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What personality type is your cat?

(67 Posts)
GagaJo Sat 25-Mar-23 19:21:53

The “feline five” personality traits, according to earlier researchers, are neuroticism (insecure, shy and anxious), dominance (bullying and aggressive to other cats), impulsiveness (erratic and reckless behaviour), agreeableness (gentle and friendly towards humans) and extroversion.

I have a neurotic and an agreeable with a touch of neurotic.

In the past, I've had mainly agreeable cats. Although I did have one conundrum. He was an agreeable (nicknamed Tim nice but dim) but was the most natural hunter I've ever seen, quite contradicting the extrovert personality type. He adored having his armpits tickled. Didn't need a cat box in the car, just sat peacefully on the passenger seat.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/25/cats-hunt-feline-personalities

B9exchange Sat 25-Mar-23 21:07:49

We have two cats totally different personalities. We promised their breeders they would be house cats, and it works for them, with lots of toys and attention, so no bodies in the house. I am not sure how to classify them with five limited descriptions.

One came from a breeder who described her kittens as 'bomb proof' - pretty accurate, nothing fazes him. The other is a bit shyer with strangers, though does not take long to be chewing their hair or shoelaces. The pair of them have periods of crazy, reckless behaviour, charging round the house, up and down stairs at top speed, knocking things flying.

Their playfights can occasionally get our of hand with yelps of pain, but they are soon washing each other again. They are both exceptionally friendly, wanting to greet any stranger entering the house. They behave like dogs, rushing to greet us at the door when they hear the car come back, and crying outside the door if one of us goes to the loo. If one of them gets shut in a room, the other one will come and tell us.

Shinamae Sat 25-Mar-23 21:20:32

My cat is just over a year old and I think he is a bit of a delinquent. He lies in wait for me, jumps out and bites my legs, and then when I’m sitting on the sofa he will jump up and bite my hands I have been told this is a sign of affection, but I’m not too sure.
His name is scratchybitey….🐱🐱🐱🐱

Shinamae Sat 25-Mar-23 21:27:09

Shinamae

My cat is just over a year old and I think he is a bit of a delinquent. He lies in wait for me, jumps out and bites my legs, and then when I’m sitting on the sofa he will jump up and bite my hands I have been told this is a sign of affection, but I’m not too sure.
His name is scratchybitey….🐱🐱🐱🐱

Getting ready to attack!!

VioletSky Sat 25-Mar-23 21:27:12

I have a neurotic but madly affectionate and loves to be picked up and hugged, feels safe in my arms. We have and an agreeable who will pit up with anything is brilliant with children and would happily be a pillow. Not sure about the other 2. They weren't socialised as kittens and don't speak any human. 1 is very sweet and gentle but will never be a lap cat and only tolerates short periods of stroking when she is in the mood and rarely purrs. The other is human aggressive and will try to kill you if you pick her up or stroke her too long. The only time she is affectionate is when you are just out of the bath, then she loves all over you purring like mad.

I absolutely love them all regardless

The agreeable cat is the only one not adopted so 3 had experiences we don't know about

Shinamae Sat 25-Mar-23 21:27:48

Ummmmm….

VioletSky Sat 25-Mar-23 21:29:32

If I fits I sits!

SueDonim Sat 25-Mar-23 22:09:18

My two gorgeous boys were both out and out agreeables. We miss them both a lot, always on our laps, wound round our necks or clambering up us in order to reach our arms. ❤️❤️❤️

GagaJo Sat 25-Mar-23 22:26:49

Ooooo my two were both strays. Girl is warm and friendly. I guess it's just her nature. Boy is neurotic but fine with family. He has a brother from an earlier litter with a very similar personality.

swampy1961 Sat 25-Mar-23 23:32:50

My cat is a twenty year old mewling and whingeing feline. She constantly witters at you as if she is a grumpy old woman!! Sounds like me!!
They do say animals resemble their owners - it's not true!! My cat has retained her colourful coat of fur whereas I am decidedly grey!!

