What science says about cat personality
Cats really do have personalities. Here is what researchers have found, from the “Feline Five” to the slow blink, and how it maps to your cat’s quiz result.
Anyone who has lived with more than one cat knows they are not interchangeable. One greets every visitor; another vanishes under the bed. Researchers have spent the last couple of decades trying to describe these differences in a structured way, and the results are surprisingly consistent.
The “Feline Five”
In 2017, a team of researchers in Australia asked the owners of nearly 3,000 pet cats in Australia and New Zealand to rate their cats on dozens of behaviors. Using a statistical method borrowed from human personality research, they found that the ratings clustered into five broad traits:
- Neuroticism: how anxious, shy, or easily stressed a cat is.
- Extraversion: how curious, active, and inventive a cat is.
- Dominance: how bossy or territorial a cat is with other cats.
- Impulsiveness: how erratic or reckless a cat is.
- Agreeableness: how affectionate, friendly, and gentle a cat is.
Litchfield, C. A., et al. (2017). The ‘Feline Five’: An exploration of personality in pet cats (Felis catus). PLOS ONE.
The researchers suggested owners could use these traits to make life better for their cats. A highly neurotic cat might need more hiding places; a very extraverted one might need more puzzles and play.
How Tailtype’s four dimensions relate
We simplified this into four easy-to-observe dimensions, because most owners can’t rate 50 behaviors but can answer 12 honest questions:
- Energy (Zoomie ↔ Chill) draws on extraversion and impulsiveness: how much activity a cat seeks out.
- Social (Social ↔ Independent) draws on agreeableness: how much a cat seeks people and company.
- Curiosity (Explorer ↔ Homebody) draws on extraversion and, in reverse, neuroticism: how a cat reacts to new things and change.
- Attitude (Diplomat ↔ Boss) draws on dominance: how strongly a cat insists on its own way.
This is a fun model, not a clinical instrument. But because each dimension maps to things you can actually change at home, like play, hiding places, routine, and how you set rules, it’s a useful lens for everyday life.
The slow blink is real
One of the nicest recent findings concerns the “slow blink”, when a cat half-closes its eyes at you. In a 2020 study, cats were more likely to slow-blink back at their owners after the owners slow-blinked at them, and more likely to approach an unfamiliar person who slow-blinked than one who kept a neutral face.
Humphrey, T., et al. (2020). The role of cat eye narrowing movements in cat–human communication. Scientific Reports.
Try it: look at your cat with a relaxed face, narrow your eyes slowly, and close them for a second. Independent cats in particular often appreciate this low-pressure “hello”.
Personality isn’t destiny
Cats’ behavior also depends on age, health, early socialization, and environment. A sudden personality change, such as a friendly cat starting to hide or a calm cat becoming aggressive, is worth a vet visit, because pain and illness often show up as behavior changes first.