Shape of cat's head linked to personality

ANOTHER attempt to understand cats' cryptic personality has led two cat behaviorists to believe that the shape of a cat's head determines its personality.

It's simple: figure out its head so you can get through its head.

The generalization maintains that round face cats are low-key, quiet, shy and submissive, while cats with triangular heads are curious, vocal and active. Cats with square heads are seen as affectionate and keen to please their owners.

The shape of a cat's head may offer clues to its personality, cat behaviorists say. (Image by MetroPets)

Arden Moore, author of 'Fit Cat: Tips & Tricks to Give Your Pet a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life' made these assertions based on her personal experience with cats. Despite lack of scientific proof, Moore's “theory” strongly advocates the connection between looks and personality in cats, based on her observations that “different breeds of cats, with distinct behaviors, often have the same face shape.”

But before Moore, Kit Jenkins, Program Manager for Petsmart, also came up with this interesting theory in 2009 based on her 20 years of studies on the behavior of cats and dogs at the animal shelters. Her “Theory of Cat Face Geometry” laid down three distinctive shapes for cat faces: square, round, and triangle.

Applying basic geometric shapes to psychoanalyze cats could be too simple, but some cats certainly fit the bill. The Maine Coon, for example, with its square head and body tends to be affectionate and love to snuggle and give head-butts. On the same note, the loquacious Siamese with its triangular head has proven to be more inquisitive and busy than average. Need more convincing? The famous Grumpy is a good example of a round face kitty that is submissive and cooperative, don't you think?

Do you think Jenkins' and Moore's observations apply to your own cat? If your cat shakes its head, then maybe not.