Why Your Cat Is the Way It Is (Even Though You Did Everything Right)

You brought home two kittens in the same week. Same shelter, same food, same love. One sleeps on your chest every night. The other lives under the bed. You've probably wondered what you did wrong. The answer is: probably nothing. In this video, you'll discover the "Feline Five", the five personality traits researchers found in nearly three thousand cats, and which mix your own cat has. You'll see why some breeds are born shyer than others, the few short weeks of kittenhood that decide how a cat feels about people for life, and the surprising role of a father your cat never even met. You'll also find out why so many cats can't stand other cats, why your cat goes wild at three in the morning, and exactly what to do for a shy cat, a chaos machine, or two cats who don't get along. Research mentioned: Carla Litchfield and colleagues (University of South Australia, 2017) on the Feline Five; Hannes Lohi's team (University of Helsinki, 2019) on breed differences in personality; Eileen Karsh (Temple University) on the kitten socialization window; Sandra McCune (University of Cambridge, 1995) on the influence of the father; John Bradshaw (University of Bristol) on cat behavior. A sudden change in your cat's personality can be a health problem. If that happens, talk to your vet. Is your cat the one on your chest or the one under the bed? Tell us in the comments, and subscribe to Pawthropology for more science on what's really going on inside your pet's head. #cats #catbehavior #catpersonality #catscience #pawthropology