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
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.