The Big 5 Cat Purr-sonality Traits
We know you've had a question on your mind for years... "What would I be like if I was a cat?" Would you be the sort of cat to meow gleefully whenever your owner comes home, or the type to push that nice, new, expensive vase off the counter onto the floor? Well, you needn't wait another second — we have the purr-fect calculator for you! 🐱
There are over 42.7 million cat owners in the USA alone, and each cat has their own way of doing things. By knowing your cat purr-sonality, you also know more about your human personality, which can help you improve yourself and get more out of life.
About the 5 Traits
A landmark 2017 study on 2,802 cats identified five main dimensions of cat temperament. Here's what each trait means:
😿 Neuroticism
How anxious, fearful, or insecure a cat is. High-neuroticism cats are easily startled, shy around strangers, and may hide frequently. Low-neuroticism cats are calm and unflappable.
Human equivalent: Emotional stability vs. anxiety. In the Big 5, this maps directly to human Neuroticism (N).
😸 Extraversion
How outgoing, active, and sociable a cat is. High-extraversion cats seek attention, enjoy company, and love to play. Low-extraversion cats prefer quiet solitude.
Human equivalent: Maps directly to human Extraversion (E).
😼 Dominance
How assertive, territorial, and controlling a cat is. Dominant cats claim the best spots, boss other pets around, and demand things on their own terms.
Human equivalent: Relates to human Conscientiousness (C) and leadership traits.
🙀 Impulsiveness
How spontaneous, unpredictable, and bold a cat is. Highly impulsive cats act without thinking — knocking things off shelves for the sheer fun of it.
Human equivalent: The flip side of human Conscientiousness (C) — impulsive people score low on this dimension.
😻 Agreeableness
How cooperative, friendly, and gentle a cat is with people and other animals. Highly agreeable cats are lap cats who get along with everyone.
Human equivalent: Maps directly to human Agreeableness (A).
The Human Big 5 Personality Traits (OCEAN)
The Big 5 human personality model (also known as OCEAN) measures five dimensions:
- Openness to Experience — curiosity, creativity, openness to new ideas
- Conscientiousness — organization, dependability, self-discipline
- Extraversion — sociability, assertiveness, positive emotions
- Agreeableness — cooperation, trust, empathy
- Neuroticism — emotional instability, anxiety, moodiness
Our Catculator maps your cat personality scores to the human OCEAN model, so you can see your human traits reflected through the mirror of your inner feline! 🪞🐱
How to Use the Catculator
- For each of the 5 cat traits, rate yourself (or your cat!) on a scale of 1 to 10.
- A score of 1 means the trait is very low; 10 means it is very high.
- Choose your preferred measurement system (American or Metric) — this affects the cat breed weight reference in your results.
- Hit "Find My Cat Personality" and discover your cat purr-sonality type!
Note: This calculator is for entertainment purposes and is based on the 2017 research study "The 'Feline Five': An Exploration of Personality in Pet Cats" by Litchfield et al., PLOS ONE.