Cats display socio-cognitive abilities that help them engage in social relationships.
Cats and humans have a long history of co-existence that spans back nearly 10,000 years. Cats can form strong relationships with humans and research indicates that domestic cats display socio-cognitive abilities, such a responsiveness to human behavior and gestures, that help them engage in social relationships.
Screenshot of a shelter cat participating in a preference assessment. The cat is given a choice between food, a toy, an item with scent, and the attention of a person.
A cat participating in a sociability test during a visit to the lab. Researchers can see how long a cat spends with a person.
Photo of a cat investigating a food puzzle during a visit to the lab. Researchers can see whether a person’s social attention, such as encouragement and praise, impacts how much time a cat spends trying to figure out the puzzle.
A kitten participating in a kitten training and socialization class. Researchers can see whether participation in these classes impacts a cat’s socio-cognitive abilities, such as responsiveness to human behavior and emotion, as well as a cat’s bond to their caregiver.
maueyes 