Australian Cat Owners Want a Calm Cat Who Stays at Home: The Ideal Cat Study

Abstract

Dogs have historically been favoured in research efforts focused on optimising human–pet relationships, even though cats are also commonly kept as pets. Research has previously established Australians’ preferences for companion dog characteristics, revealing which characteristics are perceived as ‘ideal’ for dogs performing their modern roles as companions and family members. No similar research has been conducted for cats, despite the value it would bring to informing owner choices, assisting shelters to prepare cats for adoption, and helping breeders optimise their practices. The aim of this study was to characterise the ideal cat in a sample of 570 Australian adults (88.4% women, aged 18–87 years), who identified as willing to adopt a cat. Although physical characteristics were considered important when selecting an ideal cat, behavioural characteristics, particularly those relating to calmness and non-roaming, emerged as key characteristics of the ideal cat. An exploratory factor analysis identified five behavioural subscales: ‘Calm’, ‘Affectionate’, ‘Non-Roaming’, ‘Outgoing’ and ‘Well-Behaved’, with the ‘Non-Roaming’ factor having the highest importance. Furthermore, the ideal cat would be desexed, adopted in person from a shelter, be generally low-maintenance, and engage with their owner daily. These findings can be used by shelters and adoption agencies to highlight the positive attributes of available cats.