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... |
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