Cats can be 'shy' just like human babies
- Published
Have you ever felt shy when meeting new people?
Well, you are not alone and you also, according to new research, have something in common with cats!
Researchers in Japan have found some cats are often fearful and curious at the same time, making them similar to human babies who might want to meet new people but might feel worried about doing so.
They say this shows cats and their personalities are more complex than originally thought.
Do you have a cat? What type of personality would you say it has? Timid? Fun? Friendly? Grumpy?! Let us know about your feline friends using the comments section below!
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"I'll come out when the new people have left..."
The researchers from Kyoto University in Japan asked 310 cat owners about their pets and how they react to new people, new toys and unfamiliar situations.
The questions were adapted from a questionnaire used to evaluate personality in human infants.
The cat owners' answers were analysed and the scientists concluded that cats can be grouped into four personality types.
1. Highly sociable: happy to approach people and not very fearful.
2. Sociable: fairly friendly and only a little fearful.
3. Fearful: nervous and unlikely to approach new things.
4. Shy: both fearful and curious at the same time.
"Is it safe to say hello or shall I just stay here for a minute?"
And it is this fourth group that they say is most like young humans who may be interested in meeting new people but fearful of doing so.
They say the results suggest that complex personality traits can exist in non-humans.
"Our findings suggest that shyness in cats is more complex than simply being afraid of humans, with cats showing diverse patterns of social behaviour", said Madoka Hattori who is one of the authors behind the study.
"Rather than simply labelling cats as 'friendly' or 'timid,' we hope our research will encourage cat owners to observe and better understand each cat's individual behaviour."
The team hope their findings, published in the journal PLOS One, can help quickly identify personality traits in cats and could help pet owners and animal shelters better accommodate different cats' needs and improve their welfare.
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