Your cat doesn’t love you: science
 

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/wo...ve-you-science


Rudyard Kipling was right. Cats really do walk by themselves, and do
not need their owners to feel secure and safe, a study has shown.
Although absent owners might worry that their pet is pining, in fact,
cats show no sign of separation anxiety.

Researchers at the University of Lincoln have concluded that cats,
unlike dogs, do not need humans to feel protected.

Before cat lovers start despairing about their aloof pets, however,
animal behaviorists said they should take the finding as a compliment.
If cats stay, it means they really want to be there.

Daniel Mills, Professor of Veterinary Behavioural Medicine at the
University of Lincoln’s School of Life Sciences, said: “The domestic
cat has recently passed the dog as the most popular companion animal
in Europe.

“Previous research has suggested that some cats show signs of
separation anxiety when left alone by their owners, in the same way
that dogs do, but the results of our study show that they are, in
fact, much more independent than canine companions.

“It seems that what we interpret as separation anxiety might actually
be signs of frustration.” To find out if cats needed their owner to
feel secure, the researchers observed how 20 cats reacted when they
were placed in an unfamiliar environment together with their owner,
with a stranger or on their own.

The study monitored the amount of contact sought by the cat, the level
of passive behavior, and signs of distress caused by the absence of
the owner.

“Although our cats were more vocal when the owner rather than the
stranger left them with the other individual, we didn’t see any
additional evidence to suggest that the bond between a cat and its
owner is one of secure attachment,” Prof Mills said.

“This vocalization might simply be a sign of frustration or learnt
response, since no other signs of attachment were reliably seen. For
dogs, their owners often represent a specific safe haven; however it
is clear domestic cats are much more autonomous when it comes to
coping with unusual situations.”

Although the researchers say cats can still develop bonds with, and
affection for their owners, the new study shows that they do not
depend on them in the same way that dogs do.

However cat expert Celia Haddon, author of Cats Behaving Badly and How
To Read Your Cat’s Mind, said owners should not feel their pets do not
love them. “This study shows cats do not need their humans to feel
safe, they look after themselves. But in a way that’s a real
compliment. Cats won’t live in an unhappy home, they’ll just walk
out.”

The research was published in the online journal PLOS One.







J Young

Your cat doesn’t love you: science
 

On Sat, 05 Sep 2015 22:50:01 -0400, J wrote:


http://news.nationalpost.com/news/wo...ve-you-science


All of my cats hate anythng that is different than their normal lives.
But there's no question that they feel more secure with me than
without me. On the other hand, I'm not opening the door and letting
them choose whether they want to stay or go. At least, not yet. Maybe
after we've lived in the new home for a few more months.

I'm sure most animals would choose a place where they know that they
get fed. I do.

Your cat doesn’t love you: science
 

On 9/5/2015 11:12 PM, dgk wrote:


I'm sure most animals would choose a place where they know that they
get fed. I do.

(cross-posting and other blather snipped)

Yeah, I choose to live where I get fed, too. Unfortunately, I have yet
to have a cat that can cook. ;)

Jill

Your cat doesn't love you: science
 

"J" wrote in message
...

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/wo...ve-you-science


Rudyard Kipling was right. Cats really do walk by themselves, and do
not need their owners to feel secure and safe, a study has shown.
Although absent owners might worry that their pet is pining, in fact,
cats show no sign of separation anxiety.


Let's just say that Boyfriend prefers me to stay at home with him and is
delighted when I come home, whether I've been out for a couple of hours on a
shopping trip or away for the day like last week. Whether this means he
*loves* me, I don't know. I do know he is very attached to me and no-one
else.
No matter how many weeks he's been fed by other people e.g. when I've been
in hospital, once I am home he becomes afraid of them again.
He sees Claire at least twice a week, she was here 3 times a day looking
after me last year but he wants to go out the minute she visits. Luckily
she is not offended, she's Tigger's meowmie.
I don't know if animals experience love for humans in the human sense of it.
I do know that Boyfie only wants *me* to be with him. Is that love? Maybe
he is just used to me and feels safe with me.
I love *him* anyway..

Tweed

Your cat doesn't love you: science
 

"Christina Websell" wrote in message
...

"J" wrote in message
...

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/wo...ve-you-science


Rudyard Kipling was right. Cats really do walk by themselves, and do
not need their owners to feel secure and safe, a study has shown.
Although absent owners might worry that their pet is pining, in fact,
cats show no sign of separation anxiety.


Let's just say that Boyfriend prefers me to stay at home with him and is
delighted when I come home, whether I've been out for a couple of hours on
a shopping trip or away for the day like last week. Whether this means he
*loves* me, I don't know. I do know he is very attached to me and no-one
else.
No matter how many weeks he's been fed by other people e.g. when I've been
in hospital, once I am home he becomes afraid of them again.
He sees Claire at least twice a week, she was here 3 times a day looking
after me last year but he wants to go out the minute she visits. Luckily
she is not offended, she's Tigger's meowmie.
I don't know if animals experience love for humans in the human sense of
it. I do know that Boyfie only wants *me* to be with him. Is that love?
Maybe he is just used to me and feels safe with me.
I love *him* anyway..

Tweed


I read the article. They may not "love" us as we humans love one another,
but last week my wife was away for a week, visiting our daughter. He acted
normally. Ate normally, slept his usual 16 hours a day and demanded that I
scratch his head as he always does. But when she came back he immediately
started following her around the house for 2 days, No fear, just trying to
be close to her.

And in the evening, when I read in bed, he always comes around to poke at
the book, and then lies down in the crook of my arm and we "read together"
for a while. Is that love? I think that's the way cats do love.

Jay

Your cat doesn't love you: science
 

On Wed, 9 Sep 2015 14:56:23 -0400, "JJ" wrote:

"Christina Websell" wrote in message
...

"J" wrote in message
...

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/wo...ve-you-science


Rudyard Kipling was right. Cats really do walk by themselves, and do
not need their owners to feel secure and safe, a study has shown.
Although absent owners might worry that their pet is pining, in fact,
cats show no sign of separation anxiety.


