Abstract
Simple SummaryDespite the cat’s popularity as a companion animal, little is known about its bond and relationship with owners. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize the different types of relationship that cats might establish with their owners, using human attachment and social support theories as a framework for the underpinning bond. A questionnaire was developed to gather information regarding different emotional elements that could underpin the relationship; the cat’s potential perception of the owner as a secure base; the owner’s level of engagement with the cat, their sensitivity to the cat’s needs and the consistency of their interactions with the cat. Five distinct forms of cat–owner relationship were identified. These seemed to constitute what we describe as an: “open relationship”, “remote association”, “casual relationship”, “co-dependence” and “friendship”. The extent to which these relationships involved a bond towards the owner as a source of social support or secure attachment varied. Accordingly, we conclude that the cat–owner bond should not be profiled simply or solely in terms of attachment in its classic psychological sense.Cats form close emotional relationships with humans, yet little is known about this. This study characterized different types of relationship that cats might establish with their owners. Data were analyzed from 3994 responses to a questionnaire developed using expressions of social support and attachment in relation to everyday cat–owner interactions. Principal component analysis reduced the items to four factors: the “owner’s emotional investment in the cat”, “cat’s acceptance of others”, “cat’s need for owner proximity” and “cat’s aloofness”. Cluster identified three groups of owners with two of these each sub-divided into two. The “open relationship bond” was characterized by a lightly emotionally invested owner and an avoidant cat. The “remote association” and “casual relationship” were characterized by an emotionally remote owner but differed in the cat’s acceptance of others. The “co-dependent” and “friendship” relationship were characterized by an emotionally invested owner but differed in the cat’s acceptance of others and need to maintain owner proximity. In conclusion, as with any complex social relationship, the type of cat–owner bond that develops is the product of the dynamic that exists between both the individuals involved, along with certain personality features, of which, the wider sociability of the cat and owner expectations may be particularly important.
Highlights
Social support contributes to well-being and has been linked to physical and psychological health outcomes [1]
A companion animal can be a source of social support for its owner [8,9]; i.e., the animal’s presence will improve the owner’s everyday life but it can potentially help the owner to cope with stressful situations [1] and increase the owner’s resilience [10]
Attachment is one type of affectional bond, a strong emotional connection that provides security, comfort and the confidence to engage in other activities [2,14], and it is in this context that we use the term “attachment” in this article, in accordance with earlier work that has sought to operationally define the cat–owner relationship (e.g., [15,16]), to distinguish it from other types of emotional bond that might characterize the relationship
Summary
Social support contributes to well-being and has been linked to physical and psychological health outcomes [1]. Separation tends to cause distress and persistent loss would cause grief [2] In species such as the dog, it has been argued that the bond between dog and owner is largely attachment-like in many ways, and this is supported by the behaviour of dogs in the strange situation test; this test operationalizes the definition of attachment for research purposes [17]. Companion animals may be able to fulfil the reciprocal role of the provider of safety and security in an attachment relationship [19], despite the owner often being referred to as the carer They can provide comfort to their owner at times of distress [20], they may be a source of joy and comfort [21,22,23], and they may be missed when absent [22]. The emotional complexity of the affectionate bond that keeps individuals together needs to be recognized, considering the full scope of the social roles undertaken by the partners at different times (e.g., playmate, caregiver, etc.) and the type of support this may provide
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