title: Personality structure in the domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus), Scottish wildcat (Felis silvestris grampia), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), snow leopard (Panthera uncia), and African lion (Panthera leo): a comparative study.
abstract: Although the study of nonhuman personality has increased in the last decade, there are still few studies on felid species, and the majority focus on domestic cats. We assessed the structure of personality and its reliability in five felids-domestic cats, clouded leopards, snow leopards, African lions, and previous data on Scottish wildcats-and compared the results. In addition to the benefits of understanding more about this taxon, comparative studies of personality structure have the potential to provide information on evolutionary relationships among closely related species. Each of the species studied was found to have three factors of personality. Scottish wildcats' factors were labeled Dominance, Agreeableness, and Self Control; domestic cats' factors were Dominance, Impulsiveness, and Neuroticism; clouded leopards' factors were Dominance/Impulsiveness, Agreeableness/Openness, and Neuroticism; snow leopards' factors were Dominance, Impulsiveness/Openness, and Neuroticism; and African lions' factors were Dominance, Impulsiveness, and Neuroticism. The Neuroticism and Impulsiveness factors were similar, as were two of the Dominance factors. A taxon-level personality structure also showed three similar factors. Age and sex effects are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Department of Psychology, The University of Edinburgh.
authors.forename: Marieke Cassia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gartner
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx Zoo, Department of Mammalogy.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.affiliation: School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Department of Psychology, The University of Edinburgh.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D045989:Felidae / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008045:Lions / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010551:Personality / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013045:Species Specificity