While you do know that your cat can be independent and doesn’t need you as much as a dog would, they’re still pretty social animals. That means the social interactions they get with you could mean they start mimicking what you do.
This mimicking can be seen as a compliment to some cat owners, while seen as entertaining to others. Whether you find your cat copying your habits to be a compliment, annoying, or entertaining we’re here to discuss why cats take on owners habits.
At this point, research has shown that indoor cats that spend zero to a few hours outside are more apt to take on the habits of their owners. Cats that spend a majority of their lives outside, including staying outside overnight, tend to not pick up on their owners habits and mimic them.
This could be due to the indoor cats being around their human counterparts more often than the outdoor cat would. You could say that the indoor cats start to become more human-like because they’re around humans more than the wildlife of the great outdoors.
The indoor cats in this particular study had a similar routine to their owners in that they slept a similar schedule, ate during similar times and did everything aligned with the routine of their human owners. The outdoor cats were more nocturnal and lived a life much like the wild cat population.
While the research has been done to show that cats do indeed take on their owners habits, it’s unclear exactly why. Some scientists believe that cats take on the personality of their owners to get attention. This is evident with some story of a cat that was adopted and quickly learned that if she acted like the owner’s children that she would get more attention.
Why cats choose their owners?
One subject that helps us understand more about why cats take on owners habits is more about why cats choose their owners. When you adopt a cat and bring the cat home, you’ll soon find that they take a liking to a specific family member.
This is called “choosing their owner”. While you might be the person who introduced the cat to the home, the cat may be more affectionate and pay more attention to a particular person in the home. Research has shown this typically happens due to the level of affection the cat receives from the person as well as the cats’ needs being met by this person.
Your cat will choose their owner based on who provides them with their needs most often. The cat may also choose its owner based on who they think they can get the most from. This all plays a significant role in why cats take on owners habits, too!
There are many stories of household cats who took on their owners habits, but few facts as to why this occurs. We assume that your cat simply adores you and wants to spend as much time around you as possible so they try to copy your routine, habits, and behaviors as a sign to say that they’re equal to you and a significant member of the family.