A recent study by researchers from the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University has surveyed 549 cat owners to investigate psychopathy in felines. The findings suggest that many pet cats exhibit behaviors typically associated with psychopathy, often characterized by traits such as demanding attention and testing household rules.
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The researchers employed the CAT-Tri+ test, which consists of 46 questions about cats’ behaviors, including loud vocalizations, late-night activity bursts, and provocation of other pets or humans. While these behaviors might seem ordinary for cats, they may reveal underlying psychopathic tendencies.
The research also indicates that these traits may have evolutionary roots. The Journal of Research in Personality notes that wild cats with higher levels of psychopathic traits likely had an advantage in securing resources such as food and territory, which could explain similar behaviors in domestic cats.
However, experts caution against over-interpreting these findings. Cat advocate Jackson Galaxy has asserted that many behaviors classified as psychopathic in the study are simply normal cat habits. He highlighted that behaviors like demanding attention or disregarding rules are common among various pets, not just cats.
While the study suggests that all cats may possess some degree of psychopathic tendencies, experts emphasize that such traits are not unique to felines and may also be seen in dogs and even humans.