave this guy. Containing them for the first year AT LEAST makes a cat far less likely to just wander off on you. And really, I don't recommend in any way letting your cat out without you. I am confident walking my cat around the block, but I wouldn't let him do it on his own. Think about it, the action fosters independence in a species famed for its own independence. (And if you're in New Zealand, way to wipe out the natural ecosystem). Duh. I may not be fond of birds, but I don't value my cat's freedom over a sustainable ecosystem.

(For the record I was also unsuccessful in belling my cat, but I live in an area where songbirds are wary, the crows vicious, and the seagulls can aptly defend themselves. The same robin has been taunting my cat for two years and warns every chickadee in the neighborhood when my cat comes outside. He doesn't need a bell, he's more watched than a convenience store cash register. If I'm inside, he's inside)

Of course cats need more to love you than acting like a cat. Also, if you lock them out of the human sleeping area its one less link in the chain of attachment, you're not letting come back to the colony bed! Again, duh.

By the way, my cats come when I call. It can be done, and it is totally necessary if you are letting your cat out.

Moreover, cats do feel jealousy outside of one another as anyone who had a cat before they had a gf or bf knows this. Its nice his cats didn't get jealous of other people, but don't expect that as a rule in your own.
And lastly, this guy only follows the cats for the first year. I don't think you could write about the emotional lives of any species and claim its complete once childhood is over.
This book is great if you just got a cat, I agree completely on many aspects, like the chapter on "Narcissism," but if your cat is beyond the teen angst years (3+) its not a very good glimpse into the mind of a cat, or a responsible cat owner. The writing is on par with an Animal Planet announcer, somewhere between terribly amusing and downright head shaking, but it is, a heart, a genuinely well intended book and more helpful than not I suppose.

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This started as a four star book...I was getting the giggles reading about the authors eccentric cats and relating his experiences to my own. However, as the book progressed I realized that I was bothered by Masson's authoritative tone about what HE thinks cats are thinking. There is no scientific background to his beliefs, and he seems to disagree with any feline scholar/doctor that has ever come up with an opinion of their own on cat emotions. I had had enough when I read the following: "Almost everybody who lives with a cat, however, recognized this image: Our at suddenly stops and states intently at a spot where we see nothing. The eyes widen and sometimes the cat appears agitated, spooked, and will often abruptly turn and run away. Some believe that the cat has seen a ghost. Others think the cat is hallucinating. I think the explanation is less supernatural, more super natural, but no less interesting. I think that what has happened is that the cat is gripped by a memory" Followed by absolutlely no scientific evidence or explanation for his belief. I felt like I was reading somebody's daydream, and frankly I don't have time for that.

[Shira and Ari Evergreen]

I disagree with the author in several areas - I thought he could have worked harder to adopt and that his defense of buying from breeders was a cop-out. Also his cats are half-feral and are decimating the small animals in his region, so he's definitely putting their interests way over the interests of the animals that share his ecosystem - not cool.

But besides these points, I found a lot to learn from and live by in this book. Masson is very respectful of the catness of cats, and he really gets at their psychology and their needs and their motivations, with an eye on history and literature, cat evolution, and the anecdotal experiences of humans who know cats. I found his interpretations of their body language and facial expressions to be spot-on and very affirming of my own observations. This book made me see some ways I can be a better friend to the cats I care for, and gave me a lot to think about in regard to wildness, freedom, and domestication.

[Fabio Costante · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un saggio prevalentemente inteso come diario personale dell'autore che, durante un anno di convivenza con i suoi 5 gatti, ha esplorato la vita emotiva dei felini alla luce delle esperienze che condivideva con loro e i suoi studi e letture di psicoanalisi ed etologia. Seppure restino vari punti poco esplorati ed alcune piccole imprecisioni di interpretazione (alcuni comportamenti li avrei interpretati sotto punti di vista differenti), la lettura è interessante e a volte emozionante e dà qualche spunto di riflessione.
Anche se non ha portato pressoché nulla di nuovo alle mie conoscenze sui gatti ho apprezzato molto il suo modo di scrivere e, ancora di più, la sua capacità di esplorare il mondo emozionale dei felini evitando antropomorfizzazione e generalizzazione.

[Faith Fishcrazy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't like that he thinks that all cats should have the indoor/outdoor choice. I think that he has a rather strange relationship with his own cats. My cats grow closer to me as they age, not farther away.

