Development of the cat-owner relationship scale (CORS)

Area of Science:

• Human-Animal Bond Research
• Pet Owner Psychology
• Animal Behavior Studies

Background:

• Human-animal bond characteristics vary based on owner and pet factors, differing across species.
• Existing scales like the Monash Dog-Owner Relationship Scale (MDORS) needed adaptation for cat-owner dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt and validate a scale for assessing human-cat interactions from the owner's perspective.
• To identify specific differences in owner perceptions between cat and dog relationships.
• To develop a reliable tool for measuring the cat-owner relationship.

Main Methods:

• Modified the MDORS for cat owners and compared responses with dog owners (Study 1).
• Utilized text mining on owner descriptions to create a new Cat-Owner Interaction subscale (Study 2).
• Validated the new Cat-Owner Relationship Scale (CORS) for psychometric properties in a large sample (Study 3).

Main Results:

• Systematic differences were found in owner-pet interaction subscales between cat and dog owners.
• The CORS demonstrated good internal consistency and factor structure.
• A combined scale (C/DORS) was developed for comparative human-cat and human-dog interaction studies.

Conclusions:

• The CORS accurately assesses owner perceptions of their relationship with their cat.
• The scale provides a valuable tool for researchers studying the human-cat bond.
• Findings highlight species-specific nuances in human-animal relationships.