When it comes to pets that just can’t seem to respect personal space, cats are probably the biggest offenders. To find out why they’re so clingy, Bored Panda reached out to Alex Worth, a certified cat behaviorist and member of the International Society of Animal Professionals.
“A cat’s attachment style and level of clinginess is influenced by a combination of early life experiences with human interaction as well as individual personality differences,” explains Worth.
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“While kittens that receive extensive positive socialization during a critical developmental window (2-7 weeks) are more likely to form secure attachments,” says Worth, “individual cats can also vary in their innate tendencies to be more independent or more prone to strong bonds with their owners.”
“Some cats are simply more extroverted and affectionate by nature, while others are more aloof and prefer their own space,” she adds.
Now, if you haven’t spent much time around cats, you might not realize just how insistent they can be when they want to be close to you. But if you’re a cat owner, you know the drill—your pet claiming your computer as their personal nap spot while you’re trying to work, or jumping straight onto your lap the second you sit down, leaving you stuck until they decide it’s time to move. That’s just how it goes.
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“Cats’ tendency to lie near or on top of their owners is driven by their instinctual need for security and warmth, rather than a strong desire for social interaction,” says Worth. “We believe this behavior is an evolutionary adaptation—wild cats and domestic cats alike seek out enclosed, heated areas to conserve body heat and feel safe. Lying close to their human caretakers helps fulfill this innate drive.”
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Some research also suggests that cats like to make themselves at home on computers because they enjoy imitating humans.
However, Dr. David Sands, an expert in animal psychology, believes it’s more to do with their owners’ scent.
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“You won’t be able to sniff it, but a cat can smell you all over the keyboard,” says Sands in a conversation with BBC. “Cats are scent machines from the end of the tail to the tip of their nose. Their world is about scent—their eyesight’s developed for night-time hunting, meaning their sense of smell is really important at other times.”
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But that doesn’t necessarily mean your cat sits on your laptop because they love the way you smell, according to Sands.
“It’s more probable your cat wants to deposit its own scent and supplant yours. It’s all about ownership—by doing this your cat is effectively saying ‘I own you!’” he says.
“People always think cats rubbing themselves against you or things you touch are expressing love. But actually, cats are very possessing individuals. For them, the more they can brush past you and deposit your scent, the better!”