[M · Rating 2 out of 5]

The anecdotes about the behavior of his cats was overshadowed by the overblown ego of the author.

[Arzu · Rating 2 out of 5]

bilimsel bi' metin okuyacağımı düşünürken, kedilerle yaşayan bi' adamın şahsi gözlemlerini, deneyimini okudum :/

[Carol Storm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful must-read book for every cat owner! Not only does the author have an endless series of entertaining stories about his independent tribe of captivating outdoor cats, but there are dozens of quotes from other classic cat books and some truly amazing scientific facts. I knew that dogs heard sound frequencies humans can't hear, but I had no idea cats can hear even more high-frequency sounds than dogs! I also loved the insights into why cats are so independent and self-sufficient. They were never pack animals, like dogs. Dogs are used to hunting in packs and obeying a leader. That's why they're so quick to learn obedience and offer loyalty. Cats are used to living alone and hunting alone, and that's why they seem so independent even when they share a small apartment with a human. The only criticism I have is that the author should have talked more about indoor cats and how to make their lives more enjoyable and challenging. We can't all live in a beautiful New Zealand beach house on the edge of a pristine rain forest!

[Gabriele Goldstone · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet, sentimental memoir about a man living in New Zealand with five cats. It was not what I expected but still a pleasant break from a harsh real world. It's basically one man’s interpretation of his pride of felines. The author focuses on nine emotions: narcissism, love, contentment, attachment, jealousy, fear, anger, curiousity, and playfulness.

I didn’t always agree with his interpretations. Sometimes he gives cats too much credit for a cognition far removed from our own. Nevertheless, this was a warm and cozy read.

[Philk81 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and amusing at times but I certainly don't think the cats he owns are typical (or have the normal cat lives) except maybe Yossie.
He lives in New Zealand, walks up a hill to a beach every day; seems to have huge amounts of free time. Takes the cats for walks with him and they are eager to accompany him at any time he mentions "walk". I guess it's his life in general that I can't relate to. Berkeley, Sanskrit and Freud scholar, New Zealand resident - yeah, we have a lot in common.

I also had difficulty remembering the names of their cats or connecting them to their personalities. Clear pictures - like one of all five (or at least 4) at the beach would have been good - why not take that pic and include it? Instead we get shadowy black and white images preceding individual chapters.

He has written over a dozen books, mainly in the field of Psychology so maybe this one was just a lark. I did enjoy most of it though but as others have said some of his theories really have no basis in fact and he's just speculating (like inferring the reasons behind the behavior of cats among kids - "The child would not be able to interpret his behavior and therefore he did not display it.".
Got a few insights that I think I can trust and applaud the author for sharing his thoughts and experiences in trying to understand the feline mind and nature...

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at the questions of what cats feel and how their evolution and ancestry affects the interactions we have with our domestic cats on a daily basis. The author adopts 5 cats and studies how they interact with him and with each other as part of the basis for the book, incorporating other scholarship on the issue as well. He addresses such "emotions" as playfulness, curiosity, affection, fear, and anger and provides insights into why cats do what they do. I have seen many of the author's theories apparently validated by own little cat, who came to me six months ago after generally being treated as a decoration or the equivalent of a goldfish for the first 6 years of her life. She is learning to interact, but it is not natural for her. The book did point out to me, though, how fortunate I am that she has become attached to me and will, on occasion, even respond to her name.

This book is bound to be more interesting if you like cats or, better yet, love them.

[Carine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Masson spent a year or so observing his five, newly adopted cats to describe the nine main emotions he has detected in them. Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson's book was a delight for the cat lover that I am. Not only is the book informational, the anecdotes Masson tells are both funny and moving, and we can really appreciate the true cat lover that Masson must be.

While many people, even people who do really like cats, will tell you that cats don't think or feel much, Masson takes us on a journey to try to understand this beautiful animal, what cats may feel, what cats may desire, what cats may think. And although cats remain as mysterious as before - and for the better - reading Masson's book is refreshing and a pleasure to read.

[Cynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am surprised by Masson's writing which can be mistaken for not really saying anything. The style does not move me. The insights he has on cat's selves impress me. I find some of his observations significant: He might be seeing any situation differently from the cat. Most insightful idea: Cats may have emotions that we don't recognize because we don'the have those emotions. Confirmed: I am the servant to my cat. She is her own being.