MaizieD Sat 25-Mar-23 23:58:10

My two cats are completely different and I can't really fit either of them into those categories.
Senior cat was a rescue kitten who hadn't been handled as a kitten. He was terrified of people and would attack a hand that came anywhere near him. Once he got over that he became the complete opposite and can't get enough of human affection and company. I think his great need for affection expresses deep insecurity.

Junior cat, also a rescue cat, was used to being handled but is very aloof and scared of strangers. She will come for a cuddle on her terms, 5 minutes of purrs and affection and then she's off.. I'm the only person she'll come to like this. Senior cat will go to anyone for a fuss.

They're both very companionable when I'm outside, following me around the garden and yard, but I've rarely had a cat that wasn't sociable in that way.

Aveline Sun 26-Mar-23 07:04:17

Ours are both very agreeable, friendly to all and very cuddly. They are archetypal Maine Coon gentle giants. We are so lucky.

fancythat Sun 26-Mar-23 07:15:28

Neurotic with a bit of agreeableness.
She wouldnt win any intelligence tests either.

Bridie22 Sun 26-Mar-23 08:13:30

My lovely rescue cat of 13 years is gentle, agreeable and friendly...but it took about 2 years of patient caring for her to retrust humans, of all the rescue cats I have looked after she is the sweetest and will probably be my last.

Rosalyn69 Sun 26-Mar-23 08:15:56

My calico is soft and gentle. My Bengal x oriental was just plain nasty.

nanna8 Sun 26-Mar-23 08:22:45

We’ve got twin calicos. One is friendly with everyone and the other only loves us and hides if we have visitors. They are both very gentle. They are both rescue cats, they are our little loves , we adore them!

Sparklefizz Sun 26-Mar-23 08:54:46

I have had my lovely rescue cat since she was a kitten aged 5 weeks. I bottle fed her and became "mummy". She's very sweet and affectionate and chatty, and has never bitten or scratched me. She's aged 9 now and has been my "therapy cat" during the solitary life of the pandemic.

Caramme Sun 26-Mar-23 10:29:57

My cat is a rescue. He was about a year old when I got him and in a lifetime of cat ownership I have never come across such a terrified wee thing. For the first week he hid under my corner sofa, out of reach, and only emerged to pee or eat when I wasn’t around. Two years on he is a different cat who occasionally deigns to sit beside me and allow me to stoke him while he purrs loudly. However, he still runs away from everyone else, including my daughter who is also a cat lover.
He is an absolute hunter but never kills his prey, just brings it into my bedroom in the wee small hours, charges around the room until I wake up, then releases the darn thing. Cue for me to leap (I wish) out of bed and endeavour to catch the mouse and return it to the garden. He just sits there all neat and composed and watches.
I wouldn’t change him for the world.

Caramme Sun 26-Mar-23 10:33:57

Aveline

Ours are both very agreeable, friendly to all and very cuddly. They are archetypal Maine Coon gentle giants. We are so lucky.

They sound just like my daughter’s cats, also beautiful Coonies. Such a spectacular breed and so gentle.

Sparklefizz Sun 26-Mar-23 10:43:14

I love seeing everyone's beautiful cat photos! Thanks for sharing.

Shinamae Sun 26-Mar-23 10:46:57

My cat doesn’t just get up onto the bird table he actually eats the bird food!! 🤷‍♀️

shysal Sun 26-Mar-23 10:53:24

My 17 year old black and white Bugsie is very agreeable, but 15 year old Bengal, Saffron, is a lovely natured vocal extrovert who rules the roost!

Aveline Sun 26-Mar-23 11:09:50

Here are 'the boys'

Caramme Sun 26-Mar-23 11:35:23

Beautiful cats Adeline. Apologies for imposing the pic of my daughter’s cats when I replied earlier. I’m new here so have learned not to include photos in replies.

Caramme Sun 26-Mar-23 11:36:19

That has made me smile.