Research published in PLOS One reveals that a cat owner's personality can significantly affect their cat's health and behavior. The study indicates that owners with neurotic traits are more likely to have cats that are less healthy.
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Lauren Finka, a post-doctoral research associate at Nottingham Trent University and the study's author, noted that there is usually greater focus on the physical environment of companion animals rather than their social environment. She emphasized the importance of human interaction in influencing cats' behavior and welfare, often without the owner's awareness.
In the study, Finka and her team surveyed 3,331 cat owners in the United Kingdom about their personalities and their cats' health and behavior. The results showed that the owners' personalities correlated with various aspects of their cats' well-being.
Neurotic owners reported that their cats were more likely to have ongoing medical issues, be overweight, exhibit stress-related sick behaviors, and display aggressive or anxious tendencies. Conversely, more agreeable owners tended to have cats with normal weights who were less aggressive and avoided interactions.
Additionally, traits such as extroversion, openness, and conscientiousness in owners were associated with cats being more sociable.
Finka acknowledged that while the study identified correlations between owner personality and cat behavior, it does not establish causation. She called for further research to determine the direct influence of owner traits on cat welfare, highlighting the necessity for more objective measures to validate owner reports of cat health and behavior.
The study is titled "Owner personality and the wellbeing of their cats share parallels with the parent-child relationship" and includes contributions from Joanna Ward, Mark J. Farnworth, and Daniel S. Mills.