Of course, your cat needs you, how else will he get his food, drink, and a home! So, is this a silly subject for a blog? No, because your cat also needs you for very different reasons.
Is the cat a loner?
The story goes that a cat is a loner, who goes its way. He is supposed to be more attached to his home than to his human. Luckily this old-fashioned idea is being debunked again and again in research. And that’s a good thing because you will most probably have a deep bond with your cats. Still, the idea of aloofness does not go away, yet.
Large differences
The tricky thing with cats is that they can differ considerably in their sociality. This has to do with genetics (friendly males produce friendly kittens) and socialization, among others. Because of those big differences in social behavior, an individual cat can react differently, and it doesn’t mean that results from a study are worthless if they don’t apply to your cat.
Does your cat need you?
A super interesting new study looked at whether cats know the “Secure Base Effect”. In short, this is the ability of a human or non-human animal to see the presence of a bonded person as a source of comfort that reduces stress in unfamiliar situations.
Scent…
We know that cats are sensitive to smells. Therefore, cats going to the vet or a kennel, are often provided with an object with the scent of the owner. The cat would then have less stress because he has a familiar smell to comfort him.
… or human?
However, logically as it may sound, there is no scientific evidence supporting this idea. This study looks into this statement and compares it with the effect of the presence of the owner. What does the cat prefer, is there a difference between the two situations?
Your cat needs you
After being with the owner for a short time, the cats in the abovementioned study were left alone for two minutes in a strange environment. Then the owner returned or an object with the owner’s scent was put in the room. Results showed that when the owner returned, the cat sought his or her proximity and rubbed himself against the owner. They also stopped meowing, a sign that they displayed the Secure Base Effect.
In contrast, they showed little or no reaction to the scented object. In fact, some cats became more stressed by that object!
What does this mean for your cat?
To start with, we have to let go of the idea that an object with a familiar scent is a source of comfort for a cat. This corresponds to the experience of a fellow therapist who runs a boarding kennel: she already told me a few years ago that cats do not pay any attention to an article of clothing belonging to the owner. And if it can also cause extra stress, maybe it is best not to use it at all.
You and your cat
The beauty of this research is that it shows that cats can experience support from the presence of the owner. They can build a very good bond with you and seek your proximity when they experience a situation that is exciting or unsettling. Your cat really needs you!
Photo: Rudy and Peter Skitterians @ Pixabay