Of course you already know the answer to this, but apparently researchers have sold cats short once again. A BBC Two documentary series called Cats v Dogs brought in a neurosurgeon to test the oxytocin levels dogs and cats. They figured that since oxytocin is one of the chemical measures of love in animals (or at least in humans and dogs), it would be a good measure. The test involved 10 dogs and 10 cats, and their oxytocin levels were gauged before and after a play session. The dogs’ levels rose by over 57 percent at the end of the play session, but only about 12% in cats. The doctor remarked that he was surprised that cats produced any oxytocin at all.
Hmmm… where do I start with the flaws of this stupid little test? I guess I’ll just list them.
- The number of dogs and cats tested was too small to make it an authentic study.
- Oxytocin is just one chemical measure, and apparently no one has figured out yet if it is an important factor in measuring love in cats — just in humans and dogs.
- A play session was used to measure love. That works for dogs, since it is a bonding activity between them and their humans. For cats, play means one thing: hunting prey. The more humans can make a toy imitate prey, the more exciting the game will be. So when we cats play, it’s not love that is being aroused, it’s our prey drive. While we cats are grateful for a good play session, we express our love most strongly at other, usually quieter times.
- The researcher was prejudiced. By saying that he was surprised that cats produced any oxytocin, he showed his own belief that he does not believe cats are loving animals.
Another thing that was not addressed in this little experiment was the type of love dogs and cats each display. Dogs are more needy and clingy. We cats don’t gush, and for the most part, we don’t cling. Our love is deeper and subtler. I know my human would feel claustrophobic by the ways dogs express love. She does not want to be needed. To her, being loved on her own terms and being given freedom and space is a true expression of love. She would not want a clingy boyfriend, and she does not want a clingy pet. She wants to just know those who love her are there for her, and that is exactly what we cats do (her boyfriend too).
So the not only was the test in this series unfair and inaccurate, it didn’t take a lot of other important things about love into account. What do you think? Do you believe your cats love you any less because they aren’t needy? And for my kitty pals — do you prefer a clingy human or one who does not smother you?
Oh Summer, no no no. I get so much love from my girls. They are very demonstrative. And, you are spot on with the play thing. Cats cuddle, purr, make biscuits. Princess grabs my hands and pulls them to her face. I know their love and it’s a bond like no other
MK is like your mom in her outlook but at least one of us is always snuggling with her. We keep her on a … ahem … tight leash.
We MUST supervise at all times.
Supervision = love.
And there are so many chemicals involved in so many things brains do, especially with animal emotions, that you are right, Summer. They’d better do more homework!
Purrz!
Selina
People who say cats don’t show affection have never been owned by a cat. Have meet many hoomans who claimed to only like dogs and then a cat came into their life and they changed completely. There cats are 3 cats in our house we all love differently.
Bodacious
From the beginning of time no one has been EVER able to define, quantify, or qualify human love. We all show it differently: expressive, reserved, tactile, not so touchy-feely. That being said “experts” can do so with our pets – or so they think. Those studies create employment for the test makers: laughter, and bewilderment for we cat lovers. One thing I know for sure: our loving cats forgive those poor souls who KNOW NOTHING.
Some of us are a bit needy, but Mom does not feel as if we kitties love her any less than the woofies she’s had. It sounds to us like the researcher had an opinion he wanted to prove, and even though he didn’t have a study that did that, he claimed it anyway. Pffft! XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
I agree Summer, that was a biased and flawed study using a form of study that was not based on a form of activity that would measure a cat’s release of a pleasure hormone. I know that all of my cats have loved me deeply. Marty is the most affectionate. He seeks me out, lies in my arms, on my should, in my lap and cries to be held at times. Ralphie is more subtle. He greets me at the door, gentle nose touches me, waits on the sink while I shower so he can rub cheeks when I get out and lies on the pillow by my head with his paw on my face at night. It is foolish to say cats don’t love or mourn the loss of those they love!
