Surely among your friends there are people who have a special love for cats. Maybe you yourself are a fan of these fluffy fidgets. Our article is devoted to a review of interesting psychological facts about cats, after learning which you will better understand your pet’s behavior and learn more about your character. Enjoy reading!
Why do people love cats?
Psychology of cats. People who love cats
Everyone has their own hobbies: some people like to spend time watching TV series, others prefer active recreation or knitting, and some people love to caress cats, play with them, and talk as if they were talking to a person. Therefore, all cat lovers have common character traits, and psychological science provides an explanation for this. The cat symbolizes both independence and devotion, character and strength and affection, grace and fragility. People love cats because they either have certain cat-like traits or want to have those traits.
Surely, in recent years, you have noticed that the number of cat lovers’ communities on the Internet has increased. There are a lot of funny pictures and videos dedicated to your favorite pets. This is explained by the fact that the cat symbolizes home comfort, happiness and tranquility. Recently, people have been focused on living comfortably and happily, and a lot of effort and resources are spent on this. And if there is also a cat in the house, happy, well-fed, affectionate, then life is good.
Cats are loved because these animals love tactile contacts: you can stroke them, scratch them behind the ears, caress them, and fall asleep with them. In this way, modern people relieve stress and make up for the lack of love and tenderness.
The cat symbolizes home comfort, happiness and tranquility
Interesting fact! Very often you can notice that young couples in love who begin to live together, first of all, have a cat in the house, and only years later children. This is explained by the fact that a cat does not require much attention and young people subconsciously perceive a cat as a child. After a while, people become convinced of the strength of their union and decide to have a baby.
It is well known that you can draw certain correct conclusions about a person’s character by looking at his favorite pet. But few people know that obvious antipathy towards certain types of domestic animals also means a lot. We bring to your attention a short psychological essay about fans and opponents of various pets.
Cat. Who loves cats and why. Cats are a symbol of femininity and independence. A woman always imagines herself as some kind of mysterious, graceful, languid, soft, fluffy and slightly predatory cat. A cat is the closest friend, the other self of the owner, so if someone doesn’t like the cat, then he definitely doesn’t like its owner. Ladies who harmoniously combine the advantages of both sexes usually have cats. Such women are beautiful and smart, feminine and efficient, efficient and effective, pretty and persistent in achieving their goals. Old maids and unmarried women replace their non-existent child with a cat. A cat also needs care, affection and tenderness; it is a playful and capricious animal, just like a child. A lonely woman with a cat is distrustful of men and reluctant to enter into intimate relationships with them. Children love cats because cats remind them of the image of their mother imprinted in our genetic memory - something warm, soft, purring affectionately. A man who likes cats recognizes a woman's right to be independent. As for a bachelor man who has a cat, he is a completely self-sufficient person who is unlikely to ever get married, even if he already has a girlfriend.
Who doesn't like cats? Hatred of cats means hatred of the entire female sex. In psychology, there is even a term “catphobia” - fear of cats (scientifically it is called eilurophobia). This usually affects “cool big men” who are desperately and hopelessly struggling with their hidden homosexual tendencies. They should love women, but the weaker sex does not excite them, and if such a man lives with some woman and at the same time gasps in horror at the sight of her little cat, then this reminds him that he is really not that kind of woman. good man. But if such a man seeks advice from a psychologist and finds out the real reason for his fears, then the fear of cats will disappear. And then he will begin to suffer from his homosexuality, but this is another story, which we will not discuss today. If a woman hates cats, it means that she denies her feminine essence and is afraid to show her independence.
