Why are some cats more trusting than others? Is the cat personality innate or shaped by the environment? The answer is: both. Origin, disposition, positive and negative experiences. They all influence a cat's behavior. But can you predict the character of a young cat? A little, if you know the decisive factors.
Character question 1: The sex
Male cats are roughnecks, female cats are bitches. These are the well-known prejudices. In fact, however, there are some characteristics that are fundamentally different in both sexes. For example, male cats - even neutered ones - are often more active than females, roam more extensively and generally cover longer distances. If you find it difficult to cope with your outdoor cat occasionally staying out for one or more nights, you can take this into account when deciding whether to get a male or female cat. Male cats also have different play behavior than females. While females tend to play chase - which is in their nature as providers for their offspring - males tend to play with each other and test their strength. They can take rough play more easily.
Character question 2: The cat father
Scientists have observed that the character of the father is also reflected in his offspring. As the male cat does not take care of rearing the kittens, his influence is clearly in the genes. The offspring of friendly, trusting males are also more sociable. In contrast, reserved, shy fathers also tend to produce shy offspring. The genetic influence of the cat father is 50 percent. In reality, it is probably lower. This is because, unlike the father cat, who only influences the personality of the offspring through his genes, the mother also influences the puppies through her upbringing and example. The father's genes can therefore be influenced by the mother's behavior.
Character question 3: Imprinting on humans
If cats are not socialized with humans in their earliest childhood, they will find it more difficult to be friendly and trusting towards their owner later on. For example, if the cats grow up on a farm with little contact with humans, you will find it somewhat more difficult to turn your velvet paw into a trusting and cuddly house cat. This also applies to the question: outdoor access or not? A cat that has grown up in almost unrestricted freedom will always feel the urge to go outside. So if you want to keep your cat exclusively indoors, you should look for a kitten that has been raised indoors.
Character question 4: Family connection
Many future cat owners want to take their kitten home as early as possible. They are convinced that this is the best way for the little velvet paw to bond with them. But the opposite is true. The longer a young cat is allowed to grow up with its mother and siblings, the more stable its character will be. This also means that it is all the more open to new contacts. So if you leave your kitten with its family for as long as possible, it will learn more social skills. This increases your chances of getting a self-confident, balanced and stress-resistant velvet paw. This also makes it easier to socialize with a cat that already lives in your household. Ideally, your little darling should be twelve or fourteen weeks old when you get it.
Character question 5: The cat breed
The experiences and observations of breeders and owners have long suggested that character can be derived from the breed. Researchers at the University of Helsinki have now also been able to scientifically prove that certain behaviors are typical of some breeds. A total of 19 different cat breeds were examined in the study. Their findings: British Shorthairs and Persians are clearly the most peaceful breeds. The former in their dealings with humans, the latter in their behavior among conspecifics. The Turkish Van and Angora showed the highest potential for aggression - both towards their owners and other cats. The Korat and Devon Rex were particularly sociable towards people, while the British Shorthair came last in this category. The most psychologically stable breed overall is the British and European Shorthair. Quite different from Persians or Oriental breeds, which are most prone to behavioral problems.
Our conclusion: Every cat is unique. However, certain basic characteristics can be identified. Shy, affectionate, very active or rather calm. Some things can be influenced by the environment and upbringing. But many things cannot. The question of why your velvet paw is the way it is remains exciting. If you are facing the exciting moment of adopting a new cat, you now know some factors that you can take into consideration when choosing your favorite.