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Your cat doesn’t love you: science



 
 
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  #21  
Old September 12th 15, 11:43 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
Joy[_3_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 397
Default 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

  #22  
Old September 13th 15, 07:28 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
Christina Websell
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 8,983
Default 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.



  #23  
Old September 16th 15, 07:34 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
Joy[_3_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 397
Default 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
  #24  
Old September 18th 15, 10:00 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
Christina Websell
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 8,983
Default 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.



  #25  
Old September 21st 15, 10:16 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
Christina Websell
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 8,983
Default 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.






  #26  
Old September 21st 15, 10:39 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
Christina Websell
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 8,983
Default 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.


  #27  
Old September 27th 15, 07:27 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
Christina Websell
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 8,983
Default 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





  #28  
Old October 1st 15, 11:06 PM posted to alt.atheism,rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
Jeßus[_4_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 12
Default 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.
  #29  
Old October 5th 15, 02:22 AM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
Jack Campin
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 675
Default 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
  #30  
Old October 5th 15, 04:18 AM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
The New Other Guy
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 88
Default 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.




 




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