Source (original paper)
Finka LR, Ward J, Farnworth MJ, Mills DS. (2019). Owner personality and the wellbeing of their cats share parallels with the parent-child relationship. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0211862
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. You may share, reuse, and distribute it if you give appropriate credit.
1. What question did the research start from?
Human personality affects our relationships. Many studies show that parents' personality is linked to children's lifestyle and emotional state. Could something similar happen between pets and owners?
This paper looked at that. The researchers analyzed whether owners' personality was statistically linked to their cats' behavior, health, living environment, and overall wellbeing. The main question was: Is cat wellbeing related to owner personality?
2. How was the study done?
Three thousand three hundred thirty-one cat owners took part in an online survey. They reported their own personality and detailed information about their cat. Personality was measured using the Big Five model (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, openness). For the cat, the survey asked about health, overweight, chronic conditions, aggression and fear, indoor vs outdoor access, and the owner's relationship satisfaction. The team used statistics that controlled for the cat's age, breed, and owner demographics to see if consistent links remained.
3. Main results
High neuroticism in owners was associated with more reported anxiety- and stress-related behavior in the cat, more aggression or problem behavior, and a higher chance of the owner reporting the cat as overweight or having a chronic condition. Outdoor access was often lower. High extraversion was associated with more outdoor access for the cat. High agreeableness was linked to higher relationship satisfaction; high conscientiousness was linked to less reported aggression, anxiety, or avoidance in the cat. The study does not prove cause and effect; it suggests that the carer's personality and the cared-for's state can be linked, and that the same behavior may be interpreted differently by different owners.
4. Why might these results appear?
Owner personality can affect how they treat the cat, daily structure, and health care. For example, a worried owner might keep the cat indoors for safety, which can reduce activity. Cat behavior was also assessed by owner report, so the observer's interpretation can influence the results.
5. Parallel with parent–child research
The paper notes that higher parent neuroticism is linked to more reported emotional difficulty in children; a similar pattern appeared here with cats. So there can be a statistical link between the carer's personality and the wellbeing of the one being cared for.
6. Limitations
This was a cross-sectional survey. We cannot say whether the owner's personality changed the cat's behavior, or the reverse, or both. Cat health and behavior were based on owner report, not clinical assessment.
7. What we can take away
The paper does not blame owners. It invites us to see the relationship as a system. When we try to understand the cat's behavior, we can consider not only breed or training but also the environment and the owner's emotional climate. A predictable routine and calm interaction matter for cats. The owner's personality may not change easily, but lifestyle and care habits can be adjusted—and that can affect the cat's quality of life over time.
In a nutshell
Owner personality was statistically linked to cats' behavior, health, and lifestyle. Understanding the cat's wellbeing is connected to looking at the owner's tendencies and way of care.
Source (CC BY 4.0)
Finka LR, Ward J, Farnworth MJ, Mills DS. (2019). Owner personality and the wellbeing of their cats share parallels with the parent-child relationship. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0211862
© 2019 The Authors. Published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).