Gut Feelings: How Microbes Shape Cat Behavior with Dr. Tom Gilbert

Hiss & Tell: Cat Behavior and Beyond

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What if the path from feral to friendly begins in the gut? We sit down with evolutionary biologist Dr. Tom Gilbert to explore how cat microbiomes act like tiny chemical factories, converting food into signals that can shape fear, calm, vigilance, and even training success. Drawing on a global shelter study across Denmark, Malaysia, Cabo Verde, Brazil, Spain, and Aruba, Tom explains why geography and diet change which microbes take root—yet similar biochemical functions keep showing up in feral versus household cats. That pattern hints at a quiet engine behind behavior: microbial metabolites that reach the brain and nudge temperament at the edges.
We unpack why domestic cats often host carbohydrate-digesting microbes, how feral diets drive broader microbial toolkits, and why early-life seeding can set long-lasting trajectories. The conversation turns practical for rescuers and guardians: could slow, thoughtful diet shifts and prebiotic strategies reduce arousal and stress in shelters or at home? What are the real limits of probiotics, and when does the “garden” of gut microbes resist change without a reset? Along the way, we wrestle with ethics—should we try to calm animals through diet—and examine obesity, energy harvest, and the challenge of tailoring nutrition to an individual cat’s biology.
The bigger story reaches into domestication. If microbes could buy time for genetic change, did they help early humans live alongside once-wary animals? We compare cats and canids, question what “tame” really means, and consider how behavior, diet, and environment entangle over generations. Whether you work in shelters, foster kittens, or want a healthier, happier home for your cat, this conversation blends fresh science with grounded advice you can test gently and safely. If this sparked new questions for you, follow, share with a cat-loving friend, and leave a review—then tell us: what would you try first to nudge a microbiome toward better welfare?

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You can also find us on Instagram @hissandtellpodcast. To book my services as a cat behaviorist go to https://www.cattitude-adjustment.com/

פרקים

1. Welcome And Topic Setup (00:00:00)

2. Tom’s Path To Microbiome Research (00:00:41)

3. Microbes As Chemical Factories (00:02:13)

4. Domestication Puzzles And A New Hypothesis (00:03:14)

5. The Global Cat Shelter Study Design (00:04:18)

6. Geography, Diet, And Microbial Diversity (00:06:12)

7. Behavior Links And Shared Functions (00:07:32)

8. Practical Welfare Implications (00:09:18)

9. Ethics, Diet Tweaks, And Calmness (00:11:00)

10. Early-Life Seeding And Socialization (00:12:31)

11. Antibiotics, Probiotics, And Limits (00:14:06)

12. Obesity, Energy Harvest, And Diet Fit (00:16:08)

13. Personalization Challenges For Pets (00:17:15)

14. Are We Feeding Cats Wrong? (00:18:34)

15. Beyond Cats: Taming, Wolves, And Big Questions (00:20:05)

16. Speculation, Definitions, And Open Threads (00:22:15)

17. The Future of Microbiome Research in Animals (00:24:05)

18. The Impact of Maternal Microbiome on Kittens (00:32:22)

19. Antibiotics and Their Effects on Microbiomes (00:35:22)

20. The Challenges of Altering Microbiomes (00:38:22)

21. Personalized Nutrition for Cats (00:42:11)

22. Dietary Impacts on Cat Behavior and Health (00:47:55)

23. Exploring Domestication and Taming of Cats (00:55:46)

24. The Future of Animal Domestication Research (00:57:46)