[Laura Cushing]

First read of the new year, and of course it is about cats. I enjoyed this book, but it was more personal observation than science which was somewhat disappointing. I also found myself disappointed by the author choosing to try and rehome one of his cats, and and allowing another to basically turn wanderer.

Minus one star for those things, but otherwise a good read.

[trovateOrtensia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buon libro anche questo.
La mia gatta Momi conferma.

[Jeff Clausen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read for me, mainly because I read this for the insights that come from research and animal studies, while much of the content comes from the author observing his own cats. Nothing wrong per se, but those observations seem more fitted to a book of anecdotal stories (James Herriot, Cleveland Amory) than this volume that appears to be a reference work. However, he does do lots of first-person reporting on his cats’ antics, which are entertaining. So read it for that and a few factoids like the term for hair standing on end, “horripilating”.

[Mirela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carino.

[Charles Rene · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed reading this book, I was expecting a more studied and scientific approach. The author makes theories from his own personal observations of a small handful cats, and it is cute, entertaining, and a little insightful. If you're looking for something more factual/evidence based, look elsewhere.

[Warren Rochelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are an ailurophile, then this is a book for you. Part memoir of life with his own pride (5 cats), part animal behavioral research, part love story, Masson draws upon literature and history and "the wonderful true stories of cat experts and cat lovers around the world, Jeffrey Masson vividly explores the delights and mysteries of the feline heart."

He explores nine emotional states of being or behaviors, ranging from narcissim to love to contentment to curiosity (which does not kill them) to anger and playfulness. Masson both confirms and debunks what people believe they know about cats. For example," are cats selfish?" Are they really narcissists? Self-centered? Reminding the reader that to think so is to interpret a non-human by human standards of behavior, the answer is, of course, no. "Cats may appear self-centered, but they watch us all the time, taking us in They see us; they notice us--a far cry from vanity."

As I write this, I have a cat in my lap. He wants to be there; he want to rub noses, and came in the room, fussing to get my attention (I know, that is my interpretation!) He wants to be petted. He wants to be be with me. As Masson points out, over and over, they want to be with us--just on their terms. In a while, Festus will want to get down and I will let him--until the next time he wants to be with me.

Does he need me, as Masson asks? I want to think so . Masson argues that as cats are happy to be themselves, maybe not. But they do love us and like being with us.

Catlovers, read this book for its "surprises and insights" that offer a new perspective on the deep connection between humans and their feline friends," written in clear and lucid and often beautiful prose.

Recommended.

[Alina · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a friend first gave this book to me, I couldn't help but think, "Oh god -- have I really become known as a crazy cat lady at such a young age?" The book's title conjured up images of some old Aunt Mildred who baby talks to her 26 cats. I'm more of the type who tells my (one) cat, in the same voice that I speak to my friends and family, to "stop being neurotic."
The book, though, is not a list of ways to spoil your cat or attempts at learning types of meows and what they mean. The book is an excellent collection of essays (grouped by the 9 personalities associated with cats by the author) about historical evidence and personal observational research that make cats what they are today. I learned a lot! I learned, for example, just why my cat sits on the lap of the person in the room who least likes cats, why Isa will blink slowly at me to show that she is comfortable, and how to best stop her from playing so roughly with me, among many other awesome pieces of relevent info. It was a good mix of personal stories of the author's own cats (5 strays in New Zealand) and historical info. He ties it all nicely together to explain his theories on cat's temperments.
Get past the cheesy title and you've got yourself a hit.


P.S.For those of you totally uninterested in cats, he has written one of these books on dogs, too. I imagine that it will also be excellent.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am actually reading the Swedish translation. I will give it a try in English, but I seriously doubt that the content will change. I hoped to read a book that would give me some inside about a cat's mind, some clues about how to communicate better my love to him or to understand him better... The author says that he is a vegan animal lover, so I had high expectations. I stopped reading it page 23, when the author says that cats do not come when you call them and that they wouldn't risk their lives for you. Well my cat does and my cat would. I am upset that it is just another book with stupid generalizations about cats. Do humans come every time you call them? Do humans save unconditionally other endangered species (or even humans)? Mh, no. So let's stop saying that dogs and humans are so amazing in comparison of cats or having some extra-feelings or "inherited characteristics" that cats do not possess (for some obscure reason). By they way, this is absolutely not true, neither scientific. There is scientific literature that speaks about how cats developed a whole personalized communication for humans for example! ...Sadly, humans are bad listener. I am going to write my own book : "The Cat : that poor animal that everyone underestimate for no reason, just because everyone says so."

