The unexplored territory - Research looks at the behaviour & different personalities of cats

Which cat breed is most fearful, active, or sociable? The understanding and appreciation of area feline behaviour and personality has been a rather underexplored avenue even though cats are the second most popular pet in Ireland. As a result of recent scientific research, we can now develop a deeper understanding of the behaviours and personalities of cats.

Researchers mapped the personalities and behaviours of 4,300 cats across 26 breed groups in a recent study. The study was led by Professor Hannes Lohi of the University of Helsinki together with doctoral students Salla Mikkola and Milla Salonen. The research was funded by the Agria SKK Research Fund.

"Compared to dogs, there is less data available focusing on the behaviour and personalities of cats. It is critical to learn more about the problematic behaviours of cats and develop tools and techniques to resolve or reduce such inappropriate behaviours. This is imperative for the welfare of cats. One of the most common behavioural challenges with cats is aggression," says Salla Mikkola, PhD student at the University of Helsinki and the Folkhälsan Research Center.

Seven cat personalities and behaviour

The topic of feline behavioural concerns is becoming increasingly popular. Studying their personalities is another area of interest as it can be linked directly to behavioural problems.

The data from the study suggested that a total of seven personality and behavioural characteristics were identified:

• Activity and playfulness
• Fear
• Aggression towards people
• Degree of socialising with people
• Degree of socialising with other cats
• Problems with the litter box (inappropriate litter box placement within the home, precocity in terms of cleanliness of the litter boxes)
• Excessive grooming habits (over-grooming)

Frightened cats had both more aggression towards humans and excessive grooming habits, while a high level of socialising with humans was associated with a lower degree of fear. The results also suggest that annual health check-ups are recommended to avoid aggression related to pain.

In addition to individual differences in behaviour, some personality characteristics are more commonly found among some cat breeds. For example, this research suggests that the most fearful breed was the Russian Blue, while the Abyssinian was the least fearful. The Bengal breed was most active, while the Persians and Exotic were the most passive breeds.

The breeds that exhibited excessive grooming habits were the Siamese and Balinese, while the Turkish Van scored significantly higher in aggression towards humans and lower in socialisation with other cats.

"We wanted to get a rough idea of whether there are differences in personality traits between breeds. In future studies, we will focus on examining factors that influence characteristics and problematic behaviour in cats. In addition to the breeds, the current study considers the age, gender and health of cats and a wide range of environmental factors," says Mikkola.

The research conducted by Professor Hannes Lohi and his team makes it possible to identify genetic, environmental and personality factors related to problematic cat behaviour. A recognition of environmental factors in behaviour can lead to lifestyle changes for cats and the overall welfare of cats. 

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