Introduction
Yes, cats can and do prefer certain people over others. While cats are often stereotyped as aloof or indifferent to human interaction, research shows that felines are capable of forming strong social attachments and exhibiting distinct preferences between different people in their lives. The extent to which a cat favors someone depends on factors like how much quality time, affection and care that person provides. Cats often bond most closely with their primary caretakers who feed them, play with them, and care for their needs. But cats may imprint on other family members or visitors too, showing more enthusiasm and affection for certain people’s attention or presence. Over time, familiar and positive interactions strengthen the human-cat bond.
Cats express these bonds in subtle social ways like approaching their favorite person for affection or play, purring more around them, displaying relaxed body language, or being more vocal for attention. While cats are independent, they are highly observant creatures capable of forming meaningful social relationships. Like any friendship, human-cat relationships require mutual understanding and respect. When cared for positively, cats respond with loyalty and strong attachment bonds.
Reasons Cats Bond
Cats are more social animals than commonly believed. According to a 2019 study, cats form attachments to their human caregivers similar to dogs and human infants. This research shows that cats seek companionship and affection from people, just like dogs do.
While cats are still independent animals, they enjoy human interaction and bonding. Cats often choose to spend time with their favorite people, sitting on laps for petting or following their owners around the house. They see their human caregivers as a source of food, shelter, and companionship.
How Cats Show Preference
Cats demonstrate preference for certain people through their bonding behaviors. One way cats show preference is by greeting a person at the door. When a cat hears its favored person arriving home, it may eagerly run to the door to welcome them. This displays the cat’s excitement and affection for that individual.
Cats also express preference through physical closeness. A cat that frequently curls up on someone’s lap, nuzzles up next to them, or sleeps on their bed likely feels an attachment to that person. This physical proximity and desire to be near them is a sign of bonding.
Additionally, cats show preference by gazing. When a cat slowly blinks at a person, holding eye contact, it is a sign of love and comfort. Cats often reserve this gazing behavior for preferred humans they feel safe and content with.
Overall, greeting at the door, physical closeness, and gazing are some of the ways cats demonstrate bonds and show preference for their favorite people. These behaviors display the cat’s emotions and feelings of affection.
Food Provider Bond
Cats often form strong attachments to the people who regularly feed them. As natural scavengers, cats are highly food motivated. The person who fills their food bowl every day becomes associated with this essential resource. According to the Catster article, “It’s natural for cats to feel more bonded to those who feed them.” (1) This bond can persist even when other people in the home also provide food. Cats recognize who their primary feeding caregiver is and will show preference for that person.
Research has shown that cats can differentiate their owners from strangers based on scent, behavior and other familiar cues. The person who feeds them frequently develops a stronger scent and behavioral association due to their regular close interactions while feeding. Even when someone else feeds the cat occasionally, they still maintain the strongest bond and loyalty to their primary feeder.
Playing Favorites
It’s common for cats to bond more strongly with one particular person compared to others in the household. According to the Cat Watch newsletter, when a cat forms a close attachment to one person while avoiding others, it’s due to personality preferences (source). Cats tend to choose favorites based on who provides the most positive interactions through playtime, petting, treats, etc. They recognize who engages with them the most and responds well to their needs.
The blog Gallant also discusses why cats pick favorite people. They form tighter bonds with those they feel safest and most secure with. Cats often imprint on the first person who cared for them as kittens. But they can switch favorites over time if someone else provides better experiences. Their chosen person becomes their primary source of affection, attention and care (source).
Bonding Behaviors
Cats have various ways of showing affection and bonding with their owners or other cats. Some common bonding behaviors include:
Rubbing – Cats have scent glands in their cheeks and forehead. When a cat rubs its head against you, furniture or another cat, it is depositing its scent and marking you as “theirs”. This is a form of bonding and affection.
Kneading – Often called “making biscuits”, kneading is when a cat pushes in and out with its front paws, usually while sitting on or near a person. It’s an instinctive behavior from kittenhood and shows contentment.
Purring – A cat’s purr vibrates at a frequency that promotes healing and bone growth. So when a cat purrs around you, it is like the cat is trying to heal and nurture you. Purring also indicates happiness and contentment.
Choose Personality Match
Research has shown that there is often a correlation between a cat’s personality and the personality of their owner. One study published in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science looked at the personalities of cats and owners using the Feline Five personality dimensions for cats (neuroticism, extraversion, dominance, impulsiveness, and agreeableness) and the Big Five model for humans (neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness). The results showed that similarity in owner dominance and cat agreeableness, as well as owner impulsivity and cat agreeableness, were associated with greater owner satisfaction with the cat-owner relationship.
This indicates that dominant owners tend to prefer agreeable cats, while impulsive owners are more satisfied with agreeable cats. The similarities in personalities leads to more harmonious relationships. Cats may be more inclined to bond with and show preference for owners that have personality traits that complement their own. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0191886918305427
Gender Preferences
Research suggests that cats do often form closer bonds with women compared to men. A study from the University of Vienna found that cats had higher stress levels when being held by men than when held by women (Source). The study indicates that cats feel more relaxed and comfortable around women. Another study published in the journal Behavioural Processes observed the interactions between cats and their owners and found that cats were more likely to approach women than men (Source).
Possible reasons for cats bonding more closely with women include women having typically higher pitched voices, smoother skin, and being more likely to have female hormones that cats can detect. Some speculate that cats may sense that men are more threatening or intimidating. However, it’s important to note that while statistical trends exist, each cat has individual preferences – some do form very close bonds with men. The most important factor in forming a cat’s preference is the individual personality and actions of the owner rather than their gender.
Conclusion
In conclusion, research shows that cats are quite capable of differentiating between humans and choosing favorites. While cats initially select humans who feed them and provide for their basic needs, over time they begin to show preferences based on factors like personality match, playfulness, and positive interactions. Many cats will spend the majority of their time following and interacting with the people they feel closest to. There are subtle signs like head-butting, sitting on laps, and waiting at the door that demonstrate a cat’s preference. Ultimately, a cat bonds most deeply with those humans who pay attention to the unique things that each individual cat enjoys, such as chin scratches or feather toys. With patience, any human can become a cat’s favorite by focusing on its needs and desires. While cats develop preferences, responsible caretakers ensure every cat gets the care and affection it requires, regardless of favoritism. Still, it’s always gratifying when a cat singles out a person for extra snuggling and purring.
Summary
In summary, the evidence suggests that cats do tend to choose favorite people. Cats form bonds through association with food and play, and they often gravitate toward people with personalities and gender that match their own preferences. The key points around cats choosing favorites include:
- Cats bond with people who frequently feed and play with them.
- Cats relate to certain personality types better than others.
- Some cats prefer women and others prefer men.
- Bonding behaviors like head-butts, kneading, and grooming indicate a cat’s fondness.
- Food providers, playmates, and personality matches tend to become a cat’s favorites.
While cats are more independent than dogs, research and observation make it clear that cats do form real attachments and do choose human companions as their preferred friends and associates. By understanding how cats bond, we can better build strong relationships with our feline friends.