Let's just say that Boyfriend prefers me to stay at home with him and is
delighted when I come home, whether I've been out for a couple of hours on
a shopping trip or away for the day like last week. Whether this means he
*loves* me, I don't know. I do know he is very attached to me and no-one
else.
No matter how many weeks he's been fed by other people e.g. when I've been
in hospital, once I am home he becomes afraid of them again.
He sees Claire at least twice a week, she was here 3 times a day looking
after me last year but he wants to go out the minute she visits. Luckily
she is not offended, she's Tigger's meowmie.
I don't know if animals experience love for humans in the human sense of
it. I do know that Boyfie only wants *me* to be with him. Is that love?
Maybe he is just used to me and feels safe with me.
I love *him* anyway..

Tweed


I read the article. They may not "love" us as we humans love one another,
but last week my wife was away for a week, visiting our daughter. He acted
normally. Ate normally, slept his usual 16 hours a day and demanded that I
scratch his head as he always does. But when she came back he immediately
started following her around the house for 2 days, No fear, just trying to
be close to her.

And in the evening, when I read in bed, he always comes around to poke at
the book, and then lies down in the crook of my arm and we "read together"
for a while. Is that love? I think that's the way cats do love.

Jay

They love us the way cats love - eg all my female cats have held my
hand down with a watw and licked it the way they do with their
kittens.

Your cat doesn't love you: science
 

On 9/9/2015 2:56 PM, JJ wrote:
"Christina Websell" wrote in message
...

"J" wrote in message
...

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/wo...ve-you-science



I read the article. They may not "love" us as we humans love one another,
but last week my wife was away for a week, visiting our daughter. He acted
normally. Ate normally, slept his usual 16 hours a day and demanded that I
scratch his head as he always does. But when she came back he immediately
started following her around the house for 2 days, No fear, just trying to
be close to her.

And in the evening, when I read in bed, he always comes around to poke at
the book, and then lies down in the crook of my arm and we "read together"
for a while. Is that love? I think that's the way cats do love.

Jay

(crossposting snipped)

I take exception to this statement from the article: "Before cat lovers
start despairing about their aloof pets," (snippage)

I've only been owned by two cats. Neither of which could be described
as "aloof". I've always heard that word associated with cats but it
doesn't make sense to me. Nothing could be further from my experience.

Cats that jump up in my lap aren't "aloof". Cats that talk to me and
want to play aren't aloof. Cats that sleep curled up next to me
certainly aren't aloof.

What the heck is with this reputation of cats being aloof and standoffish?

I'm pretty sure Persia loved me. I'm pretty sure Buffy loves me.

Like you, Jay, Persia did and now Buffy does jump into bed with me and
settle down with a book before bed. We "read together". Love? Well
guess what, she doesn't have to be there but she chooses to. Yep, I
think that's the cat version of loving human.

Buffy is a bed-hog!

Jill

Your cat doesn't love you: science
 

"Christopher A. Lee" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 9 Sep 2015 14:56:23 -0400, "JJ" wrote:

"Christina Websell" wrote in message
...

"J" wrote in message
...

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/wo...ve-you-science


Rudyard Kipling was right. Cats really do walk by themselves, and do
not need their owners to feel secure and safe, a study has shown.
Although absent owners might worry that their pet is pining, in fact,
cats show no sign of separation anxiety.


Let's just say that Boyfriend prefers me to stay at home with him and is
delighted when I come home, whether I've been out for a couple of hours
on
a shopping trip or away for the day like last week. Whether this means
he
*loves* me, I don't know. I do know he is very attached to me and
no-one
else.
No matter how many weeks he's been fed by other people e.g. when I've
been
in hospital, once I am home he becomes afraid of them again.
He sees Claire at least twice a week, she was here 3 times a day looking
after me last year but he wants to go out the minute she visits.
Luckily
she is not offended, she's Tigger's meowmie.
I don't know if animals experience love for humans in the human sense of
it. I do know that Boyfie only wants *me* to be with him. Is that love?
Maybe he is just used to me and feels safe with me.
I love *him* anyway..

Tweed


I read the article. They may not "love" us as we humans love one another,
but last week my wife was away for a week, visiting our daughter. He acted
normally. Ate normally, slept his usual 16 hours a day and demanded that I
scratch his head as he always does. But when she came back he immediately
started following her around the house for 2 days, No fear, just trying to
be close to her.

And in the evening, when I read in bed, he always comes around to poke at
the book, and then lies down in the crook of my arm and we "read together"
for a while. Is that love? I think that's the way cats do love.

Jay

They love us the way cats love - eg all my female cats have held my
hand down with a watw and licked it the way they do with their
kittens.

Storming Mormon alert.

Your cat doesn't love you: science
 

"jmcquown" wrote in message
...
On 9/9/2015 2:56 PM, JJ wrote:
"Christina Websell" wrote in message
...

"J" wrote in message
...

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/wo...ve-you-science



I read the article. They may not "love" us as we humans love one another,
but last week my wife was away for a week, visiting our daughter. He
acted
normally. Ate normally, slept his usual 16 hours a day and demanded that
I
scratch his head as he always does. But when she came back he immediately
started following her around the house for 2 days, No fear, just trying
to
be close to her.

And in the evening, when I read in bed, he always comes around to poke at
the book, and then lies down in the crook of my arm and we "read
together"
for a while. Is that love? I think that's the way cats do love.

Jay

(crossposting snipped)

I take exception to this statement from the article: "Before cat lovers
start despairing about their aloof pets," (snippage)

I've only been owned by two cats. Neither of which could be described as
"aloof". I've always heard that word associated with cats but it doesn't
make sense to me. Nothing could be further from my experience.

Cats that jump up in my lap aren't "aloof". Cats that talk to me and want
to play aren't aloof. Cats that sleep curled up next to me certainly
aren't aloof.

What the heck is with this reputation of cats being aloof and standoffish?

I'm pretty sure Persia loved me. I'm pretty sure Buffy loves me.

Like you, Jay, Persia did and now Buffy does jump into bed with me and
settle down with a book before bed. We "read together". Love? Well
guess what, she doesn't have to be there but she chooses to. Yep, I think
that's the cat version of loving human.

Buffy is a bed-hog!

Jill

Aren't all cats? Edgar loves to sleep on my bed (his sister, Agatha, prefers
a corner on the carpeted stairs) and rolls up into a ball just at the place
where my back is supposed to be. When I ask him to move (sometimes with a
little nudge) he WILL move to the foot of the bed, but he gives me a kind of
dirty look. Then I scratch his head and all is well again.

