Do cat form stronger relationship with humans than dogs?

The most common pets are cats and dogs. People love dogs because dogs can learn plenty of tricks and are very loyal to their owners. However, according to a new research, cats may form a much closer bond with humans. This goes straight against the popular belief that cats need more space and freedom.

Strong social bonds

A study by Oregon State University found an interesting fact. The study included 79 kittens and 38 adult cats and the main focus was to find out how cats interact with their owners in a less friendly environment. The research consisted of a cat or kitten that was placed in the same room with its owner. The person sat in a circle and could only make contact with the cat when the animal entered the circle. After two minutes, the owner left and left the cat alone. Then he returned to the circle again. The results were interesting for the kittens. Only nine cats were classified as not sociable. 64.3% of the cats trusted their owners and 35.7 were hesitant. For adult cats, the ratio was 65.8 to 34.2%.

Photo: Pixabay

Comparison with dogs

A similar study was conducted in 2018 with dogs. It turned out that only 61% of dogs fully trusted their owners, while 39% did not trust their owners.

An owner as a source of security

This is how a person is perceived by a cat. Kristyn Vitale from Oregon State University has an interesting view on the issue. She specifically said: “Most cats are attached to their owner and see them as an important source of security in a new environment. Cats value their relationship with their owners and see them as a source of security but the owner needs to start communicating with the animal and see how it reacts. And just like with cats and dogs, the owner should be ready for a rejection.”

So, if you have a cat at home, know that you have a highly social animal that deserves your attention.

Source: catexplorer.co, audible.com

Preview photo: Pixabay