Hold onto your hats, because it turns out that cats might be vying for the title of man’s best friend alongside dogs! Recent research has shown that felines can form strong emotional bonds with their owners, just like their canine counterparts. Scientists at Oregon State University conducted a study which proved that cats do indeed care about us and view us as their caretakers, despite their often aloof and independent behavior. Read on for an exclusive interview with Kristyn Vitale, the study’s author, conducted by Bored Panda.
The concept of attachment behavior studies is centered around the reunion of children with their caregivers or parents after a brief separation. Earlier research had demonstrated that human babies, baby monkeys, and even adorable little dogs could exhibit secure and insecure attachment to their caregivers. With this in mind, scientists decided to explore whether kittens too displayed similar attachment behaviors. The findings indicate that cats can indeed form secure attachments with their owners.
According to recent scientific research, approximately 65 percent of kittens form secure bonds with their owners, and these bonds remain intact throughout their adult years. Interestingly, this ratio is similar to that observed in both dogs, monkeys, and human infants.
Have you ever heard of (un)secure bonding with kittens? It’s quite easy to understand. When a kitten has a secure bond with their owner, they will show interest in both their surroundings and their owner when they return. However, if the bond is insecure, the kitten will be anxious and avoid their owner. Interestingly, studies have shown that about two-thirds of cats see their owners as caregivers or even parents.
Kristyn Vitale, a researcher at the Human-Animal Interaction Lab at Oregon State University, was interviewed by Bored Panda to discuss her recent study on cat behavior and human-cat interactions. According to Vitale, there has been limited research in this area compared to studies on dogs and humans, despite the fact that pet cats outnumber dogs in many countries. The aim of their study was to increase knowledge in this field and the research proved to be relatively simple to conduct, with no issues in recruiting cats and their owners to participate. The findings suggest that although cats may give off an air of arrogance and aloofness, they do indeed care about their human companions.
According to Vitale, the research showed that cats have a similar attachment with their owners as dogs and even human babies do with their caregivers. The study revealed that all three species exhibit the same patterns of attachment behavior. Most individuals in each species are securely attached to their caregiver, meaning they seek comfort and security from them when in an unfamiliar situation.
The researcher acknowledged that the study has room for improvement and suggested the possibility of conducting future studies. They expressed their hope for more projects dedicated to exploring the attachment between cats and humans. Although they found evidence of attachment behavior in cats towards their owners, they remain uncertain about the factors that contribute to the development and strengthening of these bonds. The researcher plans to investigate these questions in the future. Currently, they are studying how socialization opportunities affect the formation of attachment bonds in shelter cats and how this information can be used to increase adoption rates.
According to Vitale, cats also display social flexibility when it comes to their attachment with humans. Just like dogs, most cats are securely attached to their owners and rely on them for a sense of security in new environments. Once the cat-caregiver attachment style is established, it tends to remain stable over time, even after training or socialization efforts. Vitale pointed out that there’s a common misconception that all cats act aloof or run and hide, but insecure cats may exhibit these behaviors. In reality, cats rely on their owners to feel secure during times of stress. It seems that dogs may have to share the title of “man’s best friend” with cats.
Hello, pandas! How do you feel about these surprising findings? Will they alter your perception of cats going forward? Let us know your opinions by leaving a comment down below!
