So you love cats and have all your life, but when you visit a friend who has a cat, they don’t come near you. Meanwhile, someone you know who doesn’t really like cats — in fact hates them — is like a kitty magnet. Once they enter a room and sit down, the resident cat becomes their new best friend.
Not only is this fair, there is actual truth — and proof! — to cats who prefer people who don’t like them. But don’t worry. There is a solution for all cat lovers who want more cat attention.
Cat-Human Interaction Studies
A 2022 UK study published on Nature.com looked at how cats respond to different individuals. 100 adoptable, neutered cats were used in the study, and 119 adults between the ages of 18 and 75 participated.
Here’s how the study worked. Each cat spends time in one of several rooms in a shelter where they have everything to make them comfortable, including a place to hide if they want. A human seat was placed near the door, and not near the cat’s creature comforts. The room is equipped with two GoPro cameras for observation. The person is instructed to sit in the chair and stay there. Other than that, they can interact with the cats in any way they want, other than picking them up.
Most cats have three 5-minute sessions with different people. Some have more, but all sessions have enough distance for the cat’s comfort. The researchers measured how much people demanded the cat’s attention, and where they touched or kissed the cat, and for how long. They then tallied the results and divided them into various demographics, including experience with cats, how many they owned, and a self-assessment of how much they knew about cats.
What They Discovered
The results were surprising. Well, surprisingly if you are a cat lover. No surprise to me, or any other cat. People who claimed the most experience with cats were more likely to vie for the cats’ tentative attention and touch them in areas considered “red” or do-not-touch zones, such as the base tail or belly. Some of the older participants were particularly guilty of breaking the rule about not taking the cat. So of course cats are less inclined to be friendly with them.
Meanwhile, people with the least experience with cats have the happiest interactions with cats. They let the cat approach them as they please, usually touching or caressing only the safest areas — the cheeks, the base of the ears, and the bottom of the chin. Cats are naturally attracted to them.
The Predator-Prey Connection and Companionship in Cats
Because cats are both predator and prey in the wild, they don’t make friends right away. They need to make sure you won’t hurt them. So any aggressive behavior, even if it’s well-intentioned, won’t fly with a cat who doesn’t know you. Cats like being in control, and they want to escape if they find themselves in a situation that worries or displeases them.
People who have been around cats all their lives often forget this. Their own cats feel safe enough with them to allow all kinds of behavior that would put them in danger if they lived outside. And because they have so much experience with cats, they forget that they are meeting a new cat for the first time and don’t know their background. Trust is earned if you are a kitten.
People who are not close to cats tend to hold back and not approach them immediately (I discovered this myself as a therapy cat). This gives the cat time to assess them. And because they let the cat lead, the cat does. It was as simple as that.
The Exception to the Rule
One type of exception to this study involves people who work with cats and other animals. Because they tend to have a more educated background than the average cat owner, they are more likely to behave in ways that let the cat take the lead. Which goes to show that no matter how many cats you’ve had in your life, there’s always something new to learn.
An Interesting Conclusion
One thing this study points out is that while rescues and shelters favor adopters with longer experience with cats, they should not exclude those with little or no experience. It should be more important that a person is willing to learn how to properly care for a cat and make them a member of the family. The lack of experience at the beginning of the relationship can be beneficial for a person who sincerely wants to understand their new friend.
You can read the full study here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-15194-7
Where I am Different
Funny, I’m the opposite of most cats. I’m so used to people touching me without my permission, or touching parts of me that most cats wouldn’t like or tolerate, that even a cat-crazy person doesn’t stop me. Well, as long as they don’t pick me up. I would squirm, though I wouldn’t feel bad about it. People trying the standard feline protocol on me — slow approach, handshakes, etc. – I’m confused. I hope people are everywhere!
I have to admit, sometimes, I have a secret crush on people who ignore me! Those people often get a lot of love from me. So maybe I’m no different than your average cat.
Want to know more about improving the cat-human relationship? here it is:
