Your Cat’s Personality Isn’t Random—Here’s Where It Comes From

Your cat may have a basic personality but can display different mannerisms from day to day. To better understand what makes your cat tick, consider these factors that influence their personality.

Genetics and Cat Personality

It is only possible to fully understand the genetics of pure-bred cats. Various cat breeds have existed long enough that their distinguishing characteristics, such as body type and personality, are fairly consistent. Since breeders strive to maintain breed standards, colors within these breeds are also consistent and may sometimes carry personality traits.

Personalities within a given breed remain fairly consistent, other factors aside. For example, the Cat Fanciers Association's Persian cat profile describes its personality as "sweet," "gentle," and needing "an atmosphere of security and serenity."

Environmental Factors

Since most pet cats are of the domestic or mixed breed variety, the environment is the primary factor influencing their personalities. The key environmental factor for cats is the overall mood of the home. A home where interactions are consistently stable, whether quiet and harmonious or noisy and lively, provides the best atmosphere for cats.

Cats strongly dislike change, including shifts in human attitudes. If humans are happy and active one moment, and moody and distant the next, cats will react according to their own personalities. A shy, withdrawn cat may hide for days, while an active cat may suddenly turn on his favorite feline housemate—sort of a variation on the redirected aggression syndrome.

Examples of changes that can affect your cat include:

• Strangers coming and going, such as new visitors or repairmen.
• A new cat or kitten into the home.
• Illness in the home, whether it's a sick human member or a sick cat, it is a change for all the cats. A sick cat may become depressed. The surviving cats will mourn the loss if one dies.

Conversely, if human family members maintain consistency, although it's not a guarantee of peace among cats, the cats will feel free to interact according to their own temperaments.

Cats are fastidious creatures and don't tolerate dirty litter boxes or spoiled food. Untidiness is one thing, but a dirty, stinky house is entirely another. In that kind of atmosphere, most cats would become withdrawn, depressed, and likely physically sick. On the other hand, a clean home (not necessarily tidy), with nutritious food, cool, clear water, toys, and scratching posts, lays the foundation for happy cats, all other things being equal.

History

A cat's history greatly influences their personality and behavior. Most purebred cats from a cattery come with a complete pedigree. However, history involves more than just pedigree. A purebred cat purchased from a backyard breeder (kitten mill) will have a much different personality than a cat raised "underfoot" in a reputable breeder's home.

For domestic cats, many who may have been found on the street or adopted from animal shelters, often very little is known about their history. A cat may have been in an abusive situation or loved by someone in their previous family, but later abandoned when someone decided to get a dog. Previous owners may also have been evicted or faced foreclosure, leading them to leave the cat behind or drop them off at a shelter.

Any combination of these factors will affect a cat's personality traits within a home. A cat abused in a previous home will likely need special nurturing but may eventually develop a sweet, loving personality. If placed in a chaotic or stressful environment, they might remain a "fraidy cat."

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Hierarchy Among Cats

Most multi-cat households have a pecking order, which may change from time to time and even day by day.

• The Alpha Cat: Alpha cats exert dominance over other cats in the household, which can lead to aggression when another cat threatens their status. They may hiss, swat, or even attack. Alpha cats also try to dominate their humans, which creates a tricky situation. While you should not bully them, allowing a cat to bully you isn't acceptable either. Removing privileges, such as your company, is an effective training technique. It teaches cause and effect, e.g., "You bite me while I'm petting you, so no more pets today," or "You try to hog the food dish; you get locked up until the other cats finish eating."
• The Beta Cat: The beta cat is usually second in line to the alpha, although this doesn't necessarily mean they want to be alpha. When the alpha cat is out of the room, the beta cat may try to establish secondary dominance.

Can you ever figure them out?

Cats are often enigmas, displaying one personality trait and then another. In humans, we might call this behavior "moodiness." There are only three things about them that can be said for certain:

1. You will never understand them fully.
2. They are a rare source of unconditional love, something humans crave.
3. Your life would be empty and boring without them.