The Relationship Survey

Vicky Halls is currently researching the special relationship that individuals have with their cats.

If you would like to participate, please complete this questionnaire and email it to:

About you:

Tick the relevant boxes:

Sex

Marital status:

single (never married)

married

widowed

divorced/separated

No. of children living at home:

none

Any other pets:

yes

About your cat:

Name of your cat
(if you have more than one cat
then only include details of the
individual with whom you have the
best relationship)

Sex

Female (spayed)

Male (neutered)

Female (entire)

Male (entire)

Pedigree/breed (please specify)

Indoor/outdoor:

My cat has unlimited access outdoors

My cat has access outdoors but I shut him/her in at night

My cat has restricted access outside under supervision

My cat is taken out for walks on a harness and lead

My cat is kept indoors but has an outdoor pen

My cat has access outdoors but doesn't go out

My cat is kept exclusively indoors

What kind of relationship do you have with your cat?

My cat is a pet

My cat is a family member

My cat is like a child

My cat is a companion

I find it hard to explain my relationship with my cat

Other

Please read the following statements carefully in each section and indicate in the relevant boxes whether you 'agree' , 'disagree' or are 'not sure'.

Section 1. Safety

Agree - Disagree - Not Sure

I worry that my cat will come to harm
when he/she is outside

I worry about the dangers of traffic

I worry that my cat may go missing

I worry about my cat fighting with others
and getting injured

I worry that someone may steal him/her

I like to know where he/she is at any
given time

Section 2. Interaction

Agree - Disagree - Not Sure

I approach my cat for interaction more
than he/she approaches me

My cat approaches me for interaction more
than I approach him/her

My cat and I approach each other an equal
number of times throughout the day

Sometimes my cat will ignore me or seem
uninterested when I approach

I will respond to my cat at any time of
the day or night

I always respond to my cat's approaches

I will check to see where my cat is if
I haven't seen him/her for a while

I will occasionally wake my cat up to stroke
him/her

I will seek my cat out if he/she is hiding

My cat will seek me out if I go into another
room

My cat is by my side most of the time
I am home

I can't sit down without my cat jumping
on my lap

I talk to my cat occasionally at feeding time

I talk to my cat all the time

I hardly ever talk to my cat

My cat is very vocal and 'talks' back

Section 3. Bedtime

Agree - Disagree - Not Sure

My cat sleeps with me on the bed

I shut my cat out of the bedroom at night

My cat is given the choice but chooses to
sleep elsewhere at night

My partner doesn't like my cat
sleeping with us

I don't want my cat sleeping with me

Section 4. Personality

Agree - Disagree - Not Sure

My cat is loving and attentive

My cat is sociable with everyone

I am the only person my cat wants to be with

My cat is very confident

My cat is self-reliant

My cat is needy

My cat can be aloof

My cat is very timid

Section 5. Relationship

Agree - Disagree - Not Sure

My cat knows what I am thinking

My cat understands when I am ill

My cat understands when I am depressed

My cat responds adversely when I am stressed

My cat would miss me terribly if I went away

My cat prefers my company to anyone else's

My cat understands what I am saying

My cat has a sense of humour

My cat would struggle to cope without me

I would struggle to cope without my cat

I wouldn't re-home my cat even if I knew
he/she would be happier somewhere else

Nobody would care for my cat like I do

Section 6. Love and support

Agree - Disagree - Not Sure

My cat has given me comfort at a
particularly difficult time in my life

My cat has supported me through
bereavement

My cat has supported me through a
relationship breakdown

My cat has supported me through illness

My cat feels unconditional love for me

My cat feels cupboard love for me

My cat's love is conditional on the way I
treat him/her

My cat doesn't love me

My cat's love is very different from the
expression of human love

My cat seems to love me sometimes but
not others

If I don't do what my cat wants he/she
won't love me any more

My cat will still love me even if I reject
him/her occasionally

Section 7. Behaviour problems

Agree - Disagree - Not Sure

My cat has shown aggression towards
another cat in the household

My cat has shown aggression towards me or
another person

My cat has soiled in the house

My cat has sprayed urine in the house

My cat has been treated for a
behaviour problem

How would you summarize your feelings for your cat in fifty words or less?

Please now print this document and send it to the address at the top of the page.