[Danice · Rating 1 out of 5]

Living with two strictly indoor cats, I did not like this book. It felt like a bunch of fluff. Very very disappointed. First, the book covers only a year. Secondly, the author mentions the negative impact of cats on the environment, but chooses to let his five cats roam free. I don't understand how the author could write a book, about the emotions of cats, and only invest one year with the five and use a few memories from the past and references from other works for the balance. Reading this book, there were many occasions where I honestly had to stop reading. It was difficult to read because it really seems like he doesn't understand cats and the short time he dedicated to this book he really didn't seem to acknowledge the fact that time is what was missing. In the epilogue it reads that the cats do their own thing and it is like this big social time is over, but seriously, you cannot make any declarations like he has over the time of a year. I cannot believe they published this book as anything except "the story of a man who got a book deal to hang with his cats for a year and then write about it."

[Denny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written work by an author whose bibliography includes, "When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals," along with academic works in psychoanalysis, psychotherapy and psychiatry.

Masson describes the lives of 'his' five cats which reside with his family in his water-front New Zealand home. The book is organized around nine chapters titled with appropriate emotions (narcissism, love, contentment, attachment, jealousy, fear, anger, curiosity, and playfulness) generally ascribed to cats. The running story line follows all participants' actions and interactions.

Human interpretation of cat behavior, by definition, most times misses the mark. Masson takes a step back as he attempts to describe life from a cat's perspective. I think he does it well. Raqi, my cat, hasn't weighed in yet.

Well worth the read.

[Sue]

In the beginning of this book, Jeffrey talks about the emotion of love as one of the most famous characteristics known mostly to the mammal world. Little documentation shows early human affection towards cats. Since ancient times, cats were placed on pedestals and given little affection. Cats have thus affect adoration to each other, and love carries over time to their owners. I like what Jeffrey says about the undetected emotion in cats. From happiness to trust and to rejection, it is easy to lose the affection of cats after they have been abused or rejected. Mourning is normal for cats. They may want to be alone when they mourn. There is never a simple answer to how they may do it. I took away the fact that loneliness is easy to detect, eventually.

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Masson has the gall to think that just because he owns five cats that he's an expert on feline behavior. As even his cats, I'm sure, probably would, if they could, attest to on a daily basis, how very delusional he is.

I strongly disagree with his insistence that cats should be outside, asserting that housecats can't live a full life. Actually if he'd spent a little time actually learning about domestic felines he'd have learned that outside cats, in fact, have much shorter life spans than housecats.

The title of this book is very misleading. This guy doesn't have a clue about domestic felines, and the book is seriously lacking in useful information for readers wishing to learn more about their cats and how to be a responsible, caring pet owner.

[Yenta Knows · Rating 1 out of 5]

Passionate cat lover that I am, I expected to love this book. Um. Well. On page 86 -- about a third of the way through -- I admitted the ugly truth:

- I wasn't learning much that I didn't already know.
- Some of the author's assertions about cat character were worthless. They didn't match with what I'd observed.
- He replays the tired old record about dogs being wonderful because they think you're God, while cats are narcissistic because they think you are staff.
- His long-winded, contradictory defense of allowing cats outdoors angered me because I think it's just plain dangerous.

He writes nicely constructed, evocative prose. But he lost me when he claimed that all indoor cats, thought they may be content, aren't happy. Silly hairsplitting to support a specious claim. Next book!

[Julie Milligan-Barr · Rating 1 out of 5]

As an animal lover, I had to force myself to keep reading beyond the first page of the intro, in which the author tells about getting rid of his 3 dogs and 2 cats to move around the world. Oh, and dumping your cats on an organic farm is no more palatable to me than dumping them on a non-organic farm.

I kept reading until he described how he got his 5 cats in New Zealand. He professes to prefer to rescue, and not buy his animals, but proceeds to buy several animals from breeders, all because he could not say no to his 5 year old. At that point, I closed the book and put it in the "get-rid-of pile". The only good thing that came of that book was the $2 I paid for it went to an amazing, local human services organization.