Having a cat can mean different things to different people. Some want a cat to cuddle and sit on their laps; others are happy to live with a very independent cat which spends most of its time outside and doesn’t want too much human interaction.

What is important is that you try to find a cat that will interact with you if you want it to. All cats are not the same and how each individual cat behaves with you can depend on its inherent personality and early experiences (or lack of experiences), which can make it fearful or confident with people and life in general.

The environment in which you keep a cat is also extremely significant – for example if it lives with many other cats which do not get on, then it will be stressed and will react differently than if it was on its own.

Why are cats so cute? The truth is, non-cat people don’t get it and cat people can’t get enough of their feline friends.

But science has some interesting things to say about why people find some things a lot cuter than others.

Scientists theorize that the reason cats are so cute is because of their facial appearance and their underlying structure. People are evolutionarily wired to find faces with large eyes and a large head irresistible – a biological phenomenon called the “baby schema” according to Pop Science. Ask a cat lover this question and you might hear all about a cat’s adorable eyes, cute paws, fluffy tail, and soft furry body.

A lot of people may joke that cats only care about their owners when they want to eat, but a 2017 study suggests otherwise. Researchers from Oregon State University looked at the preferences of cats and their findings suggest cats actually enjoy interacting with humans more than food.

Social interaction was the activity most preferred by cats across both groups, according to the researchers, followed by food.

The study, published in the journal "Behavioural Processes," tested both pets and shelter cats (around 55 in total) to see if they would prefer to interact with food, toys, scent, or social interaction with humans like petting or playing.

The researchers found that there was a correlation between owning a cat and reduced stress levels. Cat owners had an overall 30% lower risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke compared to those who did not own a cat and that was even taking into account factors such as smoking, diabetes, heart health, and cholesterol levels.

While correlation does not equal causation, the 2009 study was unsurprising to veterinary experts who posited to Medical News Today it could be because cats like to be petted and require less work than dogs.

While there is no guaranteed way to choose the perfect cat for you and your lifestyle, understanding your expectations as well as what makes cats tick will help you to bring home a cat that should be able to cope with its new environment and be the pet that you want too.