And please don't tell me cats don't understand. They sometimes like to
PRETEND that they don't hear you, but their hearing is just fine (they hear
their Fancy Feast can being opened from 3 rooms away!) When I talk to them,
I could swear they understand, especially specific words or sounds. If I
call Edgar to come upstairs with me at bedtime,. and he rushes over, isn't
that a kind of love as well?

Jay

Your cat doesn't love you: science
 

On Wed, 9 Sep 2015 21:20:57 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:


"Christopher A. Lee" wrote in message
.. .
On Wed, 9 Sep 2015 14:56:23 -0400, "JJ" wrote:

"Christina Websell" wrote in message
...

"J" wrote in message
...

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/wo...ve-you-science


Rudyard Kipling was right. Cats really do walk by themselves, and do
not need their owners to feel secure and safe, a study has shown.
Although absent owners might worry that their pet is pining, in fact,
cats show no sign of separation anxiety.


Let's just say that Boyfriend prefers me to stay at home with him and is
delighted when I come home, whether I've been out for a couple of hours
on
a shopping trip or away for the day like last week. Whether this means
he
*loves* me, I don't know. I do know he is very attached to me and
no-one
else.
No matter how many weeks he's been fed by other people e.g. when I've
been
in hospital, once I am home he becomes afraid of them again.
He sees Claire at least twice a week, she was here 3 times a day looking
after me last year but he wants to go out the minute she visits.
Luckily
she is not offended, she's Tigger's meowmie.
I don't know if animals experience love for humans in the human sense of
it. I do know that Boyfie only wants *me* to be with him. Is that love?
Maybe he is just used to me and feels safe with me.
I love *him* anyway..

Tweed


I read the article. They may not "love" us as we humans love one another,
but last week my wife was away for a week, visiting our daughter. He acted
normally. Ate normally, slept his usual 16 hours a day and demanded that I
scratch his head as he always does. But when she came back he immediately
started following her around the house for 2 days, No fear, just trying to
be close to her.

And in the evening, when I read in bed, he always comes around to poke at
the book, and then lies down in the crook of my arm and we "read together"
for a while. Is that love? I think that's the way cats do love.

Jay

They love us the way cats love - eg all my female cats have held my
hand down with a watw and licked it the way they do with their
kittens.

Storming Mormon alert.

Eh?

Your cat doesn't love you: science
 

On Wed, 09 Sep 2015 15:37:48 -0500, Christopher A. Lee
wrote:

On Wed, 9 Sep 2015 21:20:57 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:


"Christopher A. Lee" wrote in message
. ..
On Wed, 9 Sep 2015 14:56:23 -0400, "JJ" wrote:

"Christina Websell" wrote in message
...

"J" wrote in message
...

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/wo...ve-you-science


Rudyard Kipling was right. Cats really do walk by themselves, and do
not need their owners to feel secure and safe, a study has shown.
Although absent owners might worry that their pet is pining, in fact,
cats show no sign of separation anxiety.


Let's just say that Boyfriend prefers me to stay at home with him and is
delighted when I come home, whether I've been out for a couple of hours
on
a shopping trip or away for the day like last week. Whether this means
he
*loves* me, I don't know. I do know he is very attached to me and
no-one
else.
No matter how many weeks he's been fed by other people e.g. when I've
been
in hospital, once I am home he becomes afraid of them again.
He sees Claire at least twice a week, she was here 3 times a day looking
after me last year but he wants to go out the minute she visits.
Luckily
she is not offended, she's Tigger's meowmie.
I don't know if animals experience love for humans in the human sense of
it. I do know that Boyfie only wants *me* to be with him. Is that love?
Maybe he is just used to me and feels safe with me.
I love *him* anyway..

Tweed


I read the article. They may not "love" us as we humans love one another,
but last week my wife was away for a week, visiting our daughter. He acted
normally. Ate normally, slept his usual 16 hours a day and demanded that I
scratch his head as he always does. But when she came back he immediately
started following her around the house for 2 days, No fear, just trying to
be close to her.

And in the evening, when I read in bed, he always comes around to poke at
the book, and then lies down in the crook of my arm and we "read together"
for a while. Is that love? I think that's the way cats do love.

Jay

They love us the way cats love - eg all my female cats have held my
hand down with a watw and licked it the way they do with their
kittens.

Storming Mormon alert.

Eh?

That typo should have been "paw".

Your cat doesn't love you: science
 

On Wed, 9 Sep 2015 21:20:57 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:
They love us the way cats love - eg all my female cats have held my
hand down with a watw and licked it the way they do with their
kittens.

Storming Mormon alert.

Too many people think animal love should be like human love,
but THAT is just stupid, as the animals aren't sex-obsesssed.

Your cat doesn't love you: science
 

On 9/9/2015 4:24 PM, JJ wrote:
"jmcquown" wrote in message
...
On 9/9/2015 2:56 PM, JJ wrote:
"Christina Websell" wrote in message
...

"J" wrote in message
...

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/wo...ve-you-science



I read the article. They may not "love" us as we humans love one another,
but last week my wife was away for a week, visiting our daughter. He
acted
normally. Ate normally, slept his usual 16 hours a day and demanded that
I
scratch his head as he always does. But when she came back he immediately
started following her around the house for 2 days, No fear, just trying
to
be close to her.

And in the evening, when I read in bed, he always comes around to poke at
the book, and then lies down in the crook of my arm and we "read
together"
for a while. Is that love? I think that's the way cats do love.

Jay

(crossposting snipped)

I take exception to this statement from the article: "Before cat lovers
start despairing about their aloof pets," (snippage)

I've only been owned by two cats. Neither of which could be described as
"aloof". I've always heard that word associated with cats but it doesn't
make sense to me. Nothing could be further from my experience.

Cats that jump up in my lap aren't "aloof". Cats that talk to me and want
to play aren't aloof. Cats that sleep curled up next to me certainly
aren't aloof.

What the heck is with this reputation of cats being aloof and standoffish?

I'm pretty sure Persia loved me. I'm pretty sure Buffy loves me.

Like you, Jay, Persia did and now Buffy does jump into bed with me and
settle down with a book before bed. We "read together". Love? Well
guess what, she doesn't have to be there but she chooses to. Yep, I think
that's the cat version of loving human.

Buffy is a bed-hog!

