If you’ve watched cat videos on social media lately, you may have encountered the idea that a cat’s coat color tells us something about their personality. Orange cats are supposedly dumb, always falling off beds or getting themselves stuck in awkward places. Tortoiseshell cats are often said to have a strong-willed attitude (sometimes referred to as tortitude). Black cats are smarter, if social media is to be believed.
The idea that a cat’s personality is linked to their coat color isn’t new. In 2012, a study of human perceptions of cats reported people generally believe ginger cats are friendly, while tortoiseshell cats are seen as aloof and intolerant.
Research suggests that cats, like people, have different personality types. One study proposed the feline five personality traits for cats: neuroticism, extraversion, dominance, impulsiveness, and agreeableness. The researchers linked neuroticism in cats with being anxious, insecure, fearful of people, and tense. Cats low in neuroticism were associated with being stable, trusting, calm, and self-assured.
Cats categorized as impulsive scored highly for being erratic, reckless, and distractible, while those low in impulsivity were considered to be predictable and constrained.
However, it’s important to note that surveys on cat personality are filled out by people. As such, results are affected by human perspectives, projections, and biases. A review of methods used to define personality in cats concluded that studies reporting differences in personality due to coat color were likely to be affected by owner bias.
Instead of color, it’s possible that breed is more important when it comes to cat personality. One study found British Shorthair cats were least likely to seek human contact, while Korat and Devon Rex cats were most likely. However, another study found substantial variation exists within breeds, suggesting a cat’s breed may not fully explain personality. Both of these studies were once again survey-based, so human bias is likely affecting the results.
Genetics is not the only factor influencing personality. The environment and how an animal is raised also have a big effect. If kittens are not socialized with people by the age of around nine weeks, they are more likely to be anxious and shy around humans and other animals. Whether your cat was hand-reared, purchased from a breeder, or found in a box, they will likely behave differently depending on time spent with their mother.
In reality, humans tend to ascribe certain meanings to particular behavioral traits. For instance, if a cat is fearful, they may come across as lacking intelligence because they are less likely to interact with their environment in ways we recognize as smart. On the flip side, confident cats comfortable in their environment may seem dumb, as they act in a carefree way that registers as stupid to the human eye.
While funny social media videos linking personality with cat coat color might be harmless, the biases they create can have more harmful results. For instance, black cats take longer to adopt from a shelter than cats of other colors, and so are at higher risk of being euthanized. Stereotypes of black cats being less friendly may also stem from facial expressions on darker fur being harder to read.
We shouldn’t be surprised people make judgments about cats based on their coat color. We also make judgments based on human hair color – take the baseless dumb blonde and fiery redhead stereotypes, for example. And just like with human stereotypes, putting our cats into arbitrary boxes isn’t useful for anyone. Instead, it’s best to think of your cat, and any cat, as the individuals they are.
Cats are much more than their coats. People and cats form close emotional bonds. A cat can be the reason somebody gets up in the morning. Cats can also be fiercely loyal, unwavering companions, friends, and family. Let’s not reduce their complex, wonderful individuality to just a color or type.
