New Study Identifies Seven Distinct Personality Traits in Cats

Doctoral researcher Salla Mikkola emphasized the need for a deeper understanding of cat behavior, citing that less is known compared to dogs. The study highlights that common behavioral issues in cats often relate to aggression and improper elimination.

The research team, led by Professor Hannes Lohi, employed a questionnaire of 138 items answered by cat owners. From this data, they identified the following traits:

- Activity/playfulness

- Fearfulness

- Aggression towards humans

- Sociability towards humans

- Sociability towards cats

- Litterbox issues

- Excessive grooming

While activity/playfulness, fearfulness, and aggression have been noted in previous studies, litterbox issues and excessive grooming are linked to the cat's stress sensitivity rather than being personality traits themselves.

The study also uncovered significant behavioral differences among breeds. The Russian Blue emerged as the most fearful breed, while the Abyssinian was the least fearful. Bengals were identified as the most active breed, contrasting with the more passive Persian and Exotic breeds. Siamese and Balinese cats were noted for excessive grooming, while the Turkish Van displayed higher aggression towards humans coupled with lower sociability towards other cats.

Mikkola indicated that future studies would explore the impact of variables such as age, gender, health, and environmental factors on feline personality traits.

Researchers opted to conduct the survey in the cats' home environments, as cats may not display their true behavior outside familiar settings. This study is recognized as a significant contribution to the field, providing reliable data for further research on feline behavior and welfare, which has implications for identifying risks and improving cat care.

The findings were published in the journal Animals.