Owner’s Perceptions and Experiences with Cat Behavior and Care: A Survey

Abstract

This is a quantitative observational and survey research study of social interactions between domestic cats and humans in their home environment. Only statistically analysed data is included, and hypotheses are tested. In other situations, observational data has been paired with subjective judgements of the animals' character and owner personality qualities acquired independently by the owners to help interpret the data. All of the social interactions between cats and humans detailed here imply that the animals were socialised with people as kittens. Such socialised cats exhibit "friendliness to humans," which affects human attachment to the cat. People can sense the visual and aural behavioural characteristics needed to communicate and engage with other cats, and the cats use them while engaging with them. The initiation and initiator of social interactions between cats and humans have been demonstrated to influence both the duration of the interaction phase and the total interaction time in the relationship. Compliance with the partner's interactional "wishes" is positively associated between cats and humans in all human cat dyads studied. Cats do not spontaneously choose one gender or age cohort of people, but the humans in those cohorts behave differently from the cats, causing the latter to react differently. The dyadic interaction pattern has also been demonstrated to differ between men and women, as well as between older and younger people. Nonetheless, cats not just their presence but also their behavior alter human moods, and human mood differences have been found to affect cat behavior. Finally, owners' thoughts and experiences contribute to positive relationships and care for their cats.