Dog. Who loves dogs and why. For a woman, her dog is almost always a symbol of a man. Even if the dog is female (bitch). Looking at the breed of a dog, you can always tell which masculine qualities its owner values most. A large shepherd means that its owner needs a protector and reliable support. A woman who bought a French bulldog appreciates her partner's loyalty, reliability, solidity, constancy and sense of humor. The lady with the Doberman has an iron willpower and is defiant towards men: “Who can protect me better than this dog of mine?” A woman who holds in her arms a malicious, cowardly, demon-biting and dragging creature makes too high demands on men, expecting to find some incredibly wonderful qualities in them, and as a result such women are extremely rarely happy in marriage. A man always identifies himself with his dog. That is why even peaceful bank employees walking with their bull terriers are always aggressive deep down in their souls. Men who like collies with long and soft hair are sentimental and defenseless, but in a critical situation they are brave and ready to fearlessly defend their herd (by the way, this quality is also inherent in all shepherd lovers). The man who acquired the Rottweiler has an irritable character, he prefers loneliness and is tamed and domesticated with great difficulty. Almost all dog lovers, whether male or female, are intolerant of the independence of other people and seek to control the lives and actions of those close to them. Children look for a friend and protector in a dog. A child’s persistent desire to have a puppy speaks of his inner loneliness or his fear of the life around him, and only sometimes is it simply a desire to get a cheerful companion for games. But it is not enough to simply buy a puppy for your child; he will also need to be provided with companionship, protection and entertainment.
Who doesn't like dogs? People often think that only evil and cruel people hate dogs, but this is not always the case. Those who cannot stand dogs may also be shy, fearful, may simply be afraid of these biting and loudly barking predators, or perhaps they simply prefer to seek love and friendship in the human world and do not understand why they might want this little wolf. Many people are disgusted by the need to train another living creature and become its master, and they categorically do not want to turn into slaves and hostages of their pets, as happens with some pet owners, so they flatly refuse to have a dog at home.
Hamster and guinea pig. Who loves hamsters and guinea pigs and why. Everyone who loves small and fluffy animals needs the protection of a strong man, tenderness and affection, care, since they themselves feel small and defenseless. That's why children so often ask to buy them a hamster - they want to be big, strong and caring for small animals.
Who doesn't love hamsters and guinea pigs? If a person cannot stand the stupidity of other people, then he is unlikely to ever be touched by the sight of a hamster or guinea pig.
Rat. Who loves rats and why. The domestic rat is a smart, white and fluffy animal. Loving rats means declaring to the whole world: “I’m not a bore, I have original thinking, and your stereotypes have no power over me!” Someone who loves rats will first study everything, touching and checking, and only then draw his own conclusions, and he does not care about the opinions of other people. And if a child brings home a rat, it means that he has a fairly sociable, cheerful and kind-hearted character.
Who doesn't like rats? Conservative, cautious people who follow the beaten path in life, as well as shy, timid and insecure people cannot stand white rats.
Parrot. Who loves parrots and why. Melancholic, sensitive, vulnerable and very naive people, bored in silence and loneliness, buy noisy and theoretically long-lived parrots. They are not even aware of the numerous difficulties and problems that these sensitive birds, constantly trying to die from pneumonia, can cause their owners. The parrot recalls the romance of tropical islands, pirates and compensates for the lack of travel in ordinary everyday life. The general mad passion of pensioners for parrots is a forced phenomenon, and it does not have any hidden psychological motives, it’s just that many elderly people would be happy to have a dog, but they do not have the strength to regularly walk with it.
Who doesn't love parrots? Irritable, hot-tempered people or those who are overloaded with any serious and stressful work. Such a person is simply not able to appreciate the humor of the situation when a small bird suddenly lands on his head and gets tangled in his hair. Sybarites who value peace and harmony also do not particularly like loudly chirping and piercingly screaming parrots.
Hedgehog. Who loves hedgehogs and why. The hedgehog is prickly, but he has a soft and sensitive tummy. Hedgehog owners are stern in appearance, but vulnerable at heart. They believe that they should be harsh with the people around them, striking preemptively at any, even the slightest, appearance of attack, but later they will agonize over the fact that they needlessly offended innocent people. They are not capable of betraying, and very often they are open, straightforward people. Hedgehogs are often chosen by women in cases where life forces them to be harsh and sarcastic, and such a woman loves herself in her hedgehog, seeing how defenseless he is under all his thorns. And some women admire the ability of hedgehogs to curl up into a prickly ball and wait out all the difficulties and troubles in this state. A person who got himself a hedgehog, regardless of what age and gender he is, needs a protector who would be next to him.
Who doesn't like hedgehogs? Only the one who, waking up in the morning, put his feet in his slippers and immediately understood where this nocturnal animal decided to sleep.
