New research from the Human-Animal Interaction Lab at Oregon State University shows that cats form attachments to their owners in ways similar to dogs 颅鈥� and even babies.
Their findings are laid out in a study published in Current Biology. Kristyn Vitale is the lead author of the study and she joined OPB 鈥淢orning Edition鈥� host Geoff Norcross recently to talk about her work.
Here are highlights from their conversation:
Vitale and other researchers tested more than 100 cats and kittens.
鈥淲hat we did was bring the cats and their owners into our lab at Oregon State; this was a room they had never been in before, so it was totally unfamiliar to them. For two minutes, we just let the cat and owner be in the room together. And then after that, the owner actually leaves the room and the cat is alone for two minutes. That two-minute alone phase is a potentially mild stressor for the cat, and it allows the potential attachment behavior to be heightened. Then we can observe if any attachment behavior is directed towards that owner when they return.鈥�
The test subject cats were very pleased to see their humans.
鈥淲hen the owner comes back, they鈥檒l go to the owner and greet them, and then they鈥檒l display this contact exploration balance: They鈥檒l periodically go back to the owner for attention and then go explore the room, explore the toys, and then go back to the owner.鈥�
That secure attachment? We see the same thing in dogs and babies.
鈥淲e do know that attachment is a biologically relevant behavior. It acts in ways that increase the survival of that individual. So there are certain aspects of that secure attachment that could increase the likelihood that that animal is going to live and survive. And it鈥檚 showing that this might be something common between many of these species.鈥�
So maybe the difference between dogs and cats is all in our minds?
鈥淐ats are more independent in the way that we don鈥檛 have to train them to use the litter box the same way we have to house break a puppy. But that doesn鈥檛 necessarily mean they don鈥檛 use us as a source of security and that they aren鈥檛 affectionate towards people. That鈥檚 what we鈥檙e finding: The majority of cats do use their owners as a source of security and rely on them for comfort.
Vitale used her own cats as guinea pigs.
鈥淚 did have them come in and participate, and I actually have 鈥� two secure cats, one insecure-ambivalent and one insecure-avoidant. It didn鈥檛 change how bonded I was to any of them, seeing that. But it did help me look at them a little differently, especially the insecure individuals. They might need extra attention or extra comfort if they鈥檙e stressed because they might not be able to cope with it as well as the secure cats.鈥�
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