Project

Cats

In recent years, scientific interest in understanding the intricacies of feline personality and cognition has seen a notable surge. While dogs have long been the subjects of cognitive research, cats, with their independent nature, have often been overlooked. At the Behavioural Ecology Group we aim to study topics ranging from problem-solving abilities to social dynamics.

Additionally we study cat personality and how this is linked to their cognitive abilities. How bold are our cats? How persistent? How active? Are they optimistic and opportunistic, or as cunning and calculating as some people make them out to be? And are they so independent, or are they rather a social species?

Studies have so far revealed that cats possess impressive memory skills, can solve complex puzzles, and even exhibit a rudimentary understanding of cause-and-effect relationships. Moreover, studies into their social cognition have shown that there are many ways in which cats communicate with humans and other animals, challenging the stereotype of cats as solitary creatures. Our current work focuses on how cats’ personalities seem to be connected to their cognitive abilities. Are more bold cats better problem solvers? Do more optimistic cats learn quicker? And will cats anticipate food or social contact more?

Collaborations

In collaboration with the Animal Nutrition Group of Wageningen University we perform food preference and food motivation tests with the cats. How willing are cats to work for a specific food resource? Does the smell or size of a kibble matter? Do cats show differences in behaviour or facial expression between different food types? These studies can also be combined with our knowledge on the cats’ personalities. We (e.g. Moesta et al., 2019) found that more impulsive cats were more prone to overeating. Students interested in this line of research can also contact bonne.beerda@wur.nl, or (for more of the nutritional side) guido.bosch@wur.nl.

Publications