Jill

Aren't all cats? Edgar loves to sleep on my bed (his sister, Agatha, prefers
a corner on the carpeted stairs) and rolls up into a ball just at the place
where my back is supposed to be. When I ask him to move (sometimes with a
little nudge) he WILL move to the foot of the bed, but he gives me a kind of
dirty look. Then I scratch his head and all is well again.

Buffy thinks my computer chair belongs to her, when I'm not sitting in
it. When I sit in it she jumps up in my lap to get scritches. Because
she doesn't love me.

And please don't tell me cats don't understand. They sometimes like to
PRETEND that they don't hear you, but their hearing is just fine (they hear
their Fancy Feast can being opened from 3 rooms away!)

Of course they understand.

When I talk to them,
I could swear they understand, especially specific words or sounds. If I
call Edgar to come upstairs with me at bedtime,. and he rushes over, isn't
that a kind of love as well?

Jay


I have pet steps next to my bed. I bought them when Persia was having a
bit of a difficult time jumping up.

Buffy uses those steps to peer at me. I tap my hand on the bed and she
jumps up and rolls around. She gets scritches, rolls over, gets her
belly rubbed. She wraps her paws around my hand (gently) and goes to
sleep. Yep, she absolutely doesn't love me.

Jill

Your cat doesn't love you: science
 

On Wed, 09 Sep 2015 14:55:51 -0700, The New Other Guy
wrote:

On Wed, 9 Sep 2015 21:20:57 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:
They love us the way cats love - eg all my female cats have held my
hand down with a watw and licked it the way they do with their
kittens.

Storming Mormon alert.

Too many people think animal love should be like human love,
but THAT is just stupid, as the animals aren't sex-obsesssed.

Dogs hump legs.

Your cat doesn't love you: science
 

In article ,
Christopher A. Lee wrote:

On Wed, 09 Sep 2015 14:55:51 -0700, The New Other Guy
wrote:

On Wed, 9 Sep 2015 21:20:57 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:
They love us the way cats love - eg all my female cats have held my
hand down with a watw and licked it the way they do with their
kittens.

Storming Mormon alert.

Too many people think animal love should be like human love,
but THAT is just stupid, as the animals aren't sex-obsesssed.

Dogs hump legs.


That's ALSO a sign of dominance; it's not only for sex.

--

JD

I've officially given up trying to find the bottom
of the barrel that is Republican depravity.--Jidyom
Rosario, Addicting Info

Your cat doesn't love you: science
 

"Judith Latham" wrote in message
...
In article , Christina Websell
wrote:

"J" wrote in message
...

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/wo...ve-you-science


Rudyard Kipling was right. Cats really do walk by themselves, and do
not need their owners to feel secure and safe, a study has shown.
Although absent owners might worry that their pet is pining, in fact,
cats show no sign of separation anxiety.


Let's just say that Boyfriend prefers me to stay at home with him and is
delighted when I come home, whether I've been out for a couple of hours
on a shopping trip or away for the day like last week. Whether this
means he *loves* me, I don't know. I do know he is very attached to me
and no-one else. No matter how many weeks he's been fed by other people
e.g. when I've been in hospital, once I am home he becomes afraid of
them again. He sees Claire at least twice a week, she was here 3 times a
day looking after me last year but he wants to go out the minute she
visits. Luckily she is not offended, she's Tigger's meowmie. I don't
know if animals experience love for humans in the human sense of it. I
do know that Boyfie only wants *me* to be with him. Is that love?
Maybe he is just used to me and feels safe with me. I love *him*
anyway..

Tweed

I'm sure my cats have loved me, and that Sootie does. I don't think I'm
deluding myself, their behaviour and desire to be with me, for me to show
them affection when they could be doing other things they like etc. They
just don't like to show it as dogs show it and you do have to earn it with
a cat.

Judith

But is it *love*? The scientific part of me says it's more likely that
cats just want to be fed and have a comfy bed inside when it's cold or
raining and will do what they have to to achieve it. My heart says that
Boyfie loves me.

Tweed

Your cat doesn't love you: science
 

On 9/11/2015 12:59 PM, Christina Websell wrote:
"Judith Latham" wrote in message
...
In article , Christina Websell
wrote:

"J" wrote in message
...

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/wo...ve-you-science


Rudyard Kipling was right. Cats really do walk by themselves, and do
not need their owners to feel secure and safe, a study has shown.
Although absent owners might worry that their pet is pining, in fact,
cats show no sign of separation anxiety.


Let's just say that Boyfriend prefers me to stay at home with him and is
delighted when I come home, whether I've been out for a couple of hours
on a shopping trip or away for the day like last week. Whether this
means he *loves* me, I don't know. I do know he is very attached to me
and no-one else. No matter how many weeks he's been fed by other people
e.g. when I've been in hospital, once I am home he becomes afraid of
them again. He sees Claire at least twice a week, she was here 3 times a
day looking after me last year but he wants to go out the minute she
visits. Luckily she is not offended, she's Tigger's meowmie. I don't
know if animals experience love for humans in the human sense of it. I
do know that Boyfie only wants *me* to be with him. Is that love?
Maybe he is just used to me and feels safe with me. I love *him*
anyway..

Tweed

I'm sure my cats have loved me, and that Sootie does. I don't think I'm
deluding myself, their behaviour and desire to be with me, for me to show
them affection when they could be doing other things they like etc. They
just don't like to show it as dogs show it and you do have to earn it with
a cat.

Judith

But is it *love*? The scientific part of me says it's more likely that
cats just want to be fed and have a comfy bed inside when it's cold or
raining and will do what they have to to achieve it. My heart says that
Boyfie loves me.

Tweed




Does it really matter? We love them. They cuddle with us so they must
get something out of the deal.

Jill

Your cat doesn't love you: science
 

Christina Websell wrote:


"Judith Latham" wrote in message
...
In article , Christina Websell
wrote:

"J" wrote in message
...

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/wo...ve-you-science


Rudyard Kipling was right. Cats really do walk by themselves, and do
not need their owners to feel secure and safe, a study has shown.
Although absent owners might worry that their pet is pining, in fact,
cats show no sign of separation anxiety.


Let's just say that Boyfriend prefers me to stay at home with him and is
delighted when I come home, whether I've been out for a couple of hours
on a shopping trip or away for the day like last week. Whether this
means he *loves* me, I don't know. I do know he is very attached to me
and no-one else. No matter how many weeks he's been fed by other people
e.g. when I've been in hospital, once I am home he becomes afraid of
them again. He sees Claire at least twice a week, she was here 3 times a
day looking after me last year but he wants to go out the minute she
visits. Luckily she is not offended, she's Tigger's meowmie. I don't
know if animals experience love for humans in the human sense of it. I
do know that Boyfie only wants *me* to be with him. Is that love?
Maybe he is just used to me and feels safe with me. I love *him*
anyway..

