Despite their ubiquity in modern life, science journalist Abigail Tucker says we know very little about what cats are, how they came to live among us, and why we love these furry freeloaders. (Rebroadcast)
Lions were once feared as the king of the jungle. But their influence on the world and in nature now pales in comparison to the diminutive, purring, and demanding house cat. In her book, the journalist Abigail Tucker investigates the natural and cultural history of house cats. Despite their ubiquity in modern life, she says, we know very little about what cats are, how they came to live among us, and why we love these furry freeloaders. Tucker joins us to talk about the lions in our living rooms. (Rebroadcast)
Abigail Tucker was the first ever staff writer for Smithsonian magazine, where she remains a contributor. Her work has been featured in the Best American Nature and Science Writing. The first word of both of her daughters was “cat.” Her new book is called The Lion in the Living Room: How House Cats Tamed Us and Took Over the World[Amazon|Indiebound].