Is your cat psychopathic? A new study examines psychopathy in cats

Is your cat a psychopath? A new personality test has been created by scientists at the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University, according to an article published in the peer-reviewed academic journal Journal of Research in Personality.

Cats are one of the most popular pets across the world, with their owners frequently admiring their feline companions’ distinctive traits.

However, while some cats are regarded as highly sociable animals, others appear aloof, callous and even vicious. Are these latter felines ‘psychopathic’ in the same way that people can be?

Is your disinterested, energetic feline companion a psychopath? What do their strange and unusual actions signify?

There may be a method to discover this.

The CAT-Tri+ is a feline personality test that comprises 46 questions rated on a scale of 1 to 5. Some of these include cats playing with their prey rather than immediately going in for the kill, or meowing merely for no reason.

This test measures a number of factors in order to determine how one’s cat relates to its owners, itself and other animals.

While a number of the traits measured in the test may sound familiar to those who have owned an aloof feline, researchers explained that cats that appear callous, unreactive and ‘low on empathy’ are actually far from it.

They stated that scientists have now come up with a way to measure if a cat’s strange or unusual behavior is actually typical of the species.

The survey was designed using owner-provided instances of their cat’s behavior in the triarchic psychopathy model (boldness, meanness, and disinhibitio. Five factors of feline psychopathy are measured: boldness, meanness, disinhibition, pet-unfriendliness, and fearfulness.

Rachel Evans, researcher

This does not, by any means, imply that all cats are devoid of empathy. Any cat owner will tell you that their cat is capable of love and caring.

Some cats do so more frequently than others, however, and cats tend to keep to themselves.

The various oddities that cats have, on the other hand, may make them difficult to read. Finding a method to grasp a cat’s personality might assist owners and clinicians in taking appropriate actions for each feline.

This isn’t the first recent research looking at our feline friends’ behaviors and personalities.

Back in September, research from the University of Helsinki revealed the perplexing patterns of house cats, revealing seven distinct personalities and behaviors.

Both studies shed more light on feline personality, which might help prevent cats from ending up on the streets or in shelters in danger.

In Israel, cat populations are particularly high, with estimates suggesting there are over two million free-roaming cats, the Jerusalem Post reported in September.

One of these felines was named Lorde, a “theatrical” cat who apparently enjoys watching television and is an avid lover of watermelon, according to Tablet Magazine. In addition, she is also often seen following her owner from room to room when he showers.