The world may say otherwise but trust us: cats have emotions. They may appear distant, but they get attached.
They’ve got personalities!
It may appear a bit unbelievable if you’ve seen cats at a distance only. But that’s the truth.
Once you adopt a cat, you’ll begin noticing its likes and dislikes. You’ll notice how they have certain ways of dealing with things and how behavioral traits and characteristics of one cat differ from another.
In this post, we’ll explore cat personalities in great detail. Plus, we’ll check out how you can pick a cat personality that goes well with your lifestyle. Let’s go!
Common Cat Personalities
Recently, the University of Australia studied 2800 different domestic cats and their behaviors to understand cat personalities. The owners of these cats were asked to fill out a survey form that concluded the cat’s behavior. According to the findings of this study, five major cat personalities or cat traits have been identified. These include:
- Spontaneity
- Outgoingness
- Skittishness
- Dominance
- Friendliness
Any cat will have any of the five traits that’ll lead to its personality. Another surprising fact revealed from this study is that a cat’s personality is largely influenced by its owner and environment. The company and environment that it grows in shape its personality.
How to get one that suits your lifestyle?
Now, let’s explore how you can use these findings for your benefit.
You can get a cat that suits your lifestyle as per the follows:
#1. Opt for a Kitten
A cat develops its personality by the age of two. This is why people with busy schedules should adopt a grown-up cat.
However, if you wish to have a cat that suits your lifestyle or grows up to have a personality you’d prefer, you should adopt a kitten.
You’ll have a good chance of grooming their personality, particularly during 2-12 weeks of age. If a kitten receives ample healthy socialization during this time, it grows up to be happier and more friendly. However, any strict behavior during these times can instill fear and anxiety in the kitten, making it fearful and aggressive.
Experts have also found that the owner’s behavior and mood shape their cat’s personality similar to how parents shape their children’s personalities. For that very reason, it’s essential to maintain a calm and healthy atmosphere.
#2. Know the Breed You’re Getting
Young age can give you a few benefits, and you can shape your cat’s personality as you will. But there are a few genetic traits that you can’t change and morph. And these are determined by a cat’s breed.
For example, a Lynx Point Siamese cat is super curious. You can’t eliminate this factor from its personality. You can teach it to behave and stay out of a few areas at your place. But you can’t kill the attribute altogether. Similarly, the Abyssinians are full of energy, and you can’t keep them from playing for most of their time. But you can set up a playtime schedule and channel their energy systematically.
Therefore, we recommend studying the breed you’re getting beforehand. Know the traits that you cannot change later on.
#3. Consider Your Family Makeup
Your work routine makes up 30 percent of your lifestyle, while your family makes up 70 percent. For that very reason, it’s also essential to consider your family makeup to get a cat that suits you.
If you’ve got young kids, we advise avoiding kittens and the following breeds unless you can supervise the two all the time:
- Sphynx Cat
- Scottish Fold
- Bombay Cat
- Pixie Bob
- Egyptian Mau
- Bengal cat
All of these cat breeds are pretty aggressive and not very kid-friendly. Similarly, you’ll also have to consider if you’ve other pets, especially a large-sized dog. At times, the predatory instincts of large dogs can be triggered, which can be harmful to the kitten or cat you bring in. If you already have a cat, we recommend considering its behavior towards the new cat before fully adopting it.
Alternatively, if you want a certain breed and it’s not fitting for your current lifestyle, make the necessary changes before bringing that cat to your place. Otherwise, you and the cat will have a tough time adjusting to the new routine and place. Things may get ugly!
Final Words
Adopting a cat is all fun and games until you’ve finally brought the cat home and you realize there are a lot of accompanying responsibilities. So, before you house a kitten or a grown-up cat, do the necessary research and determine if your existing lifestyle is fit for the cat you’re about to adopt.
