(Photo: Andesine)
Cats are enormously popular as pets. In Europe, they recently overtook dogs as the most popular companion animal. You love your cat. But, animal behaviorists tell us, your cat doesn't actually love you.
Researchers at the University of Lincoln (UK) found that although dogs experience separation anxiety when their humans are absent, cats don't really care. As long as their physical needs are addressed, the absence of their humans is unconcerning. Sarah Knapton writes for the National Post:
“Previous research has suggested that some cats show signs of separation anxiety when left alone by their owners, in the same way that dogs do, but the results of our study show that they are, in fact, much more independent than canine companions.
“It seems that what we interpret as separation anxiety might actually be signs of frustration.” To find out if cats needed their owner to feel secure, the researchers observed how 20 cats reacted when they were placed in an unfamiliar environment together with their owner, with a stranger or on their own.
The study monitored the amount of contact sought by the cat, the level of passive behaviour, and signs of distress caused by the absence of the owner.
“Although our cats were more vocal when the owner rather than the stranger left them with the other individual, we didn’t see any additional evidence to suggest that the bond between a cat and its owner is one of secure attachment,” Prof Mills said.
The researchers insist that cat owners should take their findings as a compliment. A cat doesn't stay with you because it emotionally has to, but because it wants to. The National Post quotes cat expert Celia Haddon:
This study shows cats do not need their humans to feel safe, they look after themselves. But in a way that’s a real compliment. Cats won’t live in an unhappy home, they’ll just walk out.
-via Dave Barry
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