Cat Census notes · 3 min read
Why a cat picks one person in the room
Ten people at the party. The cat walks past nine of them and sits on the one who said they're allergic.
01They like being in charge of the hello
Cats prefer to start contact themselves. A 2021 study found cats behaved in a friendlier way toward people who let the cat approach first and kept their hands to themselves. The person who isn't reaching, cooing or staring is the safest-looking person in the room. Often that's the one who doesn't like cats much.
02Staring reads as a threat
A direct stare means something different to a cat. A slow blink is the friendly version. Researchers at the University of Sussex found in 2020 that cats were more likely to slow blink back at people who slow blinked at them, and more likely to approach afterward. If you want to be picked, look a little sleepy.
03They do bond, properly
Cats have a reputation for being aloof. Research suggests otherwise. A 2019 study at Oregon State University found most kittens showed secure attachment to their caregivers, at rates similar to human babies. Cats also seem to know their own names. A 2019 study in Japan found cats responded differently when they heard their name than when they heard similar words. Whether they come when called is a separate matter.
04How to get chosen
Sit low and still. Let the cat sniff before you touch it, and offer a hand rather than reaching over its head. Slow blink. Pet the cheeks and chin, and stop before the cat asks you to. Then accept that the final decision is out of your hands.
05Get picked by a census cat
In Cat Census, a crowd of cats splits on every question you answer. One of them keeps following you, and at the end of the first chapter it's assigned to you for good. No allergies involved.
Cat Census
Answer questions about yourself and watch a crowd of cats take sides. One of them is picking you.