The Social Interaction Of Cats: How To Understand It?
In Europe , when it comes to pets, the number of cats exceeds that of dogs. Often, marked coexistence with humans presents us with the challenge of understanding cats. Among specialists, there is the concept that the social interaction of cats with humans is different from that with dogs.
However, according to several surveys, cat tutors believe that emotional bonds with their pet are comparable to corresponding values with dogs. However, for cat owners, understanding feline behavior can be a challenge, and they are not alone.
Animal behavior experts are also aware of how much there is still a need to learn about this issue. For this reason, if you have a cat, you will want to know four tips for understanding sociability in cats.
1. Cats and dogs respond similarly to certain tasks
First, it is important to recognize that there is some difference in the domestication process between dogs and cats. It is known that cats since the past have not been selected to perform particular functions, while this has happened in the domestication of dogs.
Despite this fact, the need for easy coexistence with humans may have been a strong enough selective pressure to affect some feline abilities. In support of this idea, several scientific studies argue that in the performance of some household tasks, there are similar attitudes in both dogs and cats.
For example, by carrying out some tests, such as choosing between two objects that hide a reward, following the directions of a person, a certain similarity between canine and feline behavior was noted. This was observed both by pointing to the object and by following the human gaze.
These researches have shown that both dogs and cats rely on their owner’s reaction to unknown objects.
2. The favorite stimulus of cats is social interaction with humans
In 2017, US researchers conducted a study in which three stimuli were presented in four categories of adult cats taken from two populations: pets and cats that lived in catteries. The four categories were: human social interaction, food, toys and smells.
- Although clear individual variability in cats’ preferences was observed, social interaction with humans was the preferred stimulus category for most cats (50%).
- In second place, food stimulation was detected (37%).
The report indicates that the results were similar for both cats living in domestic settings and those staying in animal shelters.
3. Cats adapt their behavior to the quality of social interaction they receive
It should be noted that several animal species, including dogs, pigs, rooks and several primates, have been shown to perceive human attention. Thus, these animals modify their behavior in response to the attitude shown to them by humans, for example if they are attentive or inattentive to their needs.
In 2016, a research found that cats meow to receive food, more intensely and longer towards those humans who are more attentive and who provide them with visual and auditory cues. Another study found that cats rubbed their heads and played more with attentive and interactive strangers than strangers with passive behavior towards them.
Another recent research examined the influence of human attention state (inattentive or attentive) on two groups of cats (pet or shelter). The study evaluated their behavior in seeking closeness and contact, in response to their owner or an unknown person.
This experiment showed that both groups of cats spent much more time in close proximity and contact with the attentive human being.
Hence, these results demonstrate that cats are sensitive to human socialization stimuli and tend to be more social in front of an attentive person. Furthermore, domestic cats show no preference for their owners, but rather for the attention they receive.
4. The social interaction of cats is sensitive to emotions and human mood
According to these studies, a cat’s behavior is influenced by the mood of the human being. For example, cats were less likely to approach depressed owners than felines with cheerful, outgoing tutors.
In this sense, cats are known to act strongly following their instincts. Therefore, it is possible that this reduced social interaction responds to a perceived threat in the environment. This threat could be understood from the mood of the master or from simple distrust.
Occasionally, in everyday life, the reasons for their apparent apathy can simply be traced back to boredom. If tutors overuse a reward, such as a candy or a certain toy, its effect loses interest in the long run and is no longer perceived as something special.
Final notes
Future research will improve understanding of the factors that affect a cat’s ability to detect human signals, including emotional attachments or states of attention.
These feline senses may have made it easier for cats to obtain vital resources from humans, including food, shelter, and social assistance. Undoubtedly, the development of these feline adaptations is important in the evolution of social behavior and relationships between species.