Fishes. Who loves them and why. Silent fish are preferred by people of two categories. The first is energetic, emotional, spiritual people who are calmed by the slow movements of certain types of fish. For such people, an aquarium with fish is just a piece of furniture, like a TV. The second category of people who love fish differs from the first. It includes quite original and sometimes even eccentric thinkers. These people are very different from other people, just as cold-blooded fish are different from the rest of the animal world, and just like fish, slowly contemplating their underwater world and not going beyond it, their owners try to isolate themselves and escape from the reality of the world around them. Fish lovers are quite aggressive by nature and calmly watch as these beautiful swimming creatures greedily devour each other or eat their own eggs.
Who doesn't love fish? Fish are not liked by extremely sensitive people who cannot tolerate aggression in any form.
Turtle. Who loves turtles and why. The turtle is the personification of reliability and absolute calm. According to Chinese mythology, the Earth rests on the shell of a giant turtle. Those who value comfort and stability, sensitive people with a delicate soul, buy a turtle. A turtle can never replace a husband or a friend. If a turtle lives at home with a single woman or a single man, this means that they are seeking love, that they are open to proposals and are ready for a long and stable relationship.
Who doesn't love turtles? A slow-moving turtle irritates fast-moving, passionate, sociable and talkative people who constantly need listeners and who are accustomed to concentrating only on their own problems.
In one short article it is impossible to consider all the animals that people keep as pets today. Lizards, snakes, tropical birds and even butterflies and mantis beetles - this is also not a complete list of those not mentioned above. But there is another, quite numerous category of people that deserves special mention - these are those who do not have any pet and who do not seek to acquire one.
So what if you don't have any pet at home and don't want to get one? If this is true, if you are an adult and independent person, but you do not have pets and you are completely indifferent to them, then this could mean the following: You have someone who you care about and who is in charge. You have enough close people who are ready to support and protect you if necessary. All your feelings are already occupied by loved ones, and there is no need to pour out your tenderness on someone fluffy or covered in feathers. You never get tired of communicating with people, you easily come into contact with them, and in those situations when others buy a lapdog or a parrot, you find a new friend or just call your daughter. You no longer want to take responsibility for another living being - first you need to at least sort out your own life. You don't want to depend on anyone. You instinctively feel: only a man can give you what you need, and your whole being resists the very thought of replacing your son with a kitten, your husband with a dog, and peace of mind and comfort with an aquarium with fish. You don't like animals and they don't interest you at all. And you are not at all ashamed of this, despite the fact that people often say that only evil egoists dislike pets for no reason. You, on the contrary, believe that sometimes behind excessive love for animals lies contempt and hatred for people. A typical example of this behavior is Brigitte Bardot. She is completely devoid of maternal instinct, cannot even bear her own adult son, adheres to pro-fascist views and at the same time calls on all of us not to wear natural fur.
As a rule, we choose a pet for ourselves, subconsciously following only three motives:
- This animal is an exact copy of me! - Oh, how I would like to behave just like this animal: allow myself all these funny pranks, and so that no one punishes me for it! - My God, how I miss such a living being next to me, who would share with me all the joys of this life and could comfort me in difficult times!
Who is the owner of a shared pet?
Even in the largest family, the idea of buying a dog or a rat first comes to one person’s mind, and the rest simply agree with this proposal - joyfully or reluctantly. In this case, it is the one who first suggested getting this animal who is its actual owner, and it is his character traits that reflect the choice of this particular animal.
Why do women love cats so much?
Exquisite women's tattoos depicting a graceful slender cat are very popular. It is obvious that for modern women the cat is the embodiment of feminine nature, beauty and sexuality, elegance and grace. Such women make it clear that they are not only beautiful, but also daring and vindictive, who know how to show off their “claws” when the occasion is right. Projecting their own, truly feminine character traits onto the cat, representatives of the fair sex love to buy shiny jewelry and tickets to specialized exhibitions for cats. In this way, women assert themselves and increase their self-esteem.
Cat Personality Traits
Idea! Therefore, if you are communicating with a woman who really loves cats, ask her a few questions about the character of her pet. A woman will be happy to talk about her favorite, and you will know that much of what is mentioned is present in the character of the woman herself.
Likes of the cat family: what kind of people do cats like and why?
