Researchers have developed a questionnaire based on the “triarchic model of psychopathy” to assess the level of psychopathic tendencies in cats. The model measures boldness, meanness, and disinhibition.
After completing the online survey, pet owners are given a “CAT-Tri+” score indicating their cat’s level of psychopathy. The researchers hope this can help improve human-cat relationships.
The questionnaire asks about the cat’s adventurousness, reactions to danger, interactions with other cats, need for stimulation, and adherence to household rules. It also explores factors like sudden mood changes, aggression towards new people, and reactions to being petted.
The researchers believe all cats likely have some degree of psychopathic tendencies, as these traits would have been useful for their ancestors in terms of acquiring resources like food, territory, and mating opportunities.
The ultimate goal is to give owners a better understanding of their cats’ personalities, so they can make adjustments to the cat’s environment or training if needed. This could help reduce the number of cats abandoned or sent to shelters.
The researchers found that higher scores on disinhibition and pet-unfriendliness predicted a higher quality cat-owner relationship, while higher meanness and boldness predicted a lower quality relationship.
Source: ScienceAlert
