Top Dog Walkers & Pet Sitters in St. Louis
  • Home
  • Dog Walking, Pet Sitting & House Sitting
  • Freshwater Aquarium Cleaning
  • Animal Cage Cleaning
  • Hours & Additional Pricing Info
  • Meet the Owner
  • My Furry Daughter Who Happens To Be a Dog!
  • Testimonials
  • EXPERT Pet Care Blog
  • EXPERT Pet Care E-zine
  • Our Friends!!
  • Contact Us

A Study Suggests Cats Are More Independent Than Dogs

10/14/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Researchers at the University of Lincolnshire, England, acknowledge the growing recognition that cats are more social and capable of relationships than we once thought, but their latest study, published in the journal PLOS One suggests that on the other hand, cats don't necessarily rely on us for a sense of protection.

In short, they're more independent than dogs, the scientists say. "Domestic cats do not generally see their owners as focus of safety and security in the same way that dogs do."

Their small study adapted the Ainsworth Strange Situation  Test, which assesses the bond between children or pet dogs and their caregivers when they're in potentially threatening or unfamiliar environments. The researchers observed the relationship between 20 cats and their owners with the cats in a new environment with their owner, with a stranger and on their own. They assessed the amount of contact the cats sought, their level of passive behavior and signs of distress when the owner was absent.

"Although our cats were more vocal when the owner rather than the stranger left them, we didn't see any additional evidence to suggest that the bond between a cat and his owner is one of secure attachment," says Daniel Mills, BVSc, Ph.D., Professor of Veterinary Behavioral Medicine, who led the study. "This vocalization might simply be a sign of frustration or learned response, since no other signs of attachment were reliably seen."

"Individuals in strange situations try to stay close to their caregiver and show signs of distress when separated and show pleasure when the caregiver returns," Dr. Mill says, "but these trends weren't apparent during our research."

Previous research has suggested that some cats show signs of separation anxiety in the same way dogs do when their owners leave them alone, but the results of the Lincolnshire study found that they are more independent than canine companions.

"It seems that what we interpret as separation anxiety might actually be signs of frustration," says Dr. Mills.

Animal behaviorist Katherine Houpt, VMD, Ph.D., professor emeritus at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, says, "This finding may account for the fact that few owners complain that their cats have separation anxiety. They seem to be able to tolerate daytime absences, but are more likely to show stress-related behavior, including house soiling, when the owner is gone overnight or longer. Even more cats 'swear' at their owners after a prolonged absence, vocalizing loudly when they return."

While dogs often regard their owners as a source of safety, it is clear that domestic cats are much more autonomous when it comes to coping with unusual situations.

"Our findings don't disagree with the notion that cats develop social preferences or close relationships, but they do show that these relationships do not appear to be typically based on a need for safety and security," says Dr. Mills.

The possible reason will come as no surprise: The researchers believe it derives from the nature of the species Felis silvestris catus -- our cats -- as solitary hunters. 



By Sarah Zumhofe
0 Comments

      CONTACT US TODAY!

    Submit

    SARAH ZUMHOFE

    Sarah Zum Hofe was born in 1987 in St. Louis, MO- and has since then had a love affair with animals!
                                        
    In 2011, Sarah met her husband, Timothy Zum Hofe through eHarmony, and after 2 years of courtship, they were married in 2013. 

    In 2013 they adopted their first dog, a Morkie, i.e., part Maltese and part Yorkie. They named her Lacy Loo and she is now 6 years old. 

    They bought their first house in 2013, and they now live in Perryville, MO. 

    Timothy has been teaching at Saxony Lutheran High School for 12 years. He teaches religion and social studies and is currently in school to get his master's degree. 

    Sarah Zum Hofe is the founder of Pet First Pet Care, which was established in 2008. 

    Pet First Pet Care opened in St. Louis, and now has another location in Perryville, MO, where the owner currently resides. Pet First Pet Care will continue to expand with new locations across the United States. 

    Sarah has been working professionally with animals for 14 years, since the age of 18. She has been a pet care associate at big chain pet stores and a veterinary technician, and in 2008, finally found her calling and true passion as owner of Pet First Pet Care.

    Picture

    Archives

    December 2019
    November 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014

    Categories

    All
    Interesting Tidbits
    New Pet
    Pet Care
    Pet Emergency
    Pet Health
    Pet Safety
    Special Offers
    Training
    Veterinary Care

    RSS Feed

    Source; www.petsitters.org
    Email Us
    Click for the BBB Business Review of this Pet Sitting Services in Saint Louis MO
    Advertise Here
Protected by Copyscape DMCA Copyright Detector
© 2019 Text and Pet First pet care logo by Pet First Pet Care.
All rights reserved.