Your Cat Doesn’t See You as the Boss—Here’s What the Science Says

If you’ve ever felt personally offended by your cat ignoring a perfectly reasonable request—like “please don’t knock that off the counter”—you’re not alone. But according to biologist John Bradshaw, your cat isn’t being disrespectful. They simply don’t see you as an authority figure.

Bradshaw’s research shows that cats relate to humans as conspecifics, meaning members of their own species. Unlike dogs, who evolved to cooperate closely with humans, cats evolved primarily as solitary hunters. They domesticated themselves by living near humans—not by being selectively bred to follow human direction.

This explains so many familiar cat behaviors.

Cats greet us with slow blinks, head bunts, and cheek rubs—all behaviors they use with other cats they trust. They knead us for comfort, play with us the way they’d play with feline companions, and respond to motivation rather than commands. These aren’t signs of aloofness or dominance—they’re signs of social bonding on feline terms.

We also take a moment to address an important point in modern animal training. Many dog trainers are moving away from “pack leader” and “alpha” language—not because dogs aren’t social, but because dominance-based models led to intrusive and harmful techniques. Today’s science shows dogs thrive in cooperative, relationship-based partnerships. Cats, however, never evolved for that kind of hierarchical cooperation at all.

Understanding this difference changes everything. When we stop trying to control cats and start working with them—through choice, consent, and positive reinforcement—we see fewer behavior problems and stronger bonds.

Your cat isn’t trying to challenge your authority.They already see you as family… just a very strange-looking one.

Listen to the full podcast here