Does your cat look grumpy all the time?
Oh wait, of course it does. It’s a cat.
Well, your feline friend’s less-than-sunny disposition could be your fault. New research published in the journal Physiology and Behaviour suggests cats can be stressed out by their owners’ incessant petting.
The study, conducted by animal behavior experts from Brazil, Austria and Britain, found cats release hormones linked to anxiety when handled by humans.
“It seems that those cats on whom the owner imposes him or herself are the ones we need to be most concerned about,” Professor Daniel Mills, one of the researches, said.
Interestingly, cats who avoided being stroked by humans were less stressed than those who reluctantly allowed themselves to be handled.
“Our data suggests that cats who tolerate, rather than enjoy or dislike being petted, seem to be the most stressed,” Mills said.
In all fairness, cats are perfectly capable of freaking out humans too. Take this ” Devil Cat”, whose meow sounds just like a person saying “go away”. You’d be anxious 24/7 with this animal creeping around your house.
The research also discovered that, contrary to popular belief, cats don’t necessarily mind living with each other. In fact, it is easier for cats who dislike being petted to avoid the unwanted attention of humans if they live in a group.
“It seems even if they are not best friends, cats may be able to organize themselves to avoid each other without getting stressed,” Mills said.
So what’s the logical solution if your cat hates you? Buy more cats! Or just replace the first one with a dog. Your call.
This article originally appeared on News.com.au.