Cats may ignore people not out of hostility, but out of shyness. Japanese scientists studied the behavior of 310 domestic cats and found that some of the animals are both afraid of strangers and want to get to know them. This contradiction is reminiscent of the behavior of small children who are shy of strangers, but still show curiosity. Researchers have identified four types of behavior: very sociable, unusual, fearful and shy. The latter was more common in cats and animals born on the street. Scientists believe that understanding these features will help owners better find a common language with their pets.

Cats may ignore people not out of hostility, but out of shyness. Japanese scientists studied the behavior of 310 domestic cats and found that some of the animals are both afraid of strangers and want to get to know them. This contradiction is reminiscent of the behavior of small children who are shy of strangers, but still show curiosity. Researchers have identified four types of behavior: very sociable, unusual, fearful and shy. The latter was more common in cats and animals born on the street. Scientists believe that understanding these features will help owners better find a common language with their pets.