|
Trigger:
|
Owner has returned.
|
|
Fight or Flight Response
|
|
Do I run away?
|
No. Unless I am a very nervous cat or my
owner has unusual scents about him or makes
unusual sounds.
|
|
Do I fight?
|
No.
|
|
Food or Mate Response
|
|
Do I feed?
|
No, my owner is not a food item.
|
|
Do I mate with him/her?
|
No. I have been neutered and in any case,
s/he doesn't smell like a suitable mate for
me.
|
|
Learned responses
|
|
My surrogate parent/surrogate littermate
has returned
|
I will greet enthusiastically with
submissive actions (rolling on back) or play
actions appropriate to my status as a
kitten.
|
|
I am curious
|
I will investigate and greet him/her.
Interpreted as "pleased to see me"
by owner.
|
|
S/He is no threat, is not food and is not
a mate.
|
No action is required so I shall do
nothing. Interpreted as sulking/punishment
by owner.
|
Cats show obvious pleasure in company of a
familiar person, often a modified cat/kitten
relationship. The presence of a
companion/caregiver (surrogate parent) produces
happiness (a basic emotion).. In the domestic
setting, most cats adopt a kitten role, allowing
us to groom them, play with them and provide food
and warmth. By demonstrating their happiness
(which we term "affection") they
reinforce the cat-owner bond and ensure a
continued supply of companionship and care.
Mother cats show affection towards their
kittens. This is part of maternal care. Male cats
have been known to show affection to their mates
and towards their own kittens - this is similar to
the behavior of lions towards their own cubs (but
not towards unrelated cubs)..
There is little doubt that most pet cats enjoy
the company of their humans and give affection in
return. Those who deny that cats can be
affectionate should analyze exactly what it is
that makes humans affectionate. The underlying
causes of affection are actually very similar!