Tweed

I'm sure my cats have loved me, and that Sootie does. I don't think I'm
deluding myself, their behaviour and desire to be with me, for me to show
them affection when they could be doing other things they like etc. They
just don't like to show it as dogs show it and you do have to earn it with
a cat.

Judith

But is it *love*? The scientific part of me says it's more likely that
cats just want to be fed and have a comfy bed inside when it's cold or
raining and will do what they have to to achieve it. My heart says that
Boyfie loves me.

I think other mammals have many of the same emotions that we have. Love
isn't strictly an emotion, although it involves emotions, but it also
requires thought, which humans do more of than most other creatures. So
what we think of as love might not mean the same to another species. But
I don't have any doubt that they feel affection - you can see that among
cats. They're a social species, even if not as much as humans are (or
maybe just differently). Cats also bond with non-human species, who don't
feed them, so the cats must be getting something other than their basic
physical needs from those relationships. Affection is an important part
of social relationships.

I don't have much investment in figuring out whether my cats feel the
same things toward me as I do toward them. I like the way they curl up
with me, rub noses with me, purr when I just talk to them (Licky), get
tremendous joy from walking down the street with me (Smudge), roll
around on the floor, squirming in anticipation of being petted, sit
there slow-blinking at me, and all the cute ways cats show affection.
We understand each other - we're mammals, we like touch and cuddling,
which are important parts of human interactions, too.

I might not be able to expect the same kinds of commitment from a cat
that I would expect of another person I'm close to. But I still get
plenty from cats and I'm pretty sure they get plenty from me, and not
just food and shelter.

--
Joyce

A clean house is a sign of a broken computer.

Your cat doesn't love you: science
 

jmcquown wrote:

On 9/11/2015 12:59 PM, Christina Websell wrote:
"Judith Latham" wrote in message
...
In article , Christina Websell
wrote:

"J" wrote in message
...

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/wo...ve-you-science


Rudyard Kipling was right. Cats really do walk by themselves, and do
not need their owners to feel secure and safe, a study has shown.
Although absent owners might worry that their pet is pining, in fact,
cats show no sign of separation anxiety.


Let's just say that Boyfriend prefers me to stay at home with him and is
delighted when I come home, whether I've been out for a couple of hours
on a shopping trip or away for the day like last week. Whether this
means he *loves* me, I don't know. I do know he is very attached to me
and no-one else. No matter how many weeks he's been fed by other people
e.g. when I've been in hospital, once I am home he becomes afraid of
them again. He sees Claire at least twice a week, she was here 3 times a
day looking after me last year but he wants to go out the minute she
visits. Luckily she is not offended, she's Tigger's meowmie. I don't
know if animals experience love for humans in the human sense of it. I
do know that Boyfie only wants *me* to be with him. Is that love?
Maybe he is just used to me and feels safe with me. I love *him*
anyway..

Tweed

I'm sure my cats have loved me, and that Sootie does. I don't think I'm
deluding myself, their behaviour and desire to be with me, for me to show
them affection when they could be doing other things they like etc. They
just don't like to show it as dogs show it and you do have to earn it with
a cat.

Judith

But is it *love*? The scientific part of me says it's more likely that
cats just want to be fed and have a comfy bed inside when it's cold or
raining and will do what they have to to achieve it. My heart says that
Boyfie loves me.

Tweed


Does it really matter? We love them. They cuddle with us so they must
get something out of the deal.


I just said basically the same thing - but not nearly as succinctly. :)

--
Joyce

A clean house is a sign of a broken computer.

Your cat doesn't love you: science
 

On Fri, 11 Sep 2015 17:59:33 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:

But is it *love*? The scientific part of me says it's more likely that
cats just want to be fed and have a comfy bed inside when it's cold or
raining and will do what they have to to achieve it. My heart says that
Boyfie loves me.

GLyN doesn't stay inside often.

He DOES, however, follow me like a dog whenever I'm outside,
and he talks to me constantly then, and only then.

Inside, he won't eat until he has gotten up on my lap and
been petted, and he does the same AFTER eating, almost
every time he eats, day or night.

He doesn't just loaf on my lap, he has to be ON my chest,
or even my shoulder, and will strain to get his head tilted
back far enough to see me when he's there.

NOT the same as human love, but a close enough version
for me, and apparently, for him.

Your cat doesn't love you: science
 

On 9/12/2015 2:48 PM, The New Other Guy wrote:
On Fri, 11 Sep 2015 17:59:33 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:

But is it *love*? The scientific part of me says it's more likely that
cats just want to be fed and have a comfy bed inside when it's cold or
raining and will do what they have to to achieve it. My heart says that
Boyfie loves me.

GLyN doesn't stay inside often.

He DOES, however, follow me like a dog whenever I'm outside,
and he talks to me constantly then, and only then.

Inside, he won't eat until he has gotten up on my lap and
been petted, and he does the same AFTER eating, almost
every time he eats, day or night.

He doesn't just loaf on my lap, he has to be ON my chest,
or even my shoulder, and will strain to get his head tilted
back far enough to see me when he's there.

NOT the same as human love, but a close enough version
for me, and apparently, for him.

I'm with you. My two compete for attention, not for food. Koala
usually spends at least part of the night lying on, or against my legs,
although the bed is plenty big enough for him to be comfortable without
touching me. When he's leading me to the kitchen for his meals, he
often stops for petting on the way. As you say, that's close enough for
me, and apparently for him.

Joy

Your cat doesn't love you: science
 

"Bastette" wrote in message
...
Christina Websell wrote:


"Judith Latham" wrote in message
...
In article , Christina Websell
wrote:

"J" wrote in message
...

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/wo...ve-you-science


Rudyard Kipling was right. Cats really do walk by themselves, and do
not need their owners to feel secure and safe, a study has shown.
Although absent owners might worry that their pet is pining, in
fact,
cats show no sign of separation anxiety.


