The Modern Cat Companion

Above all else, the modern relationship between person and cat is about companionship – from the person’s point of view. Cats are good companions. They are an outlet for our desire to nurture while not being overly dependent on humans. Accordingly, commitment need not necessarily be high for the relationship to work. This can encourage a lack of commitment.

Ironically, this simple observation is, however, a significant reason for relinquishing domestic cats to shelters.

Historically, the domestic cat was a semi-domestic cat. The cat was neither a stray nor fully domesticated. This form of relationship is still the norm in many countries that are considered less well developed than those in the West.

The traditional role of the cat was as a rodent controller more than as a companion. This role has virtually disappeared in the West. When the cat was a rodent controller the relationship was arguably better. This is because people expected the cat to be a predator and to exercise predatory skills. This was a form of behavior, the major aspect of a cat’s behavior, that was accepted and admired.

Nowadays, the predatory skills and behavior of a domestic cat get in the way of the relationship because they make the cat a worse companion – for some people. Predatory instincts expressed in feline behavior can be perceived as ‘problem cat behavior’ by some cat owners.

Useful links
Anxiety - reduce it
FULL Maine Coon guide - lots of pages
Children and cats - important

A lot of people want a fairly docile, compliant animal that does as it is told.  The hunting aspect of feline behavior is now considered by many as problematic.

There has been an increase in the reporting of behavior problems. This is probably a result of false expectations; seeking a companion and getting a top predator.

However, although there is no doubt that so called ‘behavioral problems’ are one reason to give up a cat to a shelter, it only accounts for about 7% of cases in a survey by Cats Protection in 2003. The other reason from this Cats Protection survey are as follows.

Reason for relinquishmentPercentage of CasesMy Comment
Stray/abandoned32Taking in a stray cat and then giving it up to
Cats Protection
Owner Circumstances19The owner finds a reason to give up their cat
due to a change in their circumstances. For example, moving.
Kittens14Uncontrolled breeding?
Cat transfer within Cats Protection9Not sure what this means
Problem behavior7.5As stated in this article
Owner cannot cope5False expectations?
Allergic to cat5
No reason given3
Too many cats2
Woman pregnant or has a child2Fear of toxoplasmosis
Cat ill or pregnant1
Other0.5

The way in which the cat was acquired is a major factor. Was it done casually or with purpose and forethought?

In a 1994 study of cats in a Humane Society shelter in Hilliard, Ohio, it was found that 47% of cats were adopted from ‘private owners’ indicating that for example a neighbour had some unwanted cats and offered them to people. The full breakdown of where people acquired a cat was as follows:

MethodPercentage
Private owners47
Strays14
Shelters11
Pet Store11

Tellingly, in this survey 50% of owners had not intended to adopt a cat in the first place. Accordingly there was early relinquishment. The age groups of cats given up were:

Age of cat relinquishedPercentage of total
7-12 months26
Less than 6 months24
19-24 months14
13-18 months9
Older than 3 years18

The above chart indicates that kittens were taken off neighbors or friends who had not neutered their cats. That is my reading of it.

Conclusion

  • The domestic cat relationship has evolved to one where the cat is being ‘shoe horned’ into an unnatural role.
  • Our expectations and understanding of cat behavior could be improved.
  • Commitment to the relationship could be improved.

These factors contribute to people giving up their cat.

Useful tag. Click to see the articles: Cat behavior

Note: sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified.

Michael Broad

Hi, I'm a 74-year-old retired solicitor (attorney in the US). Before qualifying I worked in many jobs including professional photography. I love nature, cats and all animals. I am concerned about their welfare. If you want to read more click here.

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1 Response

  1. Rudolph.A.Furtado says:

    this link for the entire crime story:- A PAIR OF PERSIAN CATS ACTUALLY HELPED THE POLICE IN SOLVING THE “Laila Khan family Murder Case”, the most sensational muder case in India in recent history. An entire family of 6 people including a one film actress Laila.Khan were murdered in February-2011.The police solved the casr recently, a few days ago in 2012. The Murderer did not take into account the IMPORTANCE of pets to their human owners.HE COMMITTED THE CARDINAL MISTAKE OF SPARING THE CATS THEIR LIVES WHILE KILLING ITS HUMAN OWNER.THIS HELPED THE MUMBAI POLICE MAKE HIM CONFESS OF HIS CRIMES.A GENUINE PET OWNERS CARES FOR HIS OR HER PETS AS MUCH AS THEIR OWN HUMAN FAMILY MEMBERS.SADLY,I WONDER WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ABANDONED CATS SINCE I DOUBT PERSIAN CATS CAN SURVIVE IN THE WILD WITHOUT HUMAN CARE OR COMPANIONSHIP. “ELEMENTARY WATSON,IT WAS LETTING THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG THAT SOLVED ONE OF INDIA’S WORST CRIME”.

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