Cats love it when people show them attention and care. Pay attention to street cats, how they crave communication and affection, how they rub against the legs of a random passerby who calls out to the animal. Domestic cats receive a lot of attention every day, so they are more selective in their contacts.
Cats love to show attention and care towards them.
You've probably heard the expression “animals look like their owners.” Often, a cat will choose one family member whom it considers its true owner, even if other people treat it well. Psychologists say that a cat will prefer a person who gives the animal his love and care, but does not require reciprocal expressions of feelings, does not force the animal to caress, play, or sit on his lap. Each cat has its own temperament, character and preferences, so it chooses the person who is most similar to itself.
Cats don't like rude, unkind people. However, if a cat lives in a family where it is not well cared for, in most cases it will still strive to communicate - this is its nature. Cats know how to forgive their owners. Some breeds, for example, Siamese, have a special character: proud, independent, aloof. Such animals rarely strive to communicate with people and do not like tactile contacts, even if the owner is kind and affectionate. This does not mean that the animal does not like you, it’s just that his psyche is structured this way.
When did cats appear in human life?
Advice! Therefore, when choosing a kitten for your family, you should take a close look at its character. If the cat is purebred, you need to study the characteristics of this species to avoid disappointment.
Relaxation
There is nothing better than coming home from a cold street and burying yourself under a blanket with your favorite cat in your arms. Most pets love to lie next to their owners, cuddle and purr. Such proximity promotes relaxation and calm.
Many years of research have confirmed that the belief that cats are able to heal their owners is not a myth at all. Animals really often lie down on the place that hurts a person. It has been proven that thanks to the charge of positive energy received from pets, some patients begin to feel significantly better. So, cat owners have a better chance of surviving a heart attack.
How to tell if a cat loves you
Cats have a unique language with which they “talk” to people. Every owner must learn to understand the mood of their pet so that their connection is strong and mutual. To express sympathy and love, cats have a whole arsenal of facial expressions and gestures:
- Purring.
- Licking.
- The desire to spend all the time together.
- Falling asleep on your knees and in the same bed.
- Showing belly and tail.
- “Butting”, rubbing against arms and legs.
- Sharpening claws on furniture.
- “Massage” with claws and trampling on the body.
- Surprises and gifts.
10 signs a cat loves you
Scientific facts
- sleep two-thirds of their lives;
- their brains are biologically closer to humans than the brains of dogs;
- show the ability to return home after traveling vast distances;
- have a unique nose print, just like people have fingerprints;
- sweat through their paws, there are no other sweat glands on the body;
- feel subtle vibrations, react to earthquakes 15 minutes earlier than a person;
- cats are left-footed, cats are right-handed;
- reduce the owner's risk of stroke or heart attack by 30 percent;
- the vibration of purring has a frequency that helps increase the immunity of the hosts and activates human protective functions;
- body temperature is slightly higher than human, has a mild warming, analgesic effect.
We adore cats, these fluffy independent predators, beautiful and graceful creatures. They bring more peace and tenderness into our lives.
How to make friends with a cat?
The easiest way to make friends with a cat is at an early age, because the kitten perceives the person who feeds, cares and caresses it as its mother. Over time, the owner and kitten “get used to” each other, they develop joint fun and traditions. If an adult cat for some reason dislikes a person, she will not want to spend time with him and will refuse to accept his attention. In such cases, you can try to make friends with the cat, although this process is long and will require patience from you.
- Try to create the most comfortable conditions for the animal: a cozy bed, good food, periodic treats, interesting toys.
- Do not perform actions that the animal may perceive as an act of aggression: do not shout, do not make sharp hand gestures, do not create noise and a nervous environment in the house, do not throw the cat during games.
- Cats can remember an insult for a long time and, on occasion, take revenge on the owner, so treat the animal with respect: do not disturb it while sleeping, do not take food, do not scream, and do not hit it under any circumstances.
- Study special literature on the topic of cat sign language. This way you will begin to understand what mood the cat is in and what she wanted to get from you. For example, if you see that the animal has flattened its ears and retracted its head, it is better to leave it alone. And if the cat looks at you intently, blinks and moves towards you, it’s time to pet it.
Cats can remember an insult for a long time and, on occasion, take revenge on their owner.
When the cat understands that you are not a threat to it and are friendly, over time it will begin to trust you.
