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Personality in domestic cats
Christina M Lee1, Joseph J Ryan, David S Kreiner
1Department of Psychology, 1111 Lovinger, Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg, MO 64093, USA.
Psychological Reports
|April 25, 2007
Summary
Cat personality traits were identified using owner ratings. Older cats were found to be less social and curious than younger cats, suggesting age impacts feline behavior.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Animal Behavior
- Psychology
Background:
- Understanding feline personality is crucial for owner-animal bonding and welfare.
- Previous research has explored canine personality, but feline personality structures are less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify underlying dimensions of cat personality based on owner ratings.
- To investigate the influence of age and sex on these personality dimensions.
Main Methods:
- 196 cats were rated by their owners on 12 personality items using a 5-point Likert scale.
- Principal components analysis with varimax rotation was employed to identify personality factors.
- Correlations between personality components, age, and sex were examined.
Main Results:
- Four interpretable components emerged: Component I (active, clever, curious, sociable), Component II (emotional, friendly, protective), Component III (aggressive, bad-tempered), and Component IV (timid).
- No significant association was found between sex and any personality component.
- A weak negative correlation between age and Component I indicated older cats were rated as less social and curious.
Conclusions:
- Feline personality can be described by at least four distinct dimensions.
- Age, but not sex, appears to influence certain aspects of cat personality, with older cats exhibiting reduced sociability and curiosity.
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