Attachment and Sociability
Despite the myth that cats are not social, they do form attachments, both to other cats and to people!
We study how cats use gestures, approach behaviors, and other forms of communication to engage with caregivers and how these everyday interactions shape their social bonds. We also explore the role of play in what supports healthy, low-stress relationships between cats and their humans.
Our research has provided some of the first evidence that cats can form secure attachment bonds to their human caretakers and that human caregiver behavior significantly influences cat social behaviors.
Catalysts for Growth: The Impact of Youth-Cat Partnerships in Youth-led Animal-Assisted Community Activities
We partner with 4-H to develop Cat Club programs that teach young people how to train and handle their family cats using fear-free, positive reinforcement methods.
Each participant receives a cat backpack to practice low-stress travel and outdoor experiences with their cat. Some youth-cat pairs even work toward becoming certified Pet Partners therapy teams to lead intergenerational animal assisted activities in their communities, like visits to senior living centers.
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