Cats Don't Miss Us When We're Not Around: Study
As much as we love our feline friends, a new study published in the journal PLOS One shows that cats probably aren't pining for us while we're away. In fact, there's little to no separation anxiety going on at all, researchers say.
"Although our cats were more vocal when the owner rather than the stranger left them with the other individual, we didn't see any additional evidence to suggest that the bond between a cat and its owner is one of secure attachment," researcher Daniel Mills, professor of Veterinary Behavioural Medicine at the University of Lincoln's School of Life Sciences, said via the Telegraph.
In this recent study, researchers examined the behavior of 20 cats after being placed in an unfamiliar location with their owner and with a stranger. Findings revealed that the cats showed little to no signs of distress when left alone in strange environments.
"For pet dogs, their owners often represent a specific safe haven; however, it is clear that domestic cats are much more autonomous when it comes to coping with unusual situations," the researchers concluded.
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