Cat Psychopathy Test

The IDRlabs Cat Psychopathy Test (IDR-CPT) was developed by IDRlabs. The IDR-CPT is based on the work of Rebecca Evans and her colleagues, who authored the cat triarchic (CAT-Tri) questionnaire. The IDR-CPT is not associated with any specific researchers in the field of animal psychology, psychopathology, personality psychology, or any affiliated research institutions.

The IDRlabs Cat Psychopathy Test was informed by the CAT-Tri’s criteria for psychopathy in cats, as published in Evans, R., Lyons, M., Brewer, G., & Bethell, E. (