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Your cat doesn’t love you: science



 
 
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  #1  
Old September 6th 15, 03:50 AM posted to alt.atheism,rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
J[_3_]
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Posts: 15
Default 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





  #2  
Old September 6th 15, 04:12 AM posted to alt.atheism,rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
dgk
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Posts: 2,268
Default 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.
  #3  
Old September 6th 15, 04:48 AM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
jmcquown[_2_]
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Posts: 8,008
Default 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
  #4  
Old September 9th 15, 06:24 PM posted to alt.atheism,rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
Christina Websell
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 8,983
Default 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





  #5  
Old September 9th 15, 07:56 PM posted to alt.atheism,rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
JJ[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 104
Default 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





  #6  
Old September 9th 15, 08:12 PM posted to alt.atheism,rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
Christopher A. Lee[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 4
Default 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.
  #7  
Old September 9th 15, 08:57 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
jmcquown[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 8,008
Default 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
  #8  
Old September 9th 15, 09:20 PM posted to alt.atheism,rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
Christina Websell
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 8,983
Default 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.



  #9  
Old September 9th 15, 09:24 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
JJ[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 104
Default 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







  #10  
Old September 9th 15, 09:37 PM posted to alt.atheism,rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
Christopher A. Lee[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 4
Default 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?

 




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