Cats have a long-standing, stereotypical reputation for being aloof, cold, and uncaring. But cat owners know that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Instead, cats love their owners–and research is showing us that they love us humans in surprising ways.
1. Cats see their humans as equals.
In an interview with National Geographic, John Bradshaw, a University of Bristol cat behavior expert, pointed out that dogs treat people differently than other dogs.
“[It’s] become very clear that dogs perceive us as being different than themselves: As soon as they see a human, they change their behavior. The way a dog plays with a human is completely different from [the way it plays] with a dog,” he says.
Bradshaw says cats’ social behavior doesn’t seem to have adapted much over the millennia. Instead, count yourself loved if your cat treats you like another cat.
“Putting their tails up in the air, rubbing around our legs, and sitting beside us and grooming us are exactly what cats do to each other,” says Bradshaw.
2. Cats attach to their people like babies and dogs do.
The scientific community has placed a high level of emphasis on dogs’ behavior toward people, but until recently, not much has been focused on cats. However, a recent study from Oregon State University found that cats relate to their humans owners in much the same way as babies and dogs. In fact, 65% of the cats in the study were securely attached to their owners.
Dogs are well-known in the scientific community for forming secure, strong attachments to their owners. This study found that cats are very similar, despite their reputation for being aloof. According to the report:
“[C]ats display distinct attachment styles toward human caregivers. Evidence that cats share social traits once attributed to dogs and humans alone would suggest that broader non-canine-specific mechanisms may be needed to explain cross-species attachment and socio-cognitive abilities.”
In others words, this research could mean that dogs won’t necessarily be the model species for human-to-animal attachment studies in the future.
3. Cats show love through physical action.
Cats love their owners through a variety of physical actions. Some of these are:
- Head bunting
- Blinking slowly
- Displaying their belly (rolling onto their back)
- Staying close to you
You know your cat best–so whether they display all these physical actions or just a few, know that each one helps to strengthen your bond.
How Huan Keeps Your Cats Safe
Huan Smart Tags aren’t just for dogs–they’re great for cats, too! Our pet protection community features a number of cat owners who love to keep their cats safe using Huan.
Huan tags can help you keep track of your cat’s whereabouts–particularly if your cat tends to hide often or is an indoor-outdoor pet. (One of our members uses Huan to round up her three indoor-outdoor cats every night when it’s time for bed!)
Additionally, our Home Alone feature helps you ensure your cats are comfortable and taken care of when you’re away from home for an extended period of time. Whether you want to keep your cat safe at home or get an alert if they wander away, we’ve got you covered.
Want to know more about how Huan can help protect your cat? Click the button below.