The impact of owner personality traits and cat lifestyle decisions on cat-related guilt

Introduction: The current study aimed to expand current knowledge on cat-related guilt beyond work cat conflict and guilt about cat parenting to determine the influence of owner’s personality traits, choices regarding their cat’s lifestyle, and cat-related guilt factors. Additionally, we sought to assess potential predictors of anxiety and depression to determine the contributions of cat-related guilt, owner personality traits, and social compensatory behaviors, while controlling for owner demographics. Methods: An online, anonymous, cross-sectional survey was disseminated between October 18 and 28, 2023. Survey respondents (n = 531) were adults who resided in the United States and were the primary caretakers of a cat they had owned for at least 6 months. Descriptive statistics captured cat owner demographics. Multiple linear regression was used to predict guilt about cat parenting, work cat conflict, anxiety, and depression. Results: Significant predictors of guilt about cat parenting included guilt factors, time away, indoor, and attention. Significant predictors of work cat conflict included gender and cat guilt factors, time away, and attention. Work cat conflict and personality traits (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism) significantly predicted depression scores. Lastly, anxiety scores were significantly predicted by work cat conflict, neuroticism, and social compensatory behaviors. Discussion: Findings from this study extend understanding of cat owner’s guilt and illuminate how their personality traits, compensatory behaviors, and lifestyle choices for their pets influence how they perceive and internalize feelings about their cat parenting practices. The nuanced nature of parenting guilt receives limited social recognition, leaving owners isolated in their disenfranchised guilt which significantly influences feelings of anxiety and depression. Our findings underscore the imperative for research and public education about beneficial ways to integrate social contact and enrichment activities to foster both human and animal wellbeing.