There Are 5 Feline Personality Types – Which Is Your Cat?

There are no two leaves in the world that are exactly the same, and there are no two cats that are exactly the same.

Nervous, outgoing and lively, domineering and strong, reckless and impulsive, friendly and amiable…

Which type is your cat?

Five major cat personalities

Although cats have a variety of personalities, they often have some commonalities.

The Australian and New Zealand research team designed a questionnaire survey based on the Big Five personality model in personality psychology research, and evaluated the personalities of 2,802 domestic cats from South Australia and New Zealand using the principal axis factor method.

The Big Five personality model (The Five Factor Model), namely openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism, is the five major personality traits proposed in psychology to cover the basic structure of all personalities.

Finally, through a comprehensive analysis of the 52 personality traits of more than 2,000 cats, five traits were summarized to describe the personality of cats, namely neuroticism, extroversion, dominance, impulsiveness and agreeableness, and the basic characteristics of each trait were listed using common descriptive language.

Neuroticism

Cats with high neuroticism are often in an unstable state of emotion, react strongly to external stimuli, and are easily stressed/timid/insecure/afraid of strangers/suspicious/sensitive/easily startled/lonely.

Extraversion

Cats with high extraversion tend to be bold/confident/lively/interactive/tough/intelligent/alert/curious/exploratory

Dominance

Cats with strong dominance are often the bosses among cats, occupying a dominant position in the group/aggressive/rude/irritable/combatant/jealous/disobedient.

Impulsiveness

Impulsive cats are easily

excited/provocative/unsteady/rash/inattentive/unrestrained/irritable/aggressive/erratic/unpredictable.

Agreeableness

Agreeable kittens are calm, gentle, friendly, trusting, cooperative, and adaptable.

They are often socialites among cats, getting along well with both humans and cats, and like to join in the fun, meowing, and striding around with their tails erect.

Different personalities, different ways of getting along

Agreeable kittens are often well socialized when they are young, and there is generally no special need to pay attention to when getting along with them.

For other types of kittens, you can adjust the way they get along/house layout/provide them with what they lack in time to improve their welfare.

Facing neurotic cats

When facing neurotic, timid and shy cats, the most important thing is to create a sense of security for them. Once they know they are safe, they will gradually become more confident.  

➤ Safe area  Provide more hiding places at home so that they can quickly enter their own safe area when they are frightened. For example, express boxes, cat tunnels, cat climbing frames..

➤ Friendly approach. Cat owners should not yell at their cats or forcefully give them kisses, hugs, or lifts. Cats should also not be forced to “receive guests” when friends come to visit.

Facing Extroverted Cats

As for extroverted cats, they tend to be full of energy, get bored easily, and may even resort to destructive behavior to release pent-up energy…

➤ Environmental enrichment  Such cats need more mental stimulation, so it is recommended to provide them with more toys.

➤ More company  No matter what kind of toys they are, they cannot replace the company of the owner. Play with them for a while every day to consume their excess energy.

Facing a cat with a strong desire to dominate

Some cats may not seem to notice anything when they are in a single-cat household. Once in a multi-cat household, they will become the dominant cat.

TA is likely to occupy resources such as cat food, litter boxes, and cat climbing frames, making other cats feel nervous and stressed. Even lying on the ground, other cats dare not go there…

➤ Sufficient resources Make sure each cat has its own food and water bowl, as well as multiple litter boxes.

➤ Evenly distribute these resources Place them separately/or in a room where the dominant cat cannot reach them.

➤ Timely intervention If the cats are just fighting, don’t worry too much. But if one side is too dominant and the situation is tense, the owner should still separate them in time.

Facing Impulsive Cats

Cats with high impulsiveness may often be under stress, have high anxiety levels, and have unstable behaviors, giving people a sense of “unexpected” and “moody”.

It is best to keep their lives in a fixed routine, feeding and playing at the same time every day.

➤ Let them have a sense of control over everything around them, know what will happen and when, and be able to respond and behave more freely.

Each cat has its own unique personality, and it all depends on luck to meet which one…

However, understanding the personality characteristics of cats can still help us get along better.

At the same time, if a cat suddenly changes its temperament, it often reflects that they are in potential pain or illness. The owner must pay close attention and seek medical attention in time if necessary.