Kaeden Henry, a homeschooled sixth grader from Florida, tackled a question most cat owners have wondered about but never asked out loud: do cat buttholes touch every surface they sit on? Drawing from his mother’s expertise in feline behavior, he designed a scientific experiment using non-toxic lipstick on two trained cats to find out once and for all.
- Long and medium-haired cats’ buttholes did not touch surfaces.
- Short-haired cats only touched soft, uneven bedding surfaces.
- Experiment combined lipstick marks and trained cats for clear results.
What happened
Kaeden Henry, a curious sixth grader from Florida, decided to answer a unique question for his science fair project: do cat buttholes touch every surface they sit upon? Rather than relying on guesswork, he executed a carefully planned experiment with his mother Kerry Hyde, an animal behavior expert specializing in cats. They applied non-toxic lipstick to the cats’ rear ends and then had the cats perform familiar commands such as sitting, lying down, and jumping to record any lipstick transfer on various surfaces.
The study included long-haired, medium-haired, and short-haired cats to observe any differences. After conducting the test, they found that while long and medium-haired cats did not leave any marks on either soft or hard surfaces, short-haired cats showed slight smears only on soft bedding surfaces. Thus, the question could be answered scientifically with confident nuance.
Why it feels good
This lighthearted scientific exploration delivers relief to cat owners everywhere who might have wondered about the cleanliness of surfaces their feline companions favor. Knowing that for most cats, including those with longer fur, their behinds don’t actually touch the furniture or kitchen counters is a comforting discovery.
The project also highlights the joy of curiosity-driven science, showing that even unusual questions can be addressed methodically. The fact that Kaeden’s mom, an accomplished feline behaviorist, also learned something new underscores the fun of investigation and the value of keeping an open mind.
What to enjoy or watch next
If you found this experiment amusing and enlightening, consider following more science fair projects by young students who tackle everyday mysteries with creativity and care. Kaeden’s story encourages people of all ages to appreciate the scientific method as an approachable tool to explore the quirks of animal behavior.
For cat lovers, watching videos of trained cats performing tricks and obeying commands can be a delightful next step. These behaviors reflect a deep bond between owners and pets and inspire fun ways to engage with your own furry friends beyond their usual mysterious antics.