Do cats get emotionally attached to their owners like dogs?

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“Like dogs”? No. They get attached to their owners like cats. They’re fundamentally different creatures. But that doesn’t mean they’re not attached. Cats are socially connected to their environment. It’s why most of them do not enjoy going for long walks on a leash, being transported in the car. It’s why, when you change something in your house substantially, they freak out. They’re evolutionarily adapted to be skittish because they’re typically alone in nature (well, their great-great-great-[bazillion greats]-grandcats were).

They also haven’t been selected as specifically as dogs have for traits. Dogs have been selectively bred for thousands of years for a specific type of job: guarding, shepherding, ratting, protecting children, guarding Buddhist temples, confirming to the whole world that France really is gay. Cats, only recently, have undergone significant selective breeding and that’s mostly for shows —which I find appalling. But whatever. Cats had one job on the farm: stop trolls from cutting through the wall and killing children. Wait. I messed that up. Their job is to kill rodents that eat the grain.

They retain that wildness because that wildness has been of service to humans. But they are mammals and they are exceptionally intelligent, potentially affectionate creatures (and manipulative little bastards to boot). Cats have varied personalities. They do become attached to people. Rick and I travel a lot, when we get home, our dominant female —Leela— goes nuts (mostly for Rick, but whatever; she’s his cat). They are attached. Just don’t have relations with their environment.

River is a murder-beast.

Leela has potential, but she mostly just likes people.

We endured River’s throw-back, 80’s bangle phase.

Milo is just a lazy crap who wants to lounge around all day soaking up the sun on the Catio.

River thinks she can kill brown bears.

Leela isn’t having any of her crap.

Though sometimes she tolerates her, as long as it’s on a pile of freshly laundered, warm towels.

Milo gnaws on his kitty.

River doesn’t mind lounging around on the Kitty Savannah.

They all rather like climbing the kitty shelves on the walls.