The fundamental flaw is that you cannot compare the two unrelated species. Any Dr will tell you this, and any scientist should be able to see this. If I sound upset it’s because this is the worst sort of journalism and science. Never the twain should meet in our book. purrs from miffed Princess, Erin (amateur algorithmist)
One of my cats, Tessa, would probably fail this test, although I know that she loves me. When I lay down on the sofa, she normally jumps on me and greets me. And then she’s getting in the whole between the backrest and wall (in other words above me), and falls asleep. She’s only napping there when I’m laying on the sofa. So she’s not searching so much body contact, but she wants to be near me. And I love it that way, too.
OK *blush* where do I begin. I’m VERY needy. I need to be in the same room with the peeps at all times. I need them to talk to me and play with me and not ignore me. I need to feel that I’m loved and adored. I want a human at my beck and call but she shouldn’t be clingy and expect love in return.
Mommy knows both Lexy and I love her very much, even though we show it in different ways. I am her shadow and meow and follow her around the house until she picks me up. I also sit on top of her all the time (even all night.) Lexy isn’t a lap cat, but she likes to watch Mommy when she does stuff, and she always rolls over and shows Mommy her belly.
I think the reason that researchers get it wrong most of the time is because cats are superior life forms. A number of years ago I read a study on a wide variety of animals and scientists were trying to figure out ways the animals could be “improved”. The only animal that they could not “improve” was the cheetah (the representative for the cat family). So there you have it!
Since every cat is unique, each will show affection differently. My Velcro Kitty, Bean, who passed from cancer in January, was clingy–but I think he was like that because we had an incredible bond. He was a benevolent dictator to the other cats and was my “nurse” kitty, too. All my other cats are extremely loving and seek attention (they all have different ways of showing it) but they are also independent enough to “know their own minds”.
Excellent post and points made are spot on! We almost saw that TV prog, just the very end when they gave the results! The Staff and I understand each other very well. We have the purrfect relationship! Just because I don’t maul her with licks and knock her over when she comes in does not mean I don’t love her! I am lying as close as I can to her right now while she types! We are simpatico! And that cannot be scientifically measured!
Our first thought was that they should have used a snuggle session to measure love! Also, different humans show love differently, so why shouldn’t our 4-pawed friends?
Purrs,
The Chans
The Human has had kitties who showed OUTRAGEOUS amounts of love (like Mr. Teeth) and she loved them lots. And then there’s me. Yeah, well, she knows I love her, but honestly, she doesn’t expect much. I like that she loves me just as much as the other kind of kitty.
Cats don’t cling! We cuddle on our own terms!!! This ‘survey’ is ridiculous and our dad can confirm (as he works with them…) that you can make statistics say anything you want them too.
Sheeeeesh – lame Lame LAME eh?
Oh, sure. Let’s play fetch and measure how much love they produce. And this single test determines the level of love by all the dogs and all the cats in the world.
They must be joking ’cause this can’t be serious…
You said it Summer! These folks are out of their minds. Apparently they don’t have felines in their family units. Experts our buttes! Love can not be measured. Love is experience. Sometimes our own humom doesn’t want to be smothered by our hudad. sometimes you’re in the mood sometimes not. MOL. We kitties love our huparents. And they love us too! Purrs
good work debunking this ‘study’, Summer! both us kitties and our mom like our own space at times but we still know we are loved. if our mom tried to smother us we’d just run and hide, mol!
pip, smidgen, minnie, hollie
I read about this study elsewhere too, and it’s very flawed, in my opinion. To me, it’s another example of unfair representation of cats as unfeeling and uncaring. They just show it differently!! I love it when my kitties want to cuddle. But I love to watch them play and run and find their own space too. I love seeing them be the beautiful creatures they are. Now my kitties would probably tell you that I’m too mushy. I do tend to gush over them and call them baby–I can’t help it! 🙂
We don’t believe in any studies involving d*gs. We don’t even believe in d*gs!
As for us, we give and get love on our own terms…except for my sister, who is the needy type.
