Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

Personalized picks at your fingertips

Get the mobile app on iOS and Android

Get the app
Parents' Guide to

The Lion in Your Living Room

By Brian Costello, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Informative short docu on feline history and evolution.

Movie NR 2015 50 minutes
The Lion in Your Living Room Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

  • The Lion in Your Living Room Movie: Scene #1
  • The Lion in Your Living Room Movie: Scene #2
  • The Lion in Your Living Room Movie: Scene #3
  • The Lion in Your Living Room Movie: Scene #4

Community Reviews

See all
age 6+

Based on 1 parent review

CSMContentDefault
CSMContentDefault Adult
November 22, 2018
age 6+

The butt review

A very good documentary about cats. There is no sex or bad things except for some close ups of a couple dead animals like a dead bird in a cats mouth.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

THE LION IN YOUR LIVING ROOM discusses the biology, history, and evolution of cats. It explores why they behave the way they do, and how their relationship with humans has developed over the centuries. It also shows and discusses cats' relationships with other cats, and how they behave when "in the wild." Veterinarians and researchers discuss what they have uncovered in their experiments and findings. Misconceptions are put to rest, and even the future relationship of the continually changing relationship of cats with humans is speculated upon.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (1 ):

This is a short and highly informative documentary about cats. Even if you're not a "cat person" by any stretch, it does shed light on why cats behave the way they do, how their behavior has evolved over time, and the continually developing relationship between cats and humans. The information presented from veterinarians and researchers is easy enough for younger viewers to understand while still being engaging for older viewers.

While most certainly more of interest to cat lovers, The Lion in Your Room takes a broader focus, and even explores the debate centered on the concern many have raised over the damage cats have wreaked on bird and animal species, either as outdoor house cats or as feral cats. The exploration of this topic as well as discussion of other types of cat behavior should inform and inspire discussion amongst family members with cats as to why their own pet behaves the way it does.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about animal and nature documentaries. How do they convey information? How is The Lion in Your Room similar to and different from other animal and nature documentaries?

  • What was one thing you learned from this documentary?

  • How does this documentary address an issue of concern for many: how cats, while outside, attack and kill bird and animal species native to the regions in which they live?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate