Cats don't develop emotional dependence on their owners — they prefer equal coexistence

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Humans and cats have lived together for millennia, and this alliance is traditionally considered mutually beneficial. But how strong is the emotional bond between them?

A study by scientists from Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary questioned the widespread belief about the deep attachment of these animals to their owners. The results were published in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science. The Independent provides the details.

How the experiment was conducted

One of the difficulties in studying the bond between humans and cats is that pets are difficult to study in laboratory conditions because they don't like leaving their homes.

Researchers tested 15 therapy cats that had been trained to calmly tolerate trips to new places, as well as 13 ordinary domestic cats. The animals were placed in a room, and their reaction to their owner was assessed compared to a stranger.

To determine if an animal is dependent on its owner, the degree of its attachment, the level of anxiety in the owner's absence, and its willingness to interact with a friendly stranger are assessed. This "strange situation test" was previously used for dogs and showed that they have very dependent, almost child-parental relationships with their owners.

What the scientists discovered

The results for cats were different. Therapy animals behaved equally friendly with both the owner and the stranger — even when the owner left the room. Ordinary domestic cats also did not demonstrate a clear difference in behavior depending on who was present.

Researchers noted that they found "no signs of attachment to the owner in any of the groups," including the most social and friendly animals. In their opinion, cats have not developed "dependent bonds" with humans.

The head of the study, Dr. Péter Pongrácz, explains this by the history of animal domestication. According to him, dogs became strongly dependent on humans during the domestication process — their relationship with them is asymmetrical. Cats, however, retained the ability to hunt and survive independently. Therefore, the classic model of attachment characteristic of dogs is not biologically necessary for them.

What this means for owners

These results do not mean that cats do not feel affection or do not derive emotional benefits from living with humans. However, their bond with humans is likely built not on dependence, but on a more egalitarian coexistence.

In other words, unlike dogs, who often seek support and protection from humans, cats remain independent partners and can feel comfortable both with their owner and with other people.

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