Let's just say that Boyfriend prefers me to stay at home with him and
is
delighted when I come home, whether I've been out for a couple of
hours
on a shopping trip or away for the day like last week. Whether this
means he *loves* me, I don't know. I do know he is very attached to
me
and no-one else. No matter how many weeks he's been fed by other
people
e.g. when I've been in hospital, once I am home he becomes afraid of
them again. He sees Claire at least twice a week, she was here 3 times
a
day looking after me last year but he wants to go out the minute she
visits. Luckily she is not offended, she's Tigger's meowmie. I don't
know if animals experience love for humans in the human sense of it. I
do know that Boyfie only wants *me* to be with him. Is that love?
Maybe he is just used to me and feels safe with me. I love *him*
anyway..

Tweed

I'm sure my cats have loved me, and that Sootie does. I don't think I'm
deluding myself, their behaviour and desire to be with me, for me to
show
them affection when they could be doing other things they like etc.
They
just don't like to show it as dogs show it and you do have to earn it
with
a cat.

Judith

But is it *love*? The scientific part of me says it's more likely that
cats just want to be fed and have a comfy bed inside when it's cold or
raining and will do what they have to to achieve it. My heart says that
Boyfie loves me.

I think other mammals have many of the same emotions that we have. Love
isn't strictly an emotion, although it involves emotions, but it also
requires thought, which humans do more of than most other creatures. So
what we think of as love might not mean the same to another species. But
I don't have any doubt that they feel affection - you can see that among
cats. They're a social species, even if not as much as humans are (or
maybe just differently). Cats also bond with non-human species, who don't
feed them, so the cats must be getting something other than their basic
physical needs from those relationships. Affection is an important part
of social relationships.

I don't have much investment in figuring out whether my cats feel the
same things toward me as I do toward them. I like the way they curl up
with me, rub noses with me, purr when I just talk to them (Licky), get
tremendous joy from walking down the street with me (Smudge), roll
around on the floor, squirming in anticipation of being petted, sit
there slow-blinking at me, and all the cute ways cats show affection.
We understand each other - we're mammals, we like touch and cuddling,
which are important parts of human interactions, too.

I might not be able to expect the same kinds of commitment from a cat
that I would expect of another person I'm close to. But I still get
plenty from cats and I'm pretty sure they get plenty from me, and not
just food and shelter.

--
Joyce

I would like to think that Boyfie loves me as he only wants me and no-one
else, but I'm not sure it's love as humans understand it.

Your cat doesn't love you: science
 

On 9/16/2015 4:31 AM, Judith Latham wrote:
In article , Christina Websell
wrote:

"Judith Latham" wrote in message
...
In article , Christina Websell
wrote:

"J" wrote in message
...

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/wo...ve-you-science


Rudyard Kipling was right. Cats really do walk by themselves, and
do not need their owners to feel secure and safe, a study has
shown. Although absent owners might worry that their pet is pining,
in fact, cats show no sign of separation anxiety.


Let's just say that Boyfriend prefers me to stay at home with him and
is delighted when I come home, whether I've been out for a couple of
hours on a shopping trip or away for the day like last week. Whether
this means he *loves* me, I don't know. I do know he is very
attached to me and no-one else. No matter how many weeks he's been
fed by other people e.g. when I've been in hospital, once I am home
he becomes afraid of them again. He sees Claire at least twice a
week, she was here 3 times a day looking after me last year but he
wants to go out the minute she visits. Luckily she is not offended,
she's Tigger's meowmie. I don't know if animals experience love for
humans in the human sense of it. I do know that Boyfie only wants
*me* to be with him. Is that love? Maybe he is just used to me and
feels safe with me. I love *him* anyway..

Tweed

I'm sure my cats have loved me, and that Sootie does. I don't think
I'm deluding myself, their behaviour and desire to be with me, for me
to show them affection when they could be doing other things they like
etc. They just don't like to show it as dogs show it and you do have
to earn it with a cat.

Judith

But is it *love*? The scientific part of me says it's more likely that
cats just want to be fed and have a comfy bed inside when it's cold or
raining and will do what they have to to achieve it. My heart says that
Boyfie loves me.

Tweed

My friend is in hospital at the moment and her cat Milo is crying when he
can't find her even though her 2 daughters and husband are still there
looking after him and loving him. Says it all really.

Judith


Yes it does. It may not be the same kind of love that humans feel, but
our pets do love us, no matter what science says.

Joy

Your cat doesn't love you: science
 

"Judith Latham" wrote in message
...
In article , Christina Websell
wrote:

"Judith Latham" wrote in message
...
In article , Christina Websell
wrote:

"J" wrote in message
...

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/wo...ve-you-science


Rudyard Kipling was right. Cats really do walk by themselves, and
do not need their owners to feel secure and safe, a study has
shown. Although absent owners might worry that their pet is pining,
in fact, cats show no sign of separation anxiety.


Let's just say that Boyfriend prefers me to stay at home with him and
is delighted when I come home, whether I've been out for a couple of
hours on a shopping trip or away for the day like last week. Whether
this means he *loves* me, I don't know. I do know he is very
attached to me and no-one else. No matter how many weeks he's been
fed by other people e.g. when I've been in hospital, once I am home
he becomes afraid of them again. He sees Claire at least twice a
week, she was here 3 times a day looking after me last year but he
wants to go out the minute she visits. Luckily she is not offended,
she's Tigger's meowmie. I don't know if animals experience love for
humans in the human sense of it. I do know that Boyfie only wants
*me* to be with him. Is that love? Maybe he is just used to me and
feels safe with me. I love *him* anyway..

Tweed

I'm sure my cats have loved me, and that Sootie does. I don't think
I'm deluding myself, their behaviour and desire to be with me, for me
to show them affection when they could be doing other things they like
etc. They just don't like to show it as dogs show it and you do have
to earn it with a cat.

Judith

But is it *love*? The scientific part of me says it's more likely that
cats just want to be fed and have a comfy bed inside when it's cold or
raining and will do what they have to to achieve it. My heart says that
Boyfie loves me.

Tweed

My friend is in hospital at the moment and her cat Milo is crying when he
can't find her even though her 2 daughters and husband are still there
looking after him and loving him. Says it all really.

Judith

It certainly seems like love when Boyfie jumps on my knee, presses himself
against my chest and gazes backwards into my eyes. He does this every
day if either he or I have been out and been separated.

Judith Latham
Stourbridge, West Midlands. UK.

