We constantly make jokes about how cats hold humans in contempt, that they consider themselves our overlords. Recent research shows that ain't necessarily so. At least some of them are just acting like they don't care, so they can wrap us around their little finger. Or claw.
Researchers at Oregon State University offered 38 cats a choice between food, a toy, an interesting smell (catnip, a gerbil) and attention from a human.
Thirty-seven percent preferred food to anything else. Eleven percent liked toys, and one cat was preoccupied with the smells of catnip and gerbils.
But 19 of them — half! — preferred the company of humans above all, choosing them over other entertainment possibilities.
But wait, my cats prefer my company because I will eventually feed them. They know that. Perhaps they know us too well. -via reddit