The Science of Women and Cats: The Bond Is Real

[Demeter]

The kittehs love us back! A new study demolishes the stereotype of cats as cold, aloof animals that want only food from their owners. The study also reinforces the idea that a special bond exists between females and felines.

In research to be published in the journal Behavioural Processes, scientists observed the interactions between 41 cats and their human families during lengthy four-part periods. Researchers noted all behaviors of both cats and humans, and also assessed their personalities as well as their influence over one another...What they saw was not just cold, food-seeking behavior on the part of the kitties, but real attachment to their owners. The researchers observed a mutual social interaction in which both cats and humans signaled to each other when they wanted to pet or be petted.

Like our human friends, cats keep track. They were more likely to respond to owners' needs, if their owners had previously responded to theirs. Discovery News reports: Cats also seem to remember kindness and return the favors later. If owners comply with their feline's wishes to interact, then the cat will often comply with the owner's wishes at other times. The cat may also "have an edge in this negotiation," since owners are usually already motivated to establish social contact.

While men certainly got along with their cats, researchers saw more interactions between women and their animals, finding that cats were more likely to approach women than men and to do things like jump on their laps to initiate contact. Study author Manuela Wedl of the University of Vienna told Discovery News that women's relationships with their cats were also "more intense." (More on Time.com: Pet Detective: A Dog that Sniffs Out Colon Cancer)

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2011/02/28/the-science-of-cat-ladies-women-really-do-have-special-bonds-with-cats/#ixzz1QP1LBJdl

TAKE A KITTY HOME TODAY AND LOVE IT!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_Gpdo3DZ3A

THE MOST FAMOUS WOMAN/CAT TEAM IN FILM!

[Kurovski]

1. When my neighbor's cat was pregnant she used to visit and nap on my porch.

I'd share sardines with her and one day she paid me back in kind and brought a nice juicy rat with its head gnawed off! Bree never knew that I couldn't eat for two days after that. :rofl:

[mrcheerful]

4. Oh she was helping you diet then lol

Oh btw, SO had a cat that would sit outside the bedroom door calling momma until she let him in the room, sadly he passed away on May 31st. He was 4 years old and healthy up to the weekend, I noticed he was acting odd on Saturday. 4 days later he was gone, what was strange is Monday morning all of his teeth fell out and his gums looked ate away, only thing I can think of is he might have gotten bit by a poisonous spider, he had a bad habit of eating spiders and other bugs.

[Kurovski]

5. I never heard of such a thing, and condolences.

That would be such a shock.

[dkf]

2. I was always amazed how my Lucy would come to comfort me when I was sad.

I really miss her.

[Lionessa]

3. Too weird. Every woman I know has a dog, the only cat owners I know are men,

and one in particular, my neighbor, has a very loving relationship with his two. They come when called, and talk on command and all sorts of stuff.

Not saying the article is wrong, just that my personal experience is a little different.

[Thirtieschild]

6. Same here.

I'm female and a dog person. Daughters have dogs, sons have cats.

[mopinko]

26. dogs are a bigger commitment.

most of the cat owners i know are also males. or families.

[Myrina]

27. Me too. 4 dogs, in fact.

I tell my neighbors when they comment on how well-behaved mine are that its because I'm the alpha of our pack. I also foster for a rescue so have a couple extra stragglers from time to time. I prefer the company of dogs to the company of humans - even ones I'm related to.

And I can't STAND cats.

[a la izquierda]

28. I have three dogs.

I'd have more if I could. I'm indifferent about cats- I loved the one I had, but she died. However, I believe my indifference comes from my allergies to them. I can't get cuddly and lovey dovey with them, or I swell up like a balloon.

[Confusious]

8. mine did the same thing

She would talk to me, get on the bed and sleep with me, and as soon as She heard the keys going in the door, be there to meet me.

[awoke_in_2003]

12. I am a male...

who had a female cat. She wouldn't give my wife the time of day, usually. If my wife was sick in bed, however, that cat would be right next to her.

[Hawkowl]

25. My kitties do that!

Come when called and talk. But then again, I come when they call and generally cater to their every whim :)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

7. My cat is definitely affectionate

He likes to sit on the arm of my easy chair while I'm reading or watching a movie and put one paw on my lap. He follows me around during the day and nuzzles me or bumps me with his head periodically.