Your cat doesn't love you: science
 

"jmcquown" wrote in message
...
On 9/11/2015 12:59 PM, Christina Websell wrote:
"Judith Latham" wrote in message
...
In article , Christina Websell
wrote:

"J" wrote in message
...

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/wo...ve-you-science


Rudyard Kipling was right. Cats really do walk by themselves, and do
not need their owners to feel secure and safe, a study has shown.
Although absent owners might worry that their pet is pining, in fact,
cats show no sign of separation anxiety.


Let's just say that Boyfriend prefers me to stay at home with him and
is
delighted when I come home, whether I've been out for a couple of hours
on a shopping trip or away for the day like last week. Whether this
means he *loves* me, I don't know. I do know he is very attached to me
and no-one else. No matter how many weeks he's been fed by other people
e.g. when I've been in hospital, once I am home he becomes afraid of
them again. He sees Claire at least twice a week, she was here 3 times
a
day looking after me last year but he wants to go out the minute she
visits. Luckily she is not offended, she's Tigger's meowmie. I don't
know if animals experience love for humans in the human sense of it. I
do know that Boyfie only wants *me* to be with him. Is that love?
Maybe he is just used to me and feels safe with me. I love *him*
anyway..

Tweed

I'm sure my cats have loved me, and that Sootie does. I don't think I'm
deluding myself, their behaviour and desire to be with me, for me to
show
them affection when they could be doing other things they like etc. They
just don't like to show it as dogs show it and you do have to earn it
with
a cat.

Judith

But is it *love*? The scientific part of me says it's more likely that
cats just want to be fed and have a comfy bed inside when it's cold or
raining and will do what they have to to achieve it. My heart says that
Boyfie loves me.

Tweed




Does it really matter? We love them. They cuddle with us so they must
get something out of the deal.

Jill

I only ever had 3 cats. The first one was my childhood cat when I was
around 11. Pooey Pruie. He was an intact male and he absolutely stunk.
He used to wait on the doorstep for me to come home from school and I used
to pick him up and carry him inside the house. My mother was not best
pleased when I tried to keep him in overnight and he pooed in my shoe. but
she got used to me insisting we should keep him. He was very old and very
grumpy. I could only touch his head otherwise, slash.
but he seemed to love me
KFC was my second cat. Slightly less grumpy but not by much.
she seemed to like me
Boyfriend is my third cat. No grump in him, he's delightful.
I think he loves me like crazy. He is desolate if am gone.

Your cat doesn't love you: science
 

"Bastette" wrote in message
...
Christina Websell wrote:


"Judith Latham" wrote in message
...
In article , Christina Websell
wrote:

"J" wrote in message
...

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/wo...ve-you-science


Rudyard Kipling was right. Cats really do walk by themselves, and do
not need their owners to feel secure and safe, a study has shown.
Although absent owners might worry that their pet is pining, in
fact,
cats show no sign of separation anxiety.


Let's just say that Boyfriend prefers me to stay at home with him and
is
delighted when I come home, whether I've been out for a couple of
hours
on a shopping trip or away for the day like last week. Whether this
means he *loves* me, I don't know. I do know he is very attached to
me
and no-one else. No matter how many weeks he's been fed by other
people
e.g. when I've been in hospital, once I am home he becomes afraid of
them again. He sees Claire at least twice a week, she was here 3 times
a
day looking after me last year but he wants to go out the minute she
visits. Luckily she is not offended, she's Tigger's meowmie. I don't
know if animals experience love for humans in the human sense of it. I
do know that Boyfie only wants *me* to be with him. Is that love?
Maybe he is just used to me and feels safe with me. I love *him*
anyway..

Tweed

I'm sure my cats have loved me, and that Sootie does. I don't think I'm
deluding myself, their behaviour and desire to be with me, for me to
show
them affection when they could be doing other things they like etc.
They
just don't like to show it as dogs show it and you do have to earn it
with
a cat.

Judith

But is it *love*? The scientific part of me says it's more likely that
cats just want to be fed and have a comfy bed inside when it's cold or
raining and will do what they have to to achieve it. My heart says that
Boyfie loves me.

I think other mammals have many of the same emotions that we have. Love
isn't strictly an emotion, although it involves emotions, but it also
requires thought, which humans do more of than most other creatures. So
what we think of as love might not mean the same to another species. But
I don't have any doubt that they feel affection - you can see that among
cats. They're a social species, even if not as much as humans are (or
maybe just differently). Cats also bond with non-human species, who don't
feed them, so the cats must be getting something other than their basic
physical needs from those relationships. Affection is an important part
of social relationships.

I don't have much investment in figuring out whether my cats feel the
same things toward me as I do toward them. I like the way they curl up
with me, rub noses with me, purr when I just talk to them (Licky), get
tremendous joy from walking down the street with me (Smudge), roll
around on the floor, squirming in anticipation of being petted, sit
there slow-blinking at me, and all the cute ways cats show affection.
We understand each other - we're mammals, we like touch and cuddling,
which are important parts of human interactions, too.

I might not be able to expect the same kinds of commitment from a cat
that I would expect of another person I'm close to. But I still get
plenty from cats and I'm pretty sure they get plenty from me, and not
just food and shelter.

--
Joyce

I'm fairly sure that Boyfriend loves me. He's had to tolerate people
feeding him when I've been in hospital but the minute I am back he doesn't
want to see them again. Only me. He pretends, once I am back, that he
never saw them before and they are now very scary.
Even Claire who fed him for weeks and came 3 times a day to care for me for
two months, and still visits twice a week. He still runs away from her.
I refuse to let him run for the hills when it's Claire visiting.

Your cat doesn't love you: science
 

"Joy" wrote in message
...
Yes it does. It may not be the same kind of love that humans feel, but
our pets do love us, no matter what science says.

Joy

No matter how many people feed Boyfriend when I can't, he refuses to
acknowledge them once I am home. I think he loves me and only me.
Although he accepts being fed for weeks by kind friends, he becomes afraid
of them if they visit when I am back home. He acts like he never saw them
before and heads for the hills.

Tweed

Your cat doesn't love you: science
 

On Wed, 9 Sep 2015 18:24:01 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:


"J" wrote in message
.. .

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/wo...ve-you-science


Rudyard Kipling was right. Cats really do walk by themselves, and do
not need their owners to feel secure and safe, a study has shown.
Although absent owners might worry that their pet is pining, in fact,
cats show no sign of separation anxiety.