Thank you, Summer, for so eloquently pointing out all the flaws in this “study”. Neither Pierrot nor I prefer a clingy human. We appreciate being loved on our terms. We’re not overly demonstrative, especially Pierrot, but that also keeps the lady on her toes. When I lie next to her or rest my chin on her leg or even sometimes climb in her lap, she’s over the moon happy. Great job on summing this up!
We don’t like these kinds of “studies”, because obviously researchers do not understand the differences of cats and dogs.
RIGHT ON!
How silly – we’ve got dogs and cats round here and it are obvious we all luv our peeps!
I agree with you 100%, Summer! This wasn’t a fair study and it wasn’t very well thought out either. It upset me to see how many people shared this on social media as if it were absolute fact. Humans with cats in their lives already know that cats can and do love them. Cats are very unique in a lot of ways and can’t really be compared to dogs or humans.
And yet another stupid test that assumes cats and dogs should react the same in a given situation. The only thing that test proved is that the test designer is an idiot.
Mom hates being smothered, except by us when we sit on her. MOL
I heard about this study and refused to read it because I KNEW it was going to be slanted that way. Seriously, measuring love?? What a stupid concept in the first place! I know my cats love me. Cats love because they WANT to. Dogs love because they have to love the leader, and the human is supposed to be the leader. If the dog is the leader of his home, I suppose he might love his subordinates too, but it’s the normal way they relate. Cats choose who they love and there is nothing you can do to change it. Sure, you can make them like you if you work at it, but they love who they love and that’s that.
By the way, I’ve had clingy, needy cats who would gush their love. When a dog does that, you can make them sit, stay! But when a cat does, you wind up with a face full of fur because they need to nuzzle and they don’t obey commands. lol!
As with any living being, it depends on their personalities. Our cat, Moko, is the single most affectionate cat I’ve ever met. She LOVES people, is great with dogs, but doesn’t like other cats (she was found as a stray, with several other strays picking on her – she was covered in little scabs from them). Moko waits for me by the front door more than my dogs do. She sits by my shoulder on the couch and head butts me constantly if I’m not paying attention to her. She definitely loves me and needs to receive love. Actually, pretty much every cat we’ve ever had has been affectionate to humans – I honestly believe they love(d) us. I don’t care what this study shows. I know from personal experience.
Cats love their owner as much as dogs do, but don’t show it the same way. It looks like these scientists were totally unaware of that point. Purrs
That is such a great post and so true. I have a perfect example of a cat loving a person. I truly believe that my feral cat, Queen Momma I call her, truly ran into the house two weeks ago simply because she wanted to be with me and knew I would take care of her. I was so amazed by this move by her, I just had a feeling that is what happened. And she is very happy in here so far. I do think that test was silly, simply because cats love a whole lot different then dogs do and I have had lots of dogs. It is very interesting watching the cats.
Sounds like a flawed test for sure. My cats give lots of lovings.
I heard about this study a few weeks ago on a radio show, and there are just SO many flaws in it. It doesn’t “prove” anything. I hope people don’t get too worked up over it because it really says more about the researcher than about cats and dogs and love.
I personally like being needed somewhat, but not smothered, if that makes any sense. Carmine wants to be needed – he is a nurse cat – he takes care of the people and other kitties he loves, but he also likes his space sometimes. Lita is more independent and prefers more space than Carmine does. Jewel was definitely independent, but she enjoyed hanging out in the same room as her humans. All my kitties have shown their love in different ways, and I’ve never once doubted that they feel love and love me very much.
I think my cats show their love for me when they stand on my chest with the bum in my face!
And of course, when they curl up next to me or on me and go to sleep.
I think it’s hard to generalize about cats, in general. I’ve had clingy, devoted cats and then I’ve had some who weren’t. Do I feel less loved, yeah, to be honest I do but that doesn’t stop me from loving my cats to bits.
