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NEWS TECH HEALTH PLANET EARTH SPACE STRANGE NEWS ANIMALS HISTORY HUMAN NATURE
NEWS TECH HEALTH PLANET EARTH SPACE STRANGE NEWS ANIMALS HISTORY HUMAN NATURE

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Cats Take on Owners' Habits (Good and Bad)
By Jennifer Viegas, Discovery News | January 18, 2013 12:59pm ET
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Cats Take on Owners' Habits (Good and Bad)
Close-up of a cute cat face.
Credit: Pavalache Stelian | Dreamstime.com
Cats really do become part of our families, to the point that they take on human
habits -- good and bad -- and adapt their lifestyle with that of their owners,
says new research.
The finding shows how profoundly captivity can affect certain animals. While gen
etics help to explain some aspects of personality and behavior, an individual's
environment clearly is a factor too.
"Our findings underline the high influence of human presence and care on the amo
unt of activity and daily rhythm in cats," concluded Giuseppe Piccione and colle
agues of the University of Messina's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
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For the Journal of Veterinary Behavior study, the researchers studied two groups
of cats. Each group received excellent care, in terms of food, medical attentio
n and grooming. The owners of all the cats worked during the day and returned ho
me in the evenings.
The first group of cats, however, lived in smaller homes and stayed closer to th
eir owners. The second group lived more of an indoor/outdoor lifestyle on larger
property. These cats were also kept outside at night.
Over time, the cats in the first group mirrored the lives of their owners. Their
eating, activity and sleeping patterns were very similar. The cats left out at
night became more nocturnal, matching the behaviors of semi-dependent farm cats
with more feral ways.
"Cats are intelligent animals with a long memory," Jane Brunt, DVM, and the exec
utive director of the CATalyst Council, told Discovery News. "They watch and lea
rn from us, (noting) the patterns of our actions, as evidenced by knowing where
their food is kept and what time to expect to be fed, how to open the cupboard d
oor that's been improperly closed and where their feeding and toileting areas ar
e."
Cats Do Roam, Tracking Shows
Piccione pointed out that cats' food intake is associated with that of owners, p
erhaps explaining why human and cat obesity rates seem to so often match. Cats m
ay even match their elimination patterns with those of their owners.

"It's always interesting when I hear about people who have the litterbox in thei
r bathroom and the cat uses it when the owner is on the toilet," Brunt, a past p
resident of the American Association of Feline Practitioners, said.
Another recent study, published in Applied Animal Behavior Science, looked at pe
rsonality in cats. Many of the primary traits -- arrogant, social, shy, trusting
, aggressive, calm, timid, excitable, dominant and curious -- apply to humans as
well.
Authors Marieke Cassia Gartner and Alexander Weiss of The University of Edinburg
h believe that the environment in which a feline lives "is one possible explanat
ion for the variance in results in the domestic cat, as personality may not be c
ompletely comprised of genetic makeup."
Humans even serve as role models for their cats.
"While it's commonly thought that cats are solitary and aloof and can take care
of themselves, studies have shown that cats are social animals and when people a
re their main social group, it's important for owners to understand that they ar
e the role model and we have to encourage their activities with proper play/prey
techniques," Brunt explained, adding that when owners take time to play with th
eir cats, the felines are more motivated to stay active.
While it's now known that owners greatly influence their cats, the reverse is tr
ue as well. Cats can influence that habits and lifestyle of their owners. Brunt
said that we often adjust our schedules to fit theirs, such as getting up earlie
r and responding to their needs.
"I also think we can learn a lot from cats," she added. "When they sit on our la
p softly purring with rhythmic breathing and half-closed eyes, the sense of sere
nity and calm that comes over us is like a private lesson in inner peace and med
itation."
This story was provided by Discovery News.
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