The personality of cats can vary greatly. Some are very affectionate and never separate from their owners, while others are more independent and keep their distance from the people around them. But have you ever wondered why your cat behaves that way with you?
According to a study carried out by the University of Lincoln (United Kingdom), there are five possible relationships between cats and their owners. In addition, the study required around 4,000 pet owners, who had to answer a series of questions about their own behavior and that of their pet.
Bond with cats
Despite the cat’s popularity as a pet, little is known about its bond and relationship with its owners. For this reason, the study tried to identify the different types of relationships that cats can establish with their owners (according to human attachment theories).
By analyzing the owner’s level of commitment to the cat, his sensitivity to the pet’s needs, and the level of interactions he shared with the feline, the researchers were able to identify five different forms of the cat-owner relationship.
Thus, the scientists categorized it as follows:
- Open relationship
- Remote association
- Casual relationship
- Codependency
- Friendship
For his part, Daniel Mills, a specialist in animal behavior at the University of Lincoln (United States), argued that “cats form close emotional relationships with humans, although in reality little is known about it”, adding that “the type of The link between the cat and the owner is the product of the dynamics between both individuals involved as well as of certain personality traits ”.
Also, although some cats can be distant, this is not the most common. The ‘open relationship’ bond is characterized by an owner who is slightly involved, so the cat is evasive at times. The ‘remote association’ and ‘casual relationship’, in contrast, reflected emotionally distant pet owners.
However, in the ‘codependent’ and ‘friendship’ relationship the owners were very emotionally committed, although the acceptance of the cat could vary as well as the need of the pet to remain close to its owner.
The researchers hope that this study can improve understanding of the relationships between pet owners and cats, paving the way to better understand pets and care for them as they deserve.
