Is My Cat a Psychopath? Science Explores Feline Behavior
“My cat is a psychopath.” It’s a phrase many of us have heard—perhaps uttered after witnessing some mischievous feline behavior. While usually said in jest, a group of scientists set out to explore whether there’s some literal truth to the statement.
Adapting the Model to Cats
The research team adapted the Triarchic Model of Psychopathy—a framework that measures boldness, meanness, and disinhibition—to analyze feline behavior. By doing so, they aimed to estimate “psychopathic tendencies” in domestic cats.
Introducing CAT-Tri+
The result of their efforts was the CAT-Tri+ test, designed to evaluate these tendencies using the triarchic model. The test, which is available online, consists of 46 questions that cat owners can answer on a scale ranging from “Does not describe my cat” to “Describes my cat extremely well.”
The questions are divided into five categories:
- Boldness
- Disinhibition
- Meanness
- Antagonism toward pets
- Antagonism toward humans
These categories collectively contribute to an overall score known as the CAT-Tri+ index.
A Triple Study Approach
The research team validated the test through three separate studies, each involving between 30 and 1,463 participants.
- The first study identified key elements to form the CAT-Tri+ scales.
- The second tested the preliminary questionnaire, comparing it with feline personality assessments like the “Feline Five” and scales evaluating the cat-owner relationship.
- The third explored associations between cats’ daily activities and their CAT-Tri+ scores.
The results revealed that disinhibition and antagonism toward other pets correlated with the quality of the cat-owner relationship, while meanness and boldness were linked to poorer relationships. Details of the studies were published in the Journal of Research in Personality.
Why Does This Matter?
Understanding the psychology of our feline companions might not drastically change our relationships with them, but it could have other applications. For instance:
- It can help us identify specific behavioral traits in cats, fostering better understanding and care.
- In animal shelters, the test could provide insights into a cat’s personality, potentially increasing the chances of adoption and reducing the risk of euthanasia in extreme cases.
While the CAT-Tri+ index may not redefine our bond with our cats, it offers a new dimension to appreciating their unique personalities.