Let's just say that Boyfriend prefers me to stay at home with him and is
delighted when I come home, whether I've been out for a couple of hours on a
shopping trip or away for the day like last week. Whether this means he
*loves* me, I don't know. I do know he is very attached to me and no-one
else.
No matter how many weeks he's been fed by other people e.g. when I've been
in hospital, once I am home he becomes afraid of them again.
He sees Claire at least twice a week, she was here 3 times a day looking
after me last year but he wants to go out the minute she visits. Luckily
she is not offended, she's Tigger's meowmie.
I don't know if animals experience love for humans in the human sense of it.
I do know that Boyfie only wants *me* to be with him. Is that love? Maybe
he is just used to me and feels safe with me.
I love *him* anyway..

Just read the article. Sorry, I don't agree with their theory. There's
no question at all that my two girls love me. If Lucy doesnt love
me... she's doing a very good job of pretending :) I've been told that
my two girls will stay in my bed pretty much the whole time I'm away
from home. Not to mention they seem to equate feeling protected with
love for some reason. Aside from that, the article contains painfully
obvious conclusions that most all pet owners have always known.

Your cat doesn't love you: science
 

My friend is in hospital at the moment and her cat Milo is crying
when he can't find her even though her 2 daughters and husband are
still there looking after him and loving him. Says it all really.
Yes it does. It may not be the same kind of love that humans feel,
but our pets do love us, no matter what science says.

Dunno what other word fits when my Chloe sits on my chest looking
into my eyes from inches away and purring, then pats me on the face
to remind me to keep on stroking her.

On the other hand I think we do need a special word for what's going
on in Marblecake's little mind when she waits till I'm sitting on
the loo, steps into my trousers, stands up on her hind legs and starts
chewing my kneecaps. It can probably be expressed by a single meow
in Tabbyese.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
e m a i l : j a c k @ c a m p i n . m e . u k
Jack Campin, 11 Third Street, Newtongrange, Midlothian EH22 4PU, Scotland
mobile 07800 739 557 http://www.campin.me.uk Twitter: JackCampin

Your cat doesn't love you: science
 

On Mon, 05 Oct 2015 02:22:06 +0100, Jack Campin
wrote:

My friend is in hospital at the moment and her cat Milo is crying
when he can't find her even though her 2 daughters and husband are
still there looking after him and loving him. Says it all really.
Yes it does. It may not be the same kind of love that humans feel,
but our pets do love us, no matter what science says.

Dunno what other word fits when my Chloe sits on my chest looking
into my eyes from inches away and purring, then pats me on the face
to remind me to keep on stroking her.

On the other hand I think we do need a special word for what's going
on in Marblecake's little mind when she waits till I'm sitting on
the loo, steps into my trousers, stands up on her hind legs and starts
chewing my kneecaps. It can probably be expressed by a single meow
in Tabbyese.

That's what is so cool about cats, they ARE each different, unlike dogs.

I had the pleasure of a cat nap today, WITH an actual cat. ;)

It had rained early in the day, so GLyN decided staying inside for much
of the day would be a good thing, and when I laid down, he was right there
warming my chest and arm for almost 3 hours.

As soon as I got back up, he took off for his grounds guarding.

Your cat doesn’t love you: science
 

On Sat, 05 Sep 2015 22:50:01 -0400, J wrote:


http://news.nationalpost.com/news/wo...ve-you-science


Rudyard Kipling was right. Cats really do walk by themselves, and do
not need their owners to feel secure and safe, a study has shown.
Although absent owners might worry that their pet is pining, in fact,
cats show no sign of separation anxiety.

Researchers at the University of Lincoln have concluded that cats,
unlike dogs, do not need humans to feel protected.

Before cat lovers start despairing about their aloof pets, however,
animal behaviorists said they should take the finding as a compliment.
If cats stay, it means they really want to be there.

Daniel Mills, Professor of Veterinary Behavioural Medicine at the
University of Lincoln’s School of Life Sciences, said: “The domestic
cat has recently passed the dog as the most popular companion animal
in Europe.

“Previous research has suggested that some cats show signs of
separation anxiety when left alone by their owners, in the same way
that dogs do, but the results of our study show that they are, in
fact, much more independent than canine companions.

“It seems that what we interpret as separation anxiety might actually
be signs of frustration.” To find out if cats needed their owner to
feel secure, the researchers observed how 20 cats reacted when they
were placed in an unfamiliar environment together with their owner,
with a stranger or on their own.

The study monitored the amount of contact sought by the cat, the level
of passive behavior, and signs of distress caused by the absence of
the owner.

“Although our cats were more vocal when the owner rather than the
stranger left them with the other individual, we didn’t see any
additional evidence to suggest that the bond between a cat and its
owner is one of secure attachment,” Prof Mills said.

“This vocalization might simply be a sign of frustration or learnt
response, since no other signs of attachment were reliably seen. For
dogs, their owners often represent a specific safe haven; however it
is clear domestic cats are much more autonomous when it comes to
coping with unusual situations.”

Although the researchers say cats can still develop bonds with, and
affection for their owners, the new study shows that they do not
depend on them in the same way that dogs do.

However cat expert Celia Haddon, author of Cats Behaving Badly and How
To Read Your Cat’s Mind, said owners should not feel their pets do not
love them. “This study shows cats do not need their humans to feel
safe, they look after themselves. But in a way that’s a real
compliment. Cats won’t live in an unhappy home, they’ll just walk
out.”

The research was published in the online journal PLOS One.




J Young

Your cat doesn’t love you: science
 

jdyoung wrote:
On Sat, 05 Sep 2015 22:50:01 -0400, J wrote:

2015? Still a good read

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/wo...ve-you-science


Rudyard Kipling was right. Cats really do walk by themselves, and do
not need their owners to feel secure and safe, a study has shown.
Although absent owners might worry that their pet is pining, in fact,
cats show no sign of separation anxiety.

Researchers at the University of Lincoln have concluded that cats,
unlike dogs, do not need humans to feel protected.



The research was published in the online journal PLOS One.

And you can find it here, public (also in pdf format)

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/art...l.pone.0135109

Skimmed it. Not entirely convinced. One eyebrow raiser for me
was the cat/owner pairs had to go to the researchers. Which
means the cat was put in a travel carrier and in fact that's
so stated " All except one of the cats were used to being
transported in a cat carrier" which might have introduced
stress...