Cats bond with their owners much like babies do
Cats are called aloof, yet many treat their person as a safe base – just like children and dogs do.
Takeaway
About two-thirds of kittens and adult cats are ‘securely attached’ to their owners – similar to human infants.
What the study did
- Oregon State University researchers used a Secure Base Test: cat and owner in a new room, owner leaves briefly, then returns.
- Securely attached cats greeted their owner and then explored calmly; insecure cats clung, avoided, or seemed conflicted.
- Kittens (70 classifiable): 64.3% secure; adult cats (38): 65.8% secure.
- A 6-week training class did not change kittens’ attachment style.
The numbers
Show data table
| Group | Value (%) |
|---|---|
| Kittens – secure | 64.3 |
| Kittens – insecure | 35.7 |
| Adult cats – secure | 65.8 |
| Adult cats – insecure | 34.2 |
Data source: Vitale, Behnke & Udell 2019, Curr Biol 29:R864–R865, main text p. R864: kittens (n = 70 classifiable) 64.3% secure / 35.7% insecure; adult cats (n = 38) 65.8% secure / 34.2% insecure.
Limitations
US cats only, an unfamiliar room may stress cats, and attachment may also reflect each cat’s temperament.
Citation
Vitale KR, Behnke AC, Udell MA (2019). Attachment bonds between domestic cats and humans. Current Biology. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.08.036
For general information only; it does not replace advice from your vet.
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