[Enthusiast]

9. I swear my cat calls my wife

mommy. It is certainly two syllables. But he loves me too.

[bhcodem]

10. Spooky!

Just as I clicked the link that showed "Bell, Book and Candle," the movie started on TCM!

[Fuddnik]

11. Did someone mention lunch?

[awoke_in_2003]

13. dogs are okay...

but they seem too much like little ass kissers.

[Fuddnik]

15. The black one thinks he's Dick Morris.

He's a toe licker.

[awoke_in_2003]

16. Yeah, and my post sounded harsh...

sorry. I don't think I could handle a toe licking dog- I am too damn ticklish :hi:

[Demeter]

17. For Shame, Doc! Siccing a Cat on those Marshmallows!

Hear it's unbearable down there....

[Fuddnik]

18. Finally got some decent rain today.

It can be raining all over the state, and for some reason it seems to flow around us. I could hear thunder all week, but no rain until this morning.

I was in SC last week-end and it was hotter there. But cooler at night.

As for the "marshmallows", don't let that cute white face fool you. You wouldn't believe the number and size of the teeth in there. She shows them to her brat brother all the time.

[applegrove]

22. What beautiful labs. Just stunning!

[Fuddnik]

24. Actually, they're both Lab mixes.

We got them both from the same rescue, a year apart. The white female, is almost two, and is half Springer. The black male is almost 11 months, and is half Golden Retriever. They were both 9-10 weeks old when we got them.

[madamesilverspurs]

14. Have to confine my cat enjoyment to photos

due to severe allergy. One of my SILs claims that I invented the allergy as an excuse to not visit them (they usually have several cats and dogs). If she's right, I was damn clever at age three when I convinced the family doc to help me conjure the anticipatory defense!

-

[givemebackmycountry]

19. My Mom who is 79 has two cats and a chicken legged dog.

The cats are, stand-offish and useless.
They provide no value other than to give her something to talk to and they ignore her.
One cat (Oliver) is a big fat slow moving blob who whines all day for more food.
He at least will let you pet him but not because he wants you to.
He's just to fucking lazy to move out of the way.
The other one is a sneaky fast moving bitch who sleeps most of the day and then tears around the house like she's possessed.

Then there is the fucking chicken legged dog.
Who apparently has human hair.
At least that's what my Mom tells me.
He's supposed to be good for the allergy prone pet lover, but as near as I can tell he looks like a fucking Brillo pad.
BUT, he has human hair.
He's a "schnoodle" which sounds like some Nazi human gene splicing experiment.
Half Snauchzer and half poodle, so I already hate both halves of him.
BUT, he loves me.

"He likes to hear a male voice" my Mom tells me even though all I do is walk around all day calling him "dumb-ass" and "numnuts".
Even heard my Mom call him "numnuts" once.

If she loves these animals that's all that counts.
Me however, would trade them all for one happy Golden Retriever.
But she couldn't handle a dog that big, so I'm stuck with chicken legs.
And the useless cats.

And by the way, I'm sick of lugging 10 pounds boxes of cat litter.

[grasswire]

20. try that new cracked pine litter

I swear it has vastly improved my life. No odor. One bag lasts a month for three cats. As it is used, it turns into sawdust --very soft, fine and absorbent. Amazing. The brand is Healthy Pet Cracked Pine and I found it at my local Kroger's.

[applegrove]

23. Thanks. I'll look into that too.

[Kurmudgeon]

21. I've got 6.

The youngest, Oreo, won't leave me alone when I come home until he's gave my shirt a good smelling and licking for several minutes, then when done, he's done with me, off to the races.
Next youngest is Lex Luthor, his job is being the red cat, sweetest cat in the house actually, considering he's a super villain.
Then we have Hermano. He's my youngest daughter's cat, is very morose and upset when she isn't home, lays on or beside her constantly when she is.
Next we have our litter mates, Bandit and Stowben, both are attention junkies as well as big as barns and incredible eaters.
Then I have my old grey lady Biscuit, she'll be 16 this July. She's a runt, only weighs 8 lbs, sometimes less and her ears are going bald.
Still lightning quick and an excellent mouser.
They are all found cats, except for Biscuit who came from the pound.
They're my buds....