Personality Tests for Cats

In my lectures I’ve often talked about the various personalities cats may have. As y’all know, cats are as different as snowflakes--every one of ‘em is unique. But there are some broad cat-egories of personality, and it can be helpful to know what YOU like, and what you’re looking for, prior to adopting the kitty of your dreams.

Enter the Feline-ality program, developed by behaviorist Dr. Emily Weiss of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

It’s part of the ASPCA’s “Meet Your Match" program which also includes a similar personality test for d*gs. The Feline-ality program measures and rates the cats on confidence and sociability, which Weiss’ research indicate are independent of each other.

A confident cat explores new spaces while a shy cat hides. A sociable cat approaches and asks for attention from people, even strangers, while a less sociable kitty cares less about humans.

So for the test, a cat would assessed to see how much time he spends trying to get onto a person’s lap, or sniffing and cheek-rubbing the new room. Noises and eyeblink rate also are measured, which also indicate sociability, because cats tend to “talk” to humans to solicit attention.

What you like best depends on your own personality. A highly sociable, confident cat may pester an introvert to death, while other folks prefer a cat that demands attention. Finding a good match can help ensure that the kitty you adopt never ends up back in the shelter. You can learn more about the Feline-ality program (now being used at 45 shelters) at www.aspca.org

What personality type is your cat? Christopher Columbus explorer, or shrinking violet? Are you a good match?