Advice! If you are unable to make friends with a cat, despite all your efforts, try contacting an animal psychologist or, for example, finding thematic groups of cat lovers on social networks. Experienced breeders will not refuse you useful advice.
Cat tongue or how to understand a pet
Considering the peculiar and extremely capricious nature of cats, it is quite possible to make life with them comfortable for both parties if you learn to understand pets, recognizing their mood and desire by certain postures and sounds made:
- Hisses - warns that he doesn’t like how they treat him (read more about why cats hiss).
- Snorting - wants to divert attention from himself, in the same way he can express confusion and surprise.
- Grumbles - shows an extreme degree of dissatisfaction.
- Rumbling in a low range - ready for his own defense, which means he is extremely wary of the current situation.
- “Meow,” said briefly, is a greeting.
- Smacks his lips or clicks his teeth - he shows the instinct of a hunter, but at the same time he shows irritation that he was unable to catch the prey.
- He purrs - he is absolutely satisfied with his position.
- “Meow”, played with a slight hoarseness, shows gratitude and good attitude.
Poses and their explanation:
- Sits, covering his paws with his tail - complete moral and physical relaxation, absolute calm. In this position, it can watch with interest its owner or what is happening outside the window.
- Shifts from paw to paw, rubs against a person’s legs - this is how a pet greets its household members.
- Rubbing its head against a person’s legs or his face shows openness and complete disposition towards the owner.
- The back arches - it’s scary.
- The fur stands on end, the paws straighten sharply, the body is raised high - it feels threatened.
- Lying with his stomach up is a posture of thoughtfulness, dozing.
- The tail is raised up - the animal is calm and friendly.
- A ruffled and drooping tail is an expression of complete confusion.
- The tail hanging down and tapping it on the floor is a sign of fear.
- It intensively wags its tail in different directions, the tip touches its paws - it is in an extreme state of irritability and can behave aggressively at any moment.
What the eyes will tell you. You can also understand a cat’s mood by the expression in its eyes:
- Eyelids are half-closed - relaxation, a feeling of peace and absolute calm.
- Eyes wide open - a manifestation of incredible interest.
- The pupils are greatly dilated - fear and fright.
- Looking away to the side - she is ready to obey and do what her owner wants from her.
- Looks into a person's eyes, ears directed forward - interest, desire to communicate or receive a treat.
Knowing how a cat shows emotions, you can predict its desires and needs, assess your pet’s readiness to make contact or its desire to be alone.
Nanny cats
Cats love to sleep in beds with babies because they smell like mother's milk. It is possible that cats also like a soft and cozy baby bed. Of course, you should not allow a cat to be in bed with a baby: it is not hygienic. In addition, the animal may accidentally scratch the child.
Cats are very kind and caring towards small children.
When the baby grows up, there is no need to limit his communication with the soft fluffy ball. Young children love cats because they are interested in an animal that is active and loves to play and jump. Some children love to pet cats, subconsciously perceiving them as their mother - gentle and affectionate. Young children may not always be able to clearly understand and explain their feelings of frustration, resentment, or fatigue. But those children who have a furry pet in the house endure stress much easier. You can pet the cat and listen to its purring, after which you will feel calm and peaceful.
Some cats are very kind and caring towards small children, show them their love in every possible way and try to spend a lot of time together. Parents from an early age should teach their child to communicate correctly with a cat, then this friendship will bring a lot of positive emotions for all family members.
Entrust the child
Of course, we're not talking about babies. But older children enjoy playing with the fluffy purr. They also love to jump and run merrily. Kids cannot always explain their hurt, fatigue, and sadness. Touching a warm, soft living creature will help you cope with stress or fatigue more easily.
Children love to lie down and stroke the cat, listening to him purr. They quickly calm down and come into balance. It is important to teach your child how to treat a pet predator with respect. Such a childhood friendship with an animal is remembered for a lifetime.
Character and temperament of cats
A cat's temperament is the totality of an animal's reactions to external stimuli. This is an innate quality that practically does not change over the course of life. The character of a cat can be changed by forming certain habits in it. However, many commonalities can be found in the behavior of cats.
