Another link I don't want to get lost in a list

[conuly]

UBC doctoral candidate, Corin Parsons, is seeking study participants for his dissertation research on human-feline relationships in the home: https://tellmeaboutyourcat.wordpress.com/home/

Judging from the many cat pictures, I have high hopes that the researcher is not the sort of cat-hating asshole whom we usually seem to see heading studies about cats in the home. With any luck, there will be no "Wow, we were shocked to find that cats like the humans they live with!" from him.

Comments

[sathari]

Cosigning with the folks who would do this if it were a print survey instead of (blech!) phones.

And, yeah, considering that I'm currently typing around a cat who has insinuated himself into my lap and arms and is purring enthusiastically and periodically grabbing my hand to make me pet him more... yeah, cats like their humans. The thing they don't do that I think stymies the ailurophobes in the kind of studies you're describing is obey or submit to us. Which says unpleasant things to me about those people's idea of love and affection from, say, spouses or children as well.

[conuly]

The thing they don't do that I think stymies the ailurophobes in the kind of studies you're describing is obey or submit to us.

What's hilarious is that I've always found cats to be fairly easy to train. Not to do tricks, though I know that's possible too, but to simply come when called, sit calmly to have A Grooming Thing done to them, drop a food item (or mouse!) that I don't want them to have - all it takes is an attitude of mutual trust and respect and a willingness to shower them with affection and the occasional treat.

Cats aren't deferential to humans, but they'll gladly work with their people to everybody's mutual benefit.