Abstract: Participants (N = 717) characterized their relationships with their dog and four human partners: closest kin, romantic partner, best friend, and child, using the Network of Relationships Inventory. The results showed that owners reported greater satisfaction with their dogs than with any human partner except their child. They received more Support from dogs than from any human partner except their child and experienced fewer Negative Interactions with their dogs compared to any human partner, except their best friend. Overall, the relationship with the dog provided high Companionship, opportunities for Nurturance, and minimal Negative Interactions. This may stem from the fact that the dog-human relationship features a more asymmetric power dynamic than human relationships – i.e., owners have full control over the dog’s life
Turcsán, B., Ujfalussy, D.J., Kerepesi, A. et al. Similarities and differences between dog–human and human–human relationships. Sci Rep 15, 11871 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95515-8
Cats can do the same thing though. I have seen it first hand.
You’re one up on me. Many years ago, I was in a situation for a while where I had to home my cat at the time with my aunt who was a bit of a “crazy cat lady.” When I came to visit a few months later, he didn’t really react to my presence at all.
You abandoned your cat. They are not stupid.
GFY & grow up. Then hope you never become homeless. Consider yourself blocked.
That’s because cats don’t automatically like you. They have autonomy. You have to earn it. And that’s what really separates cats from dogs.
Well, that’s quite an insulting assumption of how our relationship stood. Even if he wasn’t into me as you not so subtly imply, he was most definitely into my spouse & the reaction was the same.
Maybe - just maybe - it’s possible some are different than others?
Nah.
My thinking is that he was getting the socialization with other cats at my aunt’s that he didn’t have as a solo cat in our home.
It wasn’t intended to be insulting, they just don’t readily get along with people right off the bat, there’s a whole song and dance, there’s also a shit load of environmental factors to consider.
It could be that, too.