Why nine out of ten cats really don’t miss you when you’re out
EVEN the most ardent cat person would probably have to concede that Tiddles likes his own space sometimes.
But in case you’ve ever wondered whether your feline friend misses you when you go out, researchers have discovered the truth.
And with little pussyfooting about it, the answer is ‘no’.
While owners might like to think their pets pine for them when they are away, cats really are as independent as they seem, a study by animal behaviour experts found.
Using a test that normally focuses on the bond felt by dogs or young children, researchers observed the relationships between 20 cats and their owners – placing the pets in an unfamiliar environment with their owner, with a stranger and alone.
The Lincoln University study then assessed various characteristics of attachment, including the amount of contact sought by the cat and signs of distress caused by the owner’s absence. Professor Daniel Mills, who led the research with Alice Potter from the RSPCA, said: ‘Although our cats were more vocal when the owner rather than the stranger left them, we didn’t see any evidence to suggest that the bond between a cat and its owner is one of secure attachment.
‘This vocalisation might simply be a sign of frustration or learned response, since no other signs of attachment were reliably seen. In strange situations, attached individuals seek to stay close to their carer.’
Similar studies on pet dogs have shown they have a far stronger attachment to their owners. Professor Mills said: ‘It is clear that cats are more autonomous when it comes to coping with unusual situations.’
The research, published in scientific journal PLOS ONE, links cats’ behaviour to the nature of the species as a solitary hunter.
Professor Mills added: ‘ Cats have been domesticated for a relatively short time in comparison to dogs. Some may be capable of forming very strong attachments, but this would not seem to be the norm.’
Genetic analysis has previously shown that the ancestor of the modern house cat came into contact with humans only around 9,000 years ago.
However, domestic dogs probably evolved from wolves that came into contact with humans between 19,000 and 32,000 years ago.