Cats Love It When You Hate Them, Like the Toxic Kings They Are

Cat energy is on a whole other level. If dogs were addicted to love and affection, cats couldn’t care less. In fact, a study found that cats adore people who can’t stand them.

According to animal behavior scientists at Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham, cats love humans who hate them for a very meaningful reason—they feel more in control and independent in their presence.

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As we all know, cats were never meant to be clingy. If you wanted a clingy or affectionate pet, you should have gotten a dog. If you wanted a creature that was just as antisocial and awkward as you, then get a cat.

The study surveyed 120 people and found that pet parents who fussed over their cats too much were more likely to drive them away. As for the cats in the study, they gravitated to the participants who were passive, slightly distant, and only offered minimal touching.

Clearly, cats prefer not to be smothered by your love. As the saying goes, distance makes the heart grow fonder.

Meanwhile, the cats in the study also showed more attention to the participants who knew how to properly pet cats. These participants knew to touch cats at the base of their ears and under the chin. They knew that the stomach and tail are severely restricted areas unless you’re asking to be scratched.

So there you go. No matter how much you love your cat, try not to smother them with love and affection. They need their space.

And if your cat hates your guts, maybe you ought to hate them right back. Like the toxic kings they are, they might just start to like you the more you dislike them.