New Study Identifies Five Different Types of Cat Owners
The differences between “cat people” and “dog people” have long been documented, but according to a new study, there are five distinct different types of cat owners, IFLScience.com reports.
In an attempt to raise awareness about the ecological pawprint of British cats, researchers from the University of Exeter surveyed owners from around the United Kingdom about their opinions regarding cat hunting behavior and found that cat owners “can be grouped into five main classes, ranging from those who believe they have a responsibility to stop their pets from killing, to those who strongly oppose any kind of intervention.”
The groups are as follows:
- Conscientious caretakers – worried about the impact their cats have on local wildlife. Support taking action to restrict cats’ ability to hunt.
- Freedom defenders – the opposite of conscientious caretakers. Believe cats should be allowed to roam and hunt as they please. Encourage hunting, typically using cats for pest control.
- Concerned protectors – more worried about the safety of their pets than local wildlife. Willing to keep their cats indoors at times
- Tolerant guardians – somewhat dislike their cats’ predatory behaviors but are willing to tolerate them
- Laissez-faire landlords – not bothered about whether or not their cats hunt
“Although we found a range of views, most UK cat owners valued outdoor access for their cats and opposed the idea of keeping them inside to prevent hunting,” lead author Dr. Sarah Crowley explained. “Cat confinement policies are therefore unlikely to find support among owners in the UK. However, only one of the owner types viewed hunting as a positive suggesting the rest might be interested in reducing it by some means.”
