6th Grader's Cat Science Project Answers Burning Question

Ever wonder if your cat's butthole touches every surface they grace with their royal presence? One brave sixth grader decided it was time science provided an answer.

Kaeden Henry was homeschooled in 2021 and needed a project for his sixth grade science fair. While most kids were testing which soda dissolves teeth fastest, Kaeden tackled the question plaguing cat owners everywhere: do feline anuses actually make contact with your furniture, counters, and that cloud-like pillow you splurged on?

His mom, Kerry Hyde, happens to hold a PhD in animal behavior with a specialization in feline behavior. Together, they designed an experiment that would make any scientist proud, armed with non-toxic lipstick and three very tolerant cats.

The method was straightforward. They applied lipstick to each cat's rear end, then had the cats perform commands they'd been trained to do since kittenhood: sit, wait, lie down, and jump up. After less than 10 minutes of data collection (and plenty of treats for the participants), they had their answer.

The results brought relief to cat owners worldwide. Long and medium haired cats left zero evidence on any surface, soft or hard. Short haired cats also left nothing on hard surfaces like counters and tables.

Only on soft, uneven surfaces like unmade beds or laundry piles did short haired cats leave a slight smear. Your kitchen counters are safe. Your laptop keyboard is fine. That expensive pillow remains uncontaminated by cat posterior.

Sunny's Take

The experiment went viral when Hyde shared it on Facebook, delighting thousands of cat owners who'd never dared ask the question out loud. "This is probably the most useful information I've learned from a science fair project," one person commented. Another celebrated being able to eat sandwiches left on the counter "with confidence."

Even Hyde, despite her PhD in feline behavior, learned something new from her son's experiment. The project earned Kaeden top marks and gave the internet a gift that keeps on giving: permission to worry just a little bit less about where cats choose to sit.

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