Cats come in various types: some are completely calm, while others, as it is commonly said, have behavioral problems — aggressive, overly anxious, frightened by any sound, or capricious.
Researchers from the University of Lincoln conducted a study comparing the psychological profiles of over 3,000 cat owners with the psychological characteristics of their pets. The results showed that cats' behavior largely reflects their owners' personality traits: if the owner suffers from neuroticism, their cat is likely to exhibit aggression, withdrawal, anxiety, and overall emotional instability.
Conversely, if a person behaves calmly and mindfully, their cat's negative traits will be less pronounced. In an article published in PLoS ONE, the authors argue that the owner's personality influences the animal's behavior, similar to how the psychological traits of parents affect their children.
Thus, if you want your cat to become less nervous and more friendly, it may be worth starting with working on yourself.
