Humans have lived with cats for thousands of years. While cats are known for being independent pets that come and go as they please, most domestic cats form bonds with their caregivers. It’s not uncommon for cats to gravitate towards one special person in the household who they seem closest with. This phenomenon of cats having a “favorite person” is widely observed by cat owners, but the reasons behind it are more complex than simply playing favorites. Understanding why cats single out particular people can provide insight into feline social behavior and improve the human-cat relationship.
Cats Initially Bond With Their Caregiver
Research shows that kittens form an attachment bond with the person who feeds and cares for them, similar to the way human infants attach to their primary caregiver. According to a 2019 study from Oregon State University, 70% of kittens had a secure attachment to their caregiver after spending the first eight weeks of their life with them. Kittens see their caregiver as a source of care, comfort and safety during this critical developmental stage.
This initial bond with the primary caregiver can go on to shape the cat’s sociability and future preferences for interacting with people. Cats that have a secure attachment early on tend to be more confident, relaxed and sociable compared to cats with insecure bonds. Their early experiences help form their expectations for how safe and rewarding relationships with humans can be.
Cats are Attracted to Predictable Routines
Cats thrive on routine and prefer regular schedules for feeding, playing, and affection (https://meowtel.com/blog/post/cat-psychology-routines-and-schedules-for-your-cat). When one person in the household maintains a cat’s routine, the cat begins to associate that person with feelings of comfort and familiarity. Cats show preferences for the people who stick to predictable patterns that the cat finds reassuring.
Establishing set routines like feeding times, scheduled play sessions, and regular grooming helps cats feel secure. The person who maintains this routine becomes a source of stability for the cat (https://www.zoetispetcare.com/blog/article/importance-routine-cat-dog). A cat who associates a particular person with their daily schedule may gravitate toward that individual and show more affection.
Cats Prefer Calm and Gentle Handlers
Cats prefer to be calmly and gently handled. They dislike loud noises and rough handling that can startle or cause fear (1). Cats will gravitate to humans who provide a calm environment without sudden loud noises. Gentle handling helps cats feel safe and secure, while rough handling can make cats anxious. Calm interactions allow cats to relax and form strong bonds with humans.
Cats show signs of stress and fear when handled roughly or exposed to loud noises. These include flattened ears, widened eyes, hiding, and agitated body language. Gentle handling that respects a cat’s preferences is important, as cats remember negative experiences (2). Rough interactions or forcing contact can damage the human-cat bond.
Providing a quiet, soothing environment and using gentle restraint allows for low-stress handling. Letting cats retreat when overwhelmed can help them feel in control. With calm, positive handling experiences, cats learn to trust their human companions. This helps cement the bond between cat and human.
(1) https://catvets.com/public/PDFs/PositionStatements/RespectfulHandling.pdf
(2) https://us.feliway.com/blogs/news/14-dos-and-don-ts-for-handling-your-cat
Food Motivates Cat Behavior
Cats strongly associate their favorite person with food. Studies have found that cats beg for food even after eating their fill, because they correlate their chosen human with receiving meals and treats (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7415653/). Cats are driven by food motivation and will work to get rewards from the person who reliably feeds them. Even when cats have continuous access to food bowls, they still beg their favorite person for handouts and delicacies. This is because cats view their special human as the provider of their most treasured resource – food. Through repeated feedings over time, cats learn to associate their caretaker with the ultimate comfort of a full belly. This food-based bond can motivate much of a cat’s attachment behavior and explains why they persistently beg their chosen person for tasty morsels.
Cats Interpret Attention as Affection
Cats often gravitate towards the person who gives them the most frequent positive attention through activities like petting, brushing, playing, and feeding. This attention reinforces the bond between cat and human. As social creatures, cats crave affectionate interaction with their human companions. When a person consistently provides gentle petting, play sessions with interactive toys, and treats, the cat comes to associate that person with pleasurable experiences.
According to an article on Milwaukeepaws.com, while independent in nature, cats still desire affection and human interaction https://milwaukeepaws.com/how-much-attention-do-cats-need/. Playtime and petting are key ways for cats to receive the mental stimulation and social connection they need. The positive association built through frequent human attention causes the cat to seek out more interaction with that specific person.
In summary, cats interpret frequent affectionate attention as bonding time with their preferred human. Petting, play, and quality interaction reinforce that bond over time.
Scents and Pheromones Influence Bonding
Cats rely heavily on their sense of smell, and they use scents and pheromones to identify familiar people and places. When a cat rubs their head against you or bunts you with their head, they are leaving their scent on you as a way to mark you as safe and trusted.
According to this source, cats have scent glands in their faces, tails, and paws that secrete pheromones. When a cat butts their head against you, they are leaving pheromones that signal comfort, contentment, and familiarity.
Cats prefer associating with the scents that they know belong to their family and home. The more a cat associates your scent with feelings of happiness and security, the stronger your bond will become.
Cats Choose Humans Similar to Their Personality
Cats often choose humans that have a similar personality and energy level as them [1]. Laidback and relaxed cats tend to bond with humans who are calm and gentle. These cats prefer a quiet home environment and an owner who likes lounging around and providing a consistent, predictable routine. On the other hand, energetic and playful cats match better with active humans who enjoy playing with them frequently. These outgoing cats crave an engaging human companion to keep them stimulated.
A cat is more likely to form a strong bond and positive relationship with a human that complements its personality [2]. Compatibility in terms of activity levels and personalities impacts how well the cat adjusts to its home and connects with its owner. Recognizing a cat’s unique personality traits and preferences allows an owner to provide an environment and interaction style that creates greater compatibility between cat and human. This personality match helps form a stronger bond.
Bonding Can Change Over Time
Cats are not static creatures, and their preferences in bonding with humans can shift and change over time. As cats age, their personality and temperament may evolve. An aloof kitten may become more affectionate as an adult cat, or a very attached young cat may become more independent later in life. Changes in environment, such as a move to a new home, addition or loss of other pets, or shifts in the household routine can also impact a cat’s behavior and bonding.
According to a 2021 study published in Animals, a cat’s relationship and bond with their owner is complex and can fluctuate. The study found that cats form attachment bonds with their owners that are similar to human-infant attachments. However, these bonds may strengthen, weaken, or change style over time as cats and their environments change. Rather than being fixed, bonding is an fluid, ongoing process between cats and their humans.
As a cat ages, health issues may also impact their personality and ability to bond. Conditions like hyperthyroidism can cause irritation and aggression in older cats. Cats also become more sensitive to stress as they age. All of these factors mean an older cat may not bond the same way a kitten would. Being aware of changes and providing a stable, low-stress environment can help maintain that bond over time.
While bonding when a cat is young establishes a foundation, cat owners should be prepared for shifts as the cat matures. Patience, routine, and adjusting to the cat’s changing needs will help preserve a close, loving human-feline relationship into the later years.
Conclusion
Cats form strong bonds with particular people for a variety of reasons. They tend to gravitate towards the person who cares for them and provides a predictable routine with feeding and playtime. Gentle handling helps cats feel calm and secure with someone. Food is a powerful motivator for bonding, as cats associate their favorite person with tasty treats. Cats also interpret physical affection and attention as a sign of a close relationship. Their advanced sense of smell picks up on scents and pheromones that make them feel attached to certain people. Cats often choose companions who have a similar mellow or energetic vibe to their own personality. While an initial bond may form, cat preferences can shift over time as living situations and relationships change. The unique psychology and physiology of cats lead them to make special connections with particular people they feel safest and most comfortable with. By understanding why cats single out certain individuals, cat lovers can build even stronger bonds with their feline friends.
