I will have to politely disagree with the results of this study.
As a professional pet sitter, it is amazing to see how a cat reacts to his owner’s absence. And yes they do form attachments, there is an Ohio State study that indicates the exact opposite of what this post indicates.
http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/sickbehavior.htm
We have three cat and they act like lap dogs with us . They seek constant reassurance and our protection from those evil lawnmower men!
I agree with you. I’ve had cats all of my life and all of mine (with an occasional exception) have been extremely affectionate and pleased to see me when I come home- and entirely apart from a food motivation. My last one would be a couple of backyards away and see me outside for a puff and come bounding over fences when he’d see me outside. He didn’t want to go inside, he’d already been fed, he just wanted to give me a nuzzle and be social for a couple of minutes, then he’d squinty-eye me and go back to patrolling the woods behind the house.
My ex-gf who lived here for a while was a confirmed dog person, she said he was the first cat she ever fell in love with. I had another one who’d wait for me in top of the shed at the end of the carport and climb down onto my shoulders and drape himself around my neck. He’d stay there all evening if I let him, even while I cooked dinner (and ate it once as a test).
I feel the same way about dogs and other animals. I just get along with them- it’s caused a lot of surprise when an acquaintance for example would come out of the bathroom and ‘the cat that hates everybody’ was curled up contentedly in my lap with me petting her.
Female cats are hit-or-miss for me. Male cats and I just become buds. Which reminds me- ‘Boomer’ up north a few towns from here needs a visit. :-)