Hello to all cat lovers out there! (Like me). Did you know that the behavior of your cat has something to do with their breed?
For example, Ragdolls are relaxed, friendly, and affectionate; while Russian blues are more intelligent and reserved.
A new study published in the journal Scientific Reports is the first academic paper to investigate whether felines actually show breed differences in behavior and how, or even if, these traits are passed down from one generation to the next.
Researchers from the University of Helsinki drew on data detailing around 5,726 cats’ behavior to identify patterns among breeds and gauge heritability. Overall, the team found that different breeds do in fact behave in different ways; of these behaviors—including activity level, shyness, aggression and sociability with humans—around half are inherited.
The study focused on the behavioral traits of three different breads: Maine Coon, Ragdoll, and Turkish Van.
Learn more about this feline study over at Smithsonianmag.com
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