Speaking of Psychology What’s going on inside your cat’s head? With Kristyn Vitale, PhD
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Feb 28, 2024 Explore new research on cats' cognitive and social abilities, debunking the myth of cats as standoffish pets. Learn about the emotional bonds between cats and humans, ways to enrich your cat's life, and how to prevent them from scratching your furniture. Discover the surprising social cognitive skills of cats compared to dogs and the different methods of cat training and behavior insights.
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Cats Form Humanlike Attachments
- Cats show the same distribution of sociability as dogs, from very social to largely aloof.
- Cats display similar attachment styles to owners as dogs and human infants.
Test Cats On Their Terms
- Use tests that match natural cat choices rather than forcing repetitive trials that many cats will skip.
- Adjust methodologies and consider life experience when testing cats to reduce dropouts.
Behavior Is Shaped By Experience
- Apparent differences between dogs and cats may reflect owner reinforcement histories, not inherent lack of motivation.
- Dogs often have more training history, which shapes their cooperative behaviors.