New research reveals that cats can get as emotionally attached to their humans as dogs do!

Many people assume cats are aloof and indifferent when compared to dogs. But according to a new study published in Current Biology, cats can get just as emotionally attached to their humans as dogs do.

The research team observed how 38 adult cats responded to their guardians when in a strange environment. Drawing from previous research on “attachment types”, they assessed how each cat reacted after being left alone and then reunited with his/her human caregiver.

The results were interesting — 65.8% of the cats demonstrated secure attachment, which is actually a bit higher than the secure attachment rate of 61% found in a similar study of 59 companion dogs published in 2018.