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Thread: The week in silly studies: Cats take on owners’ traits

  1. #1
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    Aug 2004
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    The week in silly studies: Cats take on owners’ traits

    http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/geekq...124722112.html



    Some dogs, such as the ones in Fido commercials, have a striking resemblance to their owners, but a new study out of Italy has found something much more frightening. Cats go the next step and actually act like their owners. The scientists at the University of Messina's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine found cats learn from their owners and adapt their lifestyle and habits.
    "Our findings underline the high influence of human presence and care on the amount of activity and daily rhythm in cats," said Giuseppe Piccione of the University, according to Discovery News.
    Researchers studied two groups of cats which each lived in homes where owners worked during the day and were home in the evenings. One group of cats lived in smaller homes forcing them to stay closer to their owners and the second group lived in larger homes and spent more time outdoors including at night.


    The study, for the Journal of Veterinary Behaviour, found the cats in the first group would eat and sleep at the same time as their owners.
    "Cats are intelligent animals with a long memory," Jane Brunt, DVM, and the executive director of the CATalyst Council, told Discovery News. "They watch and learn from us, (noting) the patterns of our actions, as evidenced by knowing where their food is kept and what time to expect to be fed, how to open the cupboard door that's been improperly closed and where their feeding and toileting areas are."
    So if you keep going to the fridge, chances are your cat will keep going back to its bowl. The study says this explains why human and cat obesity rates often match.
    Brunt told Discovery News cats aren't just lonely jerks, but are social and if their main social group is humans then humans need to encourage activities like proper play.
    She said owners also adjust their schedules to meet the needs of their cat so we are really learning from each other.

    The week in silly studies is a feature that appears each Tuesday.
    It is not intended to mock real science.
    "Do or do not. There is no try." -- Yoda

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
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    Windham, Vermont, USA
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    That's a "Well, duh!" - the cats who are indoor-only adjust their schedules to their humans, including feeding times, etc - cats are not dumb! If mom comes home every day at 3 and feeds us, that when we'll expect to be fed ....
    I've Been Frosted

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
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    Delaware, USA - The First State/Diamond State - home of The Blue Hens
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    Creatures of habit is what it boils down to - and they do know how to tell time too.

    I got in the habit of feeding my son's cats their wet food everyday at 3 p.m., so they start in bugging me for it by 2:30 and won't stop until I give it to them. However on the days that my DIL is home or off work, she won't give it to them before 4 p.m. - so I have to tolerate their nonsense for an extra hour. Myndi on the other hand and being a DOG - is much more patient regarding her feeding times and is content to wait until I get her food ready. The one exception is her before bed snack, which she must have no later than 7 p.m., and starts reminding me by 6:30 without fail.

    Furkids - gotta love em........
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Wolfy ~ Fuzzbutt #3
    My little dog ~ a heartbeat at my feet

    Sparky the Fuzzbutt - PT's DOTD 8/3/2010
    RIP 2/28/1999~10/9/2012
    Myndi the Fuzzbutt - Mom's DOTD - Everyday
    RIP 1/24/1996~8/9/2013
    Ellie - Mom to the Fuzzbuttz

    To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
    Ecclesiastes 3:1
    The clock of life is wound but once and no man has the power
    To know just when the hands will stop - on what day, or what hour.
    Now is the only time you have, so live it with a will -
    Don't wait until tomorrow - the hands may then be still.
    ~~~~true author unknown~~~~

  4. #4
    Join Date
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    Karen, it is called a "Silly Study". But it is fun!
    "Do or do not. There is no try." -- Yoda

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
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    40,169
    Does that mean My Found Ctas are going to be chubby and cheap too
    THE RAINBOW BRIDGE FOUND HOTEL ANGELS HAVE A NEW FRIEND IN CORINNA.


    ALMOND ROCCA BATON AND ELLIE ANGELS ARE GUARDIANS TO ETERNAL KITTENS ROCC-EL AND T TEEN ANGEL, ALMOND ROCA , VLAD , PAWLEE , SPRITE. LITTLE HEX, OSIRIS AND ANNIE ANGELS.
    EBONY BEAU TUBSTER AND PEACHES BW SPIKE & SMOKEY


    NOW PRECIOUS AND SAM ARE TOGETHER WITH ETERNAL KITTENS SAMMY ,PRESLEY, SYLVESTER AND SCRATCHY JR , MIGHTY MARINA, COSMIC CARMEN, SAMSON ,UNDER KITTY AND SUNKIST AUTUMN & PUMPKIN.
    MIA AND ORANGE BLOSSOM ANGELS HAVE ADOPTED TUXIE , TROOPER , SONGBIRD AND LITTLE BITTY KITTIES MIA-MI BLOSSOMER, TUXEDO AND DASH AS THIER ETERNAL KITTENS.
    PRINCESS JOSEPH AND MICHAEL ARE CELEBRATING 19 YEARS AS LUCKY FOUND CATS

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