If you share your life with one or more cats, you have probably already noticed their particular affinities with certain family members. But why do cats become more attached to some people than to others ?
Cats may be so-called "independent" animals, but they still have the need and desire to bond with their humans. A study conducted in 2019 showed that the attachment of domestic cats to their owners was as strong as that shown by dogs and children for their parents. Results that finally contradict the myth of the ungrateful and detached cat who is only there to ask for food. Cats are particularly sensitive animals, which form deep bonds with the people who share their lives with them. Our cats also tend to choose a particular member of the household, with whom they will maintain a close relationship. The preferences of cats for this or that person would generally come from their childhood. Cats will indeed often be much closer to the person they consider their referent : namely the person who will have taken the most care of them as kittens, and will have shown them the most attention and gentleness.
Why does the cat prefer one person to another ?
Cats' preferences over people are also determined by their individual histories and personalities. A cat who has experienced a trauma, for example, will be much more distant with a person who reminds him of its attacker, even if this person makes all his effort to win its affection. Depending on its character, a cat may also be more attracted to a calm person than to an always agitated person. As a general rule, cats are closer to gentle people, who show them attention without ever forcing contact. Indeed, the cat does not like to be constrained and will prefer to move away from humans who are too intrusive or insistent.
How do I know if I'm my cat's favorite person ?
If your cat follows you everywhere, sleeps with you, purrs in your presence, seeks your attention and caresses, then it is very likely that you are the lucky one in its heart. A cat does not hide its feelings and shows its attachment in many ways : by affectionate little pats with its paws, soft meows, little licks, but also quite simply by its presence alongside the person it loves. . It's also entirely possible that a cat doesn't show a particular preference for anyone and employs the same behavior with every member of the family. It all depends on its personality and its experience.
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