By about two years of age, a cat's personality is fully developed, and it's easier to be sure what you're getting.
Make Sure Your Personalities Are Compatible
Sit on the floor, hold her and pick her up if she lets you. Ask the shelter or her previous pet parent questions about her temperament and how she gets along with other cats and people. Bring all of your family members to meet her, including other pets of yours, if possible.
If you are looking for a playful cat, look for cats who come to the front of their cage to greet you and are interested in toys. For a lap companion look for those who seem to enjoy being rubbed. For a calmer, independent cat look for a cat who seems relaxed.
Lauren Finka of the University of Lincoln in England, reveals that cats have only five personality types. These personalities develop due to “a complex interaction between each cat's genetics and their experiences during development and in adulthood,” the article states.
The research team grouped them under the terms neuroticism, extraversion, dominance, impulsivity and tolerance. Each of these characteristics can be developed to different extents. Every cat has all of these characteristics, but in different markedness.
Usually, cats start to mature and settle down after the eighteen-month mark, and by their second birthday your cat will have fully grown into their adult personality.
Socializing your kitten
There is a fairly narrow window of opportunity to imprint on kittens, usually between 2 and 10 weeks of age. Spending at least an hour a day handling them, petting and holding them, is critical to ensuring cats are comfortable living with us, humans, when they are adults.
You can tell a lot about them by the ways they interact. Kittens who are perpetually stalking their siblings' tails and generally horsing around will be the most outgoing and playful. Kittens who are willing to play but don't initiate a lot of games on their own will generally grow up to be more laid-back.
When choosing a cat, pick one that is active, inquisitive, and seeks affection and attention from people. Sometimes cats are uncomfortable in noisy or unfamiliar environments, so keep that in mind during your evaluation. An adult cat should allow handling and petting without hissing or scratching.
The kitten should look well, with bright eyes, a good coat and be able to move easily. Ask to see the other kittens in the litter and the mother to make sure that they are healthy too. Follow your instincts and don't be taken in by stories of how that runny eye had just happened etc.
Male cats tend to be more social and affectionate with both humans and other cats. They commonly form strong bonds with other cats in the home, even when they are not from the same litter. Females, on the other hand, are often more standoffish. If you are looking for a cuddle bug, adopting a male may be your best bet.
University of California, Berkeley researchers surveyed 189 cat owners in a study published in the October 2012 edition of Anthrozoos. Orange cats were regarded as the friendliest by respondents, while white cats were labeled aloof, and tortoiseshell cats were thought to have too much "attitude."
Test your cat's intelligence: Try to teach kitty a “trick,” such as “sit” or “give your paw,” using small food treats as motivators. If he accomplishes the tasks, you have a smart cat. If he can't be bothered, you have a typical cat.
Signs of cat intelligence: Your cat quickly learns new tricks; easily differentiates between different events and/or items; rapidly solves food puzzles; and is very responsive to your emotions, gestures, or pointing cues.
Sleeping near you
If your kitty likes to sleep near you - or even on you - this is an indication that they have total trust in you.
According to a new study, cats experience the greatest fondness for female owners. Cats attach to your veterinary clients—your female clients in particular—as social partners and it's not just because they want to be fed, according to research in the journal Behavioral Processes.
When cats don't feel threatened by other cats, they will show affection by rubbing on them, sleeping near them, and being in their presence. If your cat replicates those behaviors with you, Delgado says it has officially imprinted on you. They rub against you.
Do cuddly kittens stay cuddly? This depends on the kitten's temperament. Some stay cuddly forever, others might be more independent but still require a few minutes of your attention.
Gosling et al. (2010) discovered personality differences between those that identified as a dog or cat person, which could explain some of the significant effects, as owner personality is already known to influence cat personality (Evans et al., 2019, Finka et al., 2019).
Your furry friend might be more of a copycat than you thought. According to a recent study published in the journal PLOS ONE, these notoriously independent creatures were found to mimic their owners' personalities, particularly with traits like extroversion, openness, and neuroticism or emotional stability.