We all supervise MomKatt closely. Nutmeg follows her EVERYWHERE, while I guard her on the sofa by sleeping next to her butt when she’s curled up. Morticia makes sure we all get fed on time by meowing her head off the second MomKatt comes home from work – she even tries to hurry her up when she’s scooping the boxes before chow time! Ray lets her know he loves her when she lets him drink from the faucets (she has to pick him up for him to drink from the one in their bathroom). Rachel pushes her entire face into MomKatt’s hands (actually she’s looking for FOOD but we’ll call it love). All this is to say that we are heavily involved with her every day and she plays with us regularly.
Close supervision is an expression of love!
Purrz!
Selina
You are so right there Summer. My human knows we love her and she’s content. She’s not clingy so the relationship works for both parties.
100% correct dogs and cats show devotion differently.
One thing for certain you have to love cats on their terms because they are not gonna beg for attention.
Our first cat was all about mom’s lap so the peeps knew he loved them.
I, Madi(son) D. Cat show my devotion mainly by my blinky blinky eyes, if mom lies on the floor or the bed when I’m on one of them I ALWAYS move to be near her and often rest my chin on her somewhere.
Hugs madi and mom
Also, at the International Cat Show in Portland last month, Chilly was right next to Summer (as the Somalis, and all other breeds, were placed together in their assigned sections of the show room). I took a picture of Chilly’s human grooming him shortly before she took him up to the ring. Well, right as I snapped the camera, he climbed right up on his human, put his paws on her shoulder, and started licking his human on the chin! A clear display of cat affection! I have the picture, and may Tweet it out today!
I don’t need any study to prove cats love us as much as dogs do-if not more.
Well said, Sparkle!
I have no questions or doubts about how much our kitties love their humans. My cat Sydney, a pretty brown female tiger tabby, does these things: Kneads my neck, and purrs loudly when she does so, with a contented look in her eyes. She jumps onto my lap, goes to sleep, and purrs. She sits on my book or newspaper, wanting 5 minutes of love. She rubs up against me all the time. She rolls on her back, “an invitation to play.” She sleeps with me at night, waiting on the bed for me to come out of the shower, and hop into bed. She sleeps between my legs, stretches out her neck, and rests her chin on my leg. She will sleep on my pillow, curled up in a ball, right next to my head. And, she loves to give me “cat kisses,” where she slowly blinks her eyes at me.
If that’s not “kitty love for her human,” I don’t know what is!
Sometimes those humans are just set on showing how much they don’t know pretty Summer!
It’s a terribly flawed test! It sounds like the scientists really didn’t understand cats at all. Just because they are warm-blooded creatures, it doesn’t mean anything about them is measured the same way it is in dogs. Did they not talk to veterinarians about the differences in metabolism and reactions to drugs in cats vs dogs? They don’t work the same way inside. So frustrating. The Dog Industrial Complex strikes again!
why are the people so dumb? Sheesh.
And these are supposed to be the “smart” people. Cats are very, very different than hoomins OR dogs. Which should be glaringly obvious but constantly needs to be repeated. The three of us here are glad that we each give plenty of space but also plenty of love, in the ways that fit us best. None of us are clingy, and we do not want to be clinged to.
We kitties luvs our humans more than those stinky dogs do! We are also smarter than dogs, prettier than dogs, more helpful thans dogs!
Luvs,
Rose ~ the adult kitten.
this keeps going round and round on social media….and it is WRONG for every reason you stated. hiss to the stupid “researcher”
I am living proof of love for my man. Every word in my blog is true and each day love is shown to mom that is visible even to on-lookers visiting. YOUR human expressed it so well Summer, that I wish that you three girls would edge her into sending a letter to the network They WILL read it and I wish she would tweet about ti. Face Book too, because it’s important. Mom is sick and tired of cats always getting things written and distributed however ways, that are skewed. And things that are lies actually, told about us. Hate mongering is what she calls it.
We always know when Mum is going out as she tells us where she’s going – it made Mum smile when she saw how appropriate our post was today compared with yours Summer!
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
We totally agree Summer!
Julie follows mum everywhere.
We all love the belly rubs and scritches.
That person obviously is not a cat lover!
Purrs Georgia and Julie,
Treasure and JJ
Definitely a flawed test! They didn’t measure how we snuggle on top of our hoomans when they sleep!