Cats can be shy just like babies: Japanese researchers found that 42% of cats are both afraid of strangers and keen to approach them

What happened

Researchers at Kyoto University led by Madoka Hattori have published a study on the personalities of pet cats in the journal PLOS ONE. They wanted to find out whether cats show a kind of shyness similar to that seen in human infants, when a baby both reaches out to a stranger and shrinks away.

The answer was yes. Almost half of the cats in the study showed exactly this conflicting behaviour: they were frightened and curious at the same time.

What shyness looks like in infants

In human infants, shyness is often contradictory. In experiments with babies aged 7 to 13 months, researchers saw that when meeting an unfamiliar adult, a baby wants both to approach and to pull back out of fear. Psychologists call this a state of conflict: the wish to connect battles with anxiety.

How the study was done

The owners of 310 cats completed an online questionnaire about their cats' behaviour. It was based on a questionnaire used to assess the temperament of human infants. The researchers rated shyness, fearfulness and the tendency to approach new people and new toys.

The personality types found

Based on the questionnaire, the cats were divided into four main types: very sociable, sociable, anxious and shy. In very sociable and sociable cats, the urge to approach new things was high and fearfulness moderate or low. Anxious cats were the reverse: lots of fear and little interest in meeting new people.

How shy cats differ from anxious ones

The most interesting group was the fourth, which included 42% of the cats. They scored high on both fear and approach. Such a cat does not simply flee from a visitor like an anxious one, nor run up to them like a sociable one. It watches, approaches, retreats and comes back again.

Why this resembles babies

According to the authors, it is precisely this inner back-and-forth, fear and curiosity at the same time, that mirrors the kind of shyness seen in human infants. So shyness in cats is not just fear but a complex state that also includes an interest in the world.

Who is more likely to be shy

The researchers noticed that male cats born as strays were particularly likely to be shy. Perhaps early life without people makes them more cautious, while their interest in people remains. That is an important finding for anyone adopting cats from rescue centres or off the street.

Why it matters to owners

Many owners assume a cat that hides from visitors is simply timid. The study shows that such behaviour often reflects not just fear but also a wish to make contact. Give a cat like this time, without pressure, and it may approach the visitor on its own.

How to recognise a shy cat

A shy cat does not hide completely; it watches the visitor from a distance, sometimes from a hiding place. It may slowly come closer, sniff the air or a hand and then retreat. Its tail and ears are mobile, and it relaxes one moment and becomes alert the next. An anxious cat, by contrast, hides for a long time and does not come out until the visitor has gone.

How a cat shows friendliness

Cats show affection subtly. A tail held straight up means hello. A slow blink is a sign of trust, and you can answer with an equally slow blink. A cat that rubs against legs or furniture near a visitor is leaving its scent and showing that it accepts them. In a shy cat, these signs take time to appear.

Why cats hide fear

In the wild, cats are not only hunters but also prey for larger predators. That is why they are used to not showing weakness or fear openly. A frightened cat may just freeze or slip quietly away, and owners do not always realise it is unhappy. Watching its posture, ears and tail carefully helps you understand how it feels.

Signs of severe fear

If a cat flattens its ears, has widely dilated pupils, hisses, growls, hides under furniture and does not come out for hours, that is no longer shyness but strong fear. Such cats need an especially calm approach and sometimes help from a vet or a feline behaviour specialist.

How to help a shy cat

Let the cat decide when to approach the visitor. Ask guests not to reach for it, stare at it or follow it. The visitor should sit quietly, speak softly and, if the cat comes over, slowly offer a hand to sniff. You can give the visitor a treat to put down beside them.

Why a hiding place matters

Every cat needs somewhere to hide and watch from: a cat house, a high shelf or a cardboard box. For a shy cat this is especially important. With a safe hiding place that has a view of the room, it is easier for the cat to venture out and meet the visitor.

Toys as a bridge

Play helps shy cats overcome fear. A feather wand lets a visitor play with the cat from a distance without coming close. The cat gets absorbed in the game and gradually forgets its anxiety. That makes the introduction easier and more pleasant for both.

Getting kittens used to people

An important period for socialising kittens is roughly from the second to the seventh week of life. Kittens that are gently handled, stroked and introduced to different people during this time usually grow up more sociable. Kittens raised on the street without human contact often remain cautious for life.

If you have taken in a street cat

Cats with a street background need more time to settle into a home. Start by keeping the cat in one quiet room with food, a litter tray and a hiding place. Spend time nearby without forcing yourself on it: read aloud or talk to it. Gradually offer play and treats. Do not rush; settling in can take weeks or months.

Helping with moves and visitors

Moving house, building work and big gatherings are stressful for a shy cat. Prepare a quiet room in advance with a hiding place, food, water and a litter tray. Ask guests not to go in. Pheromone diffusers help some cats, but their effect varies from cat to cat.

Shyness and vet visits

Vet visits are particularly hard for shy cats. Get the cat used to its carrier in advance: leave it open at home and put treats and a blanket inside. Choose practices with separate waiting areas for cats. Vets who follow cat-friendly handling principles, such as those of Cat Friendly Clinic accredited practices, know how to reduce stress.

Is personality inherited

Research shows that a cat's personality is shaped by both genes and experience. Kittens of calm, friendly parents more often grow up sociable, but early contact with people matters just as much. So even a kitten of very sociable parents can become shy if it did not see people in its first weeks of life.

What else scientists are studying

Research on cat personality lagged behind research on dogs for a long time. Now scientists are increasingly studying how a cat's character forms, how it relates to early experience and genetics, and how owners can take it into account in daily life. Using methods from child psychology opens up new possibilities.

Limitations of the study

The study is based on owners' questionnaires, not on direct observation by the researchers. Owners may judge their cats' behaviour differently. In addition, these were cats whose owners chose to take part in an online survey. The results therefore need to be confirmed in further studies, including behavioural observation.

How to help a shy cat get used to visitors

1. Give the cat a hiding place with a view of the room.
2. Ask visitors to sit quietly and not reach for the cat.
3. Offer play with a wand toy from a distance.
4. Use treats that the visitor puts down beside them.
5. Do not force the cat to meet people if it does not want to.

Why not to pick the cat up by force

If you pull a shy cat out of its hiding place and hand it to a visitor, you may increase its fear and damage its trust. Next time it will hide even deeper. It is much better to wait until the cat comes of its own accord. Even a brief, voluntary introduction is a big success for a shy cat.

What this means for Europe

Millions of cats in Europe and the UK live in homes that regularly have visitors, and many rescue centres rehome cats with a street background. The Japanese study is a reminder for owners in the UK, Germany, France, Sweden and elsewhere that a shy cat is not necessarily unhappy; it simply needs time and respect for its own pace.

When to see a vet

See your vet if your cat suddenly becomes fearful, hides for longer than usual, stops eating, stops using its litter tray or becomes aggressive. Sudden changes in behaviour are often linked to pain or illness. If fear is preventing your cat from living normally, your vet can refer you to a feline behaviour specialist.