Does she love and purr at her side, or does she give a contemptuous glance and avoid? Relations with a cat, as with any living creature, are not so simple. Recent studies have shown that the way a pet interacts with us depends not only on its character, but also on our behavior.
British scientists (where without them!) from the University of Lincoln conducted an unusual study: they interviewed about 4000 cat owners to find out what and how affects their relationship with their pets.
Participants described their daily interactions with cats. Scientists have studied four factors that affect the contact of the owner and his pet:
- Emotional “investments” of the owner;
- Acceptance by a cat of other people or animals;
- The pet’s need for the proximity of the owner;
- Aloofness of the cat.
Professor Daniel Mills, an animal behaviorist, points out: “As with any complex social relationship, the type of bond between cat and owner is a product of the dynamics between both of them, as well as certain traits of their personalities.” It turns out that “she has such a character” is more of an excuse than a real justification for how our relationship with a pet develops.
Researchers found that between cats and their owners, there are 5 types of relationships:
- open relationship – when the owner is not strong, but still emotionally invested in them, and the cat does not need his proximity;
- Relationships at a distance – when both the owner and the cat “walk on their own”;
- episodic relationship – here, as with “relationships at a distance”, the owner’s investment is minimal. Moreover, episodic relationships may well turn into long-distance relationships from the previous paragraph: it depends on how sociable the cat is. Most often, these types of relationships are formed in families where there are many people or animals, or where the pet has access to the street.
- codependence – the emotional attachment of the owner to the cat is as strong as the attachment to him of a pet. This type of relationship is more common when the cat and the owner live together and the animal does not have access to the street. Moreover, the pet is most often not ready to accept other people.
- friendship – is also based on the owner’s special attitude, but this type of relationship is common in large families or in families where there are other pets. With this type of relationship, both the person and the cat feel independent, but enjoy spending time together.
Scientists hope that this study will help us all better understand how the contact between humans and cats develops. This means that we will be able to understand our pets even better and build benevolent relationships with them, full of mutual respect.