Cat and Human Personality

Abstract

Recent decades have seen a surge of interest in animal personality. Most recently we have begun to investigate the personalities of pet animals, and while most work has been done with pet dogs, research into cat personality is increasing, often with the goal of improving their welfare. This dissertation first examines a current cat personality measurement program (Feline-ality™) designed to improve adoption rates and decrease euthanasia rates, followed by an evaluation of associations between human and cat personality traits that might predict cat owners’ satisfaction with, and attachment to, their cats.In the first chapter, I consider the possible relationship between the personality dimensions measured by the Feline-ality™ behavioral assay and subject variables of cats (age, sex, color). I then investigate elements of the convergent validity of Feline-ality™ by comparing it with an established survey-based human personality measurement tool (IAS-R). Finally, in an effort to address possible confirmation bias in the survey measurement of cat personality, I evaluate relationships between the survey measure and cat signalment variables. Results indicate that neither Feline-ality™ nor the IAS-R correlate with cat age, sex, or color, nor was there evidence of confirmation bias in the survey. The two personality dimensions measured by Feline-ality™ were strongly correlated with each other, and one was moderately correlated with a similar dimension of the IAS-R. The second chapter describes process and outcome evaluations of Feline-ality™, following its implementation at the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS). Feline-ality™ was practiced at SAS in 2017 – I consider data from a five-year span (2015-2019) in order to evaluate any changes in cat adoption rates, euthanasia rates, return rates, and length of time spent in the shelter that could be attributed to Feline-ality™. I also examine process errors. Results indicate an extremely high error rate in implementation of the program, such that no changes in any outcomes could be reliably attributed to Feline-ality™. It should be noted that errors in the Feline-ality™ data were corrected prior to analysis in our first chapter. Chapter three returns to a consideration of the IAS-R as a possible replacement for Feline-ality™. The IAS-R measures two personality trait dimensions that characterize human interpersonal interactions (Agency and Communion) and that have been previously demonstrated in cats (Zeigler-Hill & Highfill, 2010). Similarity in Communion within cats-owner dyads, as well as reciprocity in Agency, was shown to predict owner-cat relationship satisfaction (Zeigler-Hill & Highfill, 2010). Using a large internet dataset, I attempted to replicate this finding. I extended the replication to include variables suggested by the original authors (cat age and cat sex), and looked not only at relationship satisfaction, but also at owner attachment to their cats. Results indicate partial replication: similarity in Communion was positively correlated with relationship satisfaction, though with a small effect size. Neither similarities nor differences in Agency or Communion were related to attachment, although relationship satisfaction and attachment were strongly correlated. The final chapter begins with further exploratory analyses of the dataset used in the previous chapter. In this instance, I examined not only intradyadic similarities and differences in Agency and Communion between cats and their owners, but also individual cat and human scores on each dimension independent of and in interaction with each other, along with years of ownership (as a control), cat age, cat sex, all in both linear and curvilinear relation to relationship satisfaction and attachment. The results of the exploratory analyses were then tested on a different dataset comprised of recently adopted cats in confirmatory analyses, with the addition of a measurement of overall attitude towards pets as a control (replacing years owned). The results of the confirmatory analyses indicate that, controlling for attitude towards pets, only cat Agency was predictive of relationship satisfaction. No other variable, outside of attitude towards pets, predicted attachment to pet cats. I further describe important limitations in our field that include the lack of reliable and valid measurement tools for cat personality and the lack of a standardized nomenclature, both of which are necessary for further advancement in this area of inquiry.