Interesting facts about cats
Researchers from the UK conducted a survey of more than 200 cat owners, as a result of which they were able to identify a typology of cat characters:
| Type | Image | Description |
| Cat-man | Ideal for living with a family, in the company of people. She strives to spend as much time as possible with her owners and is actively interested in their affairs. | |
| Hunter cat | Loves to play with his owners or with toys. This is the same type of cat that suddenly attacks its owners from around the corner, listens to all suspicious sounds, actively plays and jumps. The ideal place of residence for such an animal would be a country house or rural area. | |
| cat-cat | Shows an active interest in representatives of his kind. Such animals will be very happy if another animal appears in the apartment. | |
| feisty cat | Does not like tactile contact, does not play with owners and does not communicate with other animals. She makes contact only when she wants it. | |
| Curious cat | He is distinguished by his investigative disposition and studies surrounding objects, people and animals with interest. Loves to explore and smell new things, meet new people and animals |
Interesting facts about the psychology and behavior of cats
Cats are unique creatures, but sometimes people find their behavior strange and funny:
- Each cat has his own preferences regarding the appearance of the female. One male may be completely indifferent when he sees a tortoiseshell or red cat near him, and show intense interest when he meets a black cat.
- Many cats at shows get very nervous because of the large number of people and unfamiliar surroundings. These nerves manifest themselves in constant tail twitching. This is easy to deal with - the owner pinches the tip of the tail with his fingers, returning it to a static position, and the cat immediately calms down. The effect is triggered - there is no opportunity to show your nervousness - which means there is no nervousness itself.
- Cats have a sense of humor, but a “peculiar” one. Their favorite pastime is to quietly get close to another cat and scare him with his sudden appearance.
Relationships between cats and dogs
The proverb “like a cat and a dog”, which has long been known to all of us, does not always turn out to be true. Indeed, these animals do not get along well with each other, this can be especially clearly observed in the relationship between street cats and dogs. At home, you can keep a cat and a dog at the same time if you raise them correctly. True friendship between these animals is unlikely to happen (although there are exceptions), but living together is quite possible. It is desirable that each animal has a place where it can retire and relax.
Relationships between cats and dogs most often do not work out due to differences in personalities and temperaments, as well as in body language. Using the table, you can clearly assess how great the difference is in the behavior of these animals.
How to introduce animals and help them bond
Differences in body language between cats and dogs
| Sign language | Cats | Dogs |
| Image | ||
| Tail held high | Friendliness, calmness, confidence | Anxiety, vigilance |
| Tail wagging | Indignation, indignation | Delight, joy |
| Closed mouth | Normal condition | Tension |
| drooping ears | Wariness, dissatisfaction | Joy, humility |
| Body tilt to the side | The desire to appear more aggressive and stronger than the enemy | Indicator of victory in a conflict situation |
| Supine position | Indicator of trust in a person | Desire for affection from the owner |
| Back arch | Self-defense, gesture used during hunting | Playful mood |
Bioenergetics of humans and cats
Communication with a cat is a great way to not only relieve stress and improve your mood, but also an opportunity to alleviate the symptoms of many diseases. Cats have unique energy and increased sensitivity; they can independently determine the area of the human body that needs treatment. Cat therapy is carried out using purring, gentle “massage” with claws, and warming the diseased area of the body with warm fur.
Relationship between cats and humans
Cats are best able to help people suffering from high blood pressure, insomnia and neurological diseases, colds, bone and joint diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Cats know how to restore a person’s energy balance, as well as cleanse the home of bad energy.
Some cats sense places in the apartment that are unfavorable from a bioenergy point of view. Perhaps you yourself have noticed that none of the family members, for whatever reason, wants to sit in the farthest chair in the hall, and always chooses another place to rest. Nevertheless, the cat always chooses this particular chair and lies in it in the “sphinx” position, with its front legs extended and its hind legs tucked. In this way, the cat cleanses our house of bad energy, making it cozy and comfortable for all household members.
On a note! The cat is one of the most ancient inhabitants of the human home. Do not deny yourself communication with a little fluffy ball, this animal will give you a lot of joy and happy moments spent together.
Fun
Cats can deservedly be given one of the first places among animals in their ability to amuse a person. These cheerful pets often take funny and unusual poses, penetrate into any corner of the apartment, and hide in unexpected places.
If the cat shares space with other pets, the observation process becomes even more fun.
