The study shows dispels the common misconception that cats are not a social species, and emphasizes that cats are kind of like us at an individual level: Some are aloof, but some are plenty friendly.
KARIN BRULLIARD: ‘Researchers at Oregon State University found, many pet and shelter cats are pretty eager to interact with humans — particularly people who seek out kitty caresses. “In both groups, we found [cats] spent significantly more time with people who were paying attention to them than people who were ignoring them,” said Kristyn R. Vitale, a postdoctoral scholar in animal behavior and the lead author of the paper, which was published in the journal Behavioral Processes.
This may come as little surprise to people who have spent time with cats, some of which might be confused with lap dogs. Nor was it a great surprise to Vitale, whose previous research found that cats will choose to interact with humans over food or toys. But the idea that cats are attuned to our behavior and respond to it remains somewhat novel, because despite cats’ popularity as pets, little research has been done on their social relations with people.
That might be, the study says, “due in part to a common misconception that cats are not a social species” — the meme fodder… John Bradshaw, a University of Bristol biologist who has long studied cat behavior, said the study importantly emphasized that cats are kind of like us at an individual level: Sure, some are aloof. But some are plenty friendly. Why that is remains unclear, though he said his own work has pointed to “a complex interplay between genetics, early experience of humans, and learning during adolescence”.’ SOURCE…
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