6 Best Books to Understand the Emotional Life of Animals – Vet Approved
6 Best Books to Understand the Emotional Life of Animals – Vet Approved
Written by Alessandro Didiano (doctor in veterinary medicine, MRCVS)
Disclaimer: This article is personally written by me, a licensed veterinarian with more than a decade of clinical experience.
As I have already mentioned in another article, I’ve always been an avid reader. Books have shaped how I think and how I understand the world around me. I do enjoy reading a wide range of topics, but I’m especially drawn to books on psychology and anything that deepens my insight into how people and animals experience life.
As a clinical vet, I’ve spent the last 11 years of my working life observing animals, not just through a medical lens, but also emotionally. Obviously, animals feel a wide range of emotion, as we do. They express affection, fear, grief, frustration, and joy in ways that are sometimes different from us, but nonetheless very real and powerful. I’ve read many books over the years that explore this emotional depth, and the six listed below are the ones I loved the most, the ones I recommend to friends and clients, or in general people who want to better understand the inner lives of animals.
1. Dog Sense: How the New Science of Dog Behavior Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet - by John Bradshaw
This is one of my first recommendations for people who want to better understand dog behaviour. Bradshaw is a canine behaviorist. He has the huge merit of trying to dismantle the old-school idea of dominance-based training and replacing it with a far more compassionate and science-based understanding of how dogs actually think and feel.
In this book, he dives into the co-evolution of dogs and humans, and explains why dogs are wired to seek connection, not control. It’s refreshingly humane.
Highly recommended for: Dog owners who want to deepen their bond with their dog, and raise them with empathy instead of outdated dominance theory.
2. The Lion in the Living Room: How House Cats Tamed Us and Took Over the World - by Abigail Tucker
Cats are a mystery to many of us, and that’s definitely a big part of their charm. This book explains feline behavior and evolution in a way that’s funny, informative, and surprisingly eye-opening.
Tucker explores how cats became domesticated and why their emotional expressions can seem so subtle compared to dogs. She doesn’t romanticize cats, but rather she does respect their complexity.
After reading it, you may still find your cat puzzling (they are! I have been a vet for over a decade and still find them deeply fascinating and mysterious), but you’ll also feel a deeper appreciation for who they are and where they come from.
Highly recommended for: Cat lovers who want to understand the emotional and evolutionary roots of feline behavior.
3. The Inner Life of Animals: Surprising Observations of a Hidden World - by Peter Wohlleben
In this wonderful book, Wohlleben, a German forester, tells some powerful stories of animals experiencing joy, grief, empathy, and even guilt. Everything is supported by research, but is told in a very human and approachable tone.
He doesn’t limit the conversation to pets. You'll read about wild boars mourning their dead, goats forming friendships, and dogs showing compassion. It’s a reminder that emotional intelligence isn’t exclusive to humans (or even mammals!)
Highly recommended for: Anyone who wants a glimpse into the emotional world of all creatures.
4. How Animals Grieve- by Barbara J. King
Barbara J. King is an anthropologist who’s spent years studying how different species respond to loss , and in this book shares some heartbreaking stories. A cat that withdraws after her sibling dies, birds that change their calls after losing a mate, and horses that linger near the body of a fallen herd member.
The book is not overly sentimental; it’s rather careful and observant. King explores how grief shows up in behavior and relationships, and it challenges beautifully the outdated idea that animals only act on instinct.
Highly recommended for: Anyone who wonders what animals go through when they lose someone they love.
5. When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals - by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson & Susan McCarthy
This classic book shook things up when it was first published, and for good reason. It was one of the first ones to challenge the long-held assumption that animals are driven purely by instinct, and instead painted a vivid picture of creatures who love, sulk, flirt, play, and suffer emotionally in ways very similar to us.
Masson and McCarthy combine compelling stories from the wild, zoological records, and historical observations. You’ll find anecdotes about chimpanzees forming complex friendships, dogs getting jealous when affection is shared elsewhere, and primates displaying signs of shame. It’s opinionated and passionate: I loved it.
Highly recommended for: Curious minds who want an introduction to animal emotions across species.
Bonus Pick: Animals Make Us Human: Creating The Best Life for Animals - by Temple Grandin
I debated including this one as a main pick, and I will explain why, even if I am perfectly aware my explanation might be quite unpopular. There’s no doubt that Temple Grandin has made enormous contributions to how we understand animal emotions and stress. She explains, with clarity and science, what animals need in order to feel safe, engaged, and content. Her framework, based on emotional systems in the brain, has helped many people better care for their pets and livestock alike.
But I struggle with the fact that much of Grandin’s work is focused on designing “better” systems for industrial intensive farming, which is something I fundamentally disagree with.
That said, Animals Make Us Human is still a powerful read and one I strongly recommend.
Highly recommended for: Readers who want a structured, science-based understanding of animal emotion.
Final Thoughts
The emotional life of animals is far more complex and beautiful than many people realise.
These books helped shape the way I see animals, not just as patients, but as sentient beings with complex inner worlds that we’re only beginning to understand. I hope you find something in these books that deepens your relationship with the animals in your life.
Have you read any of these? Or do you have a favourite book about animals that moved you? I’d love to hear about it. Feel free to send me a message, I always enjoy adding new titles to my list.