Attachment to Feline Companions

Abstract

A sample of 100 adult cat owners participated in a mail survey designed to investigate various aspects of attachment to feline companions. 54 respondents were members of a nationwide computer cat club and 46 were attenders at a cat show in Anaheim, California. 92% of respondents reported preferring cats to all other pets citing ease of care, affection and companionship, and personality as the main reasons. A mean self-rated attachment score of 9.3 on a 10-point scale was obtained. Positive characteristics of the cat were associated with attachment, and the presence of certain problem behaviors did not affect that attachment. Comparisons of the benefits of feline and human companionship showed that affection and unconditional love were the primary benefits of the human-cat relationship, and verbal communication was the primary benefit of the human-human relationship. The findings indicate that, although not a replacement for human contact, feline companions can be a very important source of pleasure and emotional comfort for their owners.