Editor's note

Felines can be finicky or feisty, aloof or companionable – sometimes seemingly all at once. Do you cuddle up with a cat to escape from your daily grind? Maybe you get your kitteh fix from lolcat memes online. However you choose to celebrate International Cat Day today, please enjoy this paw-pourri of cat coverage from The Conversation’s archive.

Maggie Villiger

Science + Technology Editor

International Cat Day

Next best thing to a hidey-hole box? Maggie Villiger

Why can’t cats resist thinking inside the box?

Nicholas Dodman, Tufts University

Twitter recently blew up with posts wondering about the feline fascination with taped squares on the ground. An animal behavior expert explains it's not magic that draws Fluffy to the #CatSquare.

Come watch me play! Paul Reynolds/flickr

Study shows the paw-sitive effects of watching cat videos

Jessica Gall Myrick, Indiana University

Watching a clip of Lil Bub or Grumpy Cat may give you a quick mood boost to get you through a tough workday.

Why are so many of our pets overweight?

Deborah Linder, Tufts University

More than half of dogs and cats around the globe are overweight. Are well-intentioned owners to blame?

How old is my pet in dog years or cat years? A veterinarian explains

Jesse Grady, Mississippi State University

Based on his age in 'dog years,' could your animal pal legally buy alcohol? Or would he be cashing in on his senior discount? Veterinarians are more interested in life stage than a particular number.

Could the mystery of the meow be solved by a new talking cat collar?

Mikel Delgado, University of California, Berkeley

While cats – with their steely demeanor – have a reputation of being hard to read, humans seem intent on figuring out what they're thinking and feeling.

A big pawprint: The environmental impact of pet food

Cailin Heinze, Tufts University

Pet food is a multi-billion-dollar industry that consumes huge amounts of animal protein. A veterinary nutrition specialist explains how to feed dogs and cats healthily and sustainably.

Answering the question that won me the Ig Nobel prize: Are cats liquid?

Marc-Antoine Fardin, Université Paris Diderot – USPC

Ig Nobels reward research that first makes you laugh and then makes you think. Investigating the internet meme of fluid felines fits the bill – and adds to the physics field of rheology.

When is it ethical to euthanize your pet?

Bernard Rollin, Colorado State University

In the past, owners were quick to put their pets down. Now, with many viewing pets as family members, are they waiting too long?