UniSA study of 3000 cat personality tests have uncovered feline personality traits

CAT owners who think of their pets as people may be closer to the mark than the rest of us think, according to South Australian scientists.

CAT owners who think of their pets as people may be closer to the mark than the rest of us think, according to South Australian scientists who have defined the five feline personality traits that are remarkably similar to those of humans.

While news that some cats are neurotic and others want to dominate will surprise few, the results of almost 3000 cat personality tests have also uncovered outgoing natures, spontaneity and even friendliness among our moggies.

TEACHER’S PET: Lou Davy, her cat Bagherra and students Ben Tillett, 16, and Shane Male, 17.Picture: CAMPBELL BRODIE

UniSA Discovery Circle research leader Dr Philip Roetman said the tests were part of the Cat Tracker project, which has been studying the behaviour and movement of cats.

“People are fascinated by cats, they have really intriguing personalities,” he said.

“From a research perspective, it’s really interesting to understand and look at the personalities of different animals, especially when we are talking about management.”

The research team adapted a questionnaire originally developed overseas and used on both captive wildcats and domestic cats in shelters.

But this was the first time the test had been applied to such a large number (2802 so far) of domestic cats.

Sophisticated statistical analysis revealed what researchers have called the “Feline Five” factors of cat personality: 1. Skittishness, 2. Outgoingness, 3. Dominance, 4. Spontaneity, and Friendliness.

PAWS FOR THOUGHT: Aimee Heywood, of Golden Grove, with Theo, who is an inquisitive and curious cat. Picture: TRICIA WATKINSON

Dr Roetman said that was “really interesting” because humans have the “Big Five” and there is some overlap.

“Skittishness is similar to neuroticism in people, outgoingness is similar to extroversion and friendliness is akin to agreeableness,” he said.

“The big difference in cats is dominance and spontaneity.”

Dr Roetman said the results were useful because owners could “do things differently based on that cat and what it likes, to have a better relationship with their cat”.

Dominant cat

Another “really interesting finding” emerged when researchers compared indoor cats to outdoor cats.

“It was only extremely slight but the only difference we found was indoor cats tended to be slightly more friendly,” Dr Roetman said.

“I think that’s really good news because people are often concerned about keeping cats indoors too much because it might have a negative impact on them, but this suggests there isn’t a negative impact on cat personality by keeping them indoors. If people want to keep their cats indoors, they can feel a bit more confident about it.”

Cat with spontaneity

Aimee Heywood, 21 of Golden Grove said she expected her indoor cat Theo, a Bengal cross Neva Masquerade, to score highly on “outgoingness” and maybe “spontaneity”.

“He’s very inquisitive and curious, very quick and athletic, anything that moves has to be hunted,” she said.

“And very needy, he doesn’t like to be held but always has to be in the same room as you, just far enough away that you can’t touch him.”

The outgoing cat

She said she was “more than happy to do anything to help with the research” but had assumed her indoor cat would not be worth tracking, because “our cat doesn’t leave the house”.

Modbury High School support room teacher Lou Davy takes her cat Bagherra, found abandoned on campus in 2012, to the school every day and says he is “the most placid of cats”.

The affectionate cat

“It’s that easygoing nature that has meant this is such a huge success, kids can pick him up and hold him, he’s the perfect school cat really.”

When given a sneak preview of the test results, she was not surprised to find Bagherra scored highly on outgoingness and friendliness.

Year 12 student Shane said Bagherra “makes me feel happy”.

The skittish cat

“He’s really friendly and he loves people’s attention, he just comes to people and wants a pat,” he said.

There are 52 questions in the study questionnaire, which takes about 25 minutes to complete and is still available online for owners who want to participate.

At the end people are asked if they want to volunteer for the Cat Tracker project. So far 350 South Australian cats have been recruited to the study, with researchers hoping for 500 cats.

Fill in the survey online www.discoverycircle.org.au/projects/cat-tracker/ and sign up to Cat Tracker.

Originally published as UniSA study of 3000 cat personality tests have uncovered feline personality traits