A formal study confirming that cats don’t care about us or what we say not only hurts our feelings but is unnecessary right? Confirming popular belief, a new study from the University of Tokyo published their recent findings of an 8 month investigation into the matter of if we (humans) matter to fickle felines or they just don’t care. If you are a cat owner, likely you already know the results of this research project.
Telling Us How They Really Feel, Cats Don’t Care
I’m not listening
Photo:By Jon Sullivan [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Atsuko Siato and his research team focused on 20 different cats in their homes over the course of 8 months. They noted all verbal communication and responses, reactions, (or lack of) similar to the scientific study of cognitive abilities in baby’s and mentally disabled individuals.
First the good news, the research shows that cats actually do seem interested in humans in general and respond to human speech by turning their heads towards the voice at least 50% to 70% of the time.
It is also important to note that the human voice did not have to be the cat’s owner; it could be anyone’s voice.
Now the reality is that just 30% of those cats went so far as to move their ears in response to the human voice. Even lower, only 10% Â actually responded to the voice by meowing or moving their tails.
The fact that cats don’t care may not be shocking new research, but there is some reassuring news revealed in their findings. Cats do respond much more “intensely†to their owners’ voices; this behavior was consistent in the whole group of 20 cats. Well, at least feeding and housing counts for something.
In 2003 there was a “Pet Boom†in Japan which has been attributed to the controversial family size restrictions and feelings of loneliness, resulting in more pets than people in just 6 years.
Curious Cat
Photo:By CParÃsC,Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Our American cats may be more socialized based on a report from the Journal of Veterinary Behavior, which in January 2013 concluded that our cats are copying us. This study of cat behavior here in the US distinguished the difference between indoor and outdoor cats, where the later exhibited a more independent nature. By contrast the indoor cats frequently adopt their owners routines, including eating and sleeping habits, bathroom usage, and trying to open things, or use human devices, you simply need to visit YouTube for evidence of this behavior.
Copy Cats, Imitation Is The Best Form Of Flattery
Every pet owner knows already that cats are independent pets while dogs are more dependent, and that their owners are responsible at least in part as to their personality and social skills, so why is this study necessary or important?
If nothing else, confirming that cats don’t care simply means they are not as interested in inter-species communication as we are and life is simple as long as we have what we need. Purr, purr, purr.
This video uploaded to YouTube in January 2013 demonstrates the art of cat ignoring in an interaction between a dove and a (patient) house cat.
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