Do cats help their owners like dogs and toddlers do?

Cats are significantly less likely to help their owners compared to dogs and toddlers, only assisting when their favorite treats or toys are involved.

Why are cats less helpful than dogs, according to the study?

The study suggests that cats domesticated themselves and were not selectively bred for cooperation, unlike dogs who were bred for tasks requiring human collaboration.

Does the study mean cats are inherently unhelpful or 'mean'?

No, the researchers clarify that the findings do not suggest cats are mean; rather, it highlights their greater independence and tendency to act only when there is a direct benefit to them.

Home / Science / Cats Won't Help Unless There's a Treat, Study Finds

Cats Won't Help Unless There's a Treat, Study Finds

3 Mar

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Summary

Dogs and toddlers show similar helping behaviors.
Cats only assist when a favorite treat or toy is involved.
Domestication alone doesn't create spontaneous helping.

Cats Won't Help Unless There's a Treat, Study Finds

A recent study comparing the helping behaviors of dogs, cats, and toddlers has found that cats are significantly less likely to offer assistance when their owners are struggling. Researchers from Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary observed that while both dogs and young children (16-24 months old) displayed helping behaviors more than three-quarters of the time, cats rarely did.

This difference is attributed to cats domesticating themselves without selective breeding for cooperation, unlike dogs who were bred for tasks like herding and hunting. The study indicated that while dogs and children approached hidden objects to help, cats did not, unless the object was a favored treat or toy. This suggests cats only engage when it directly benefits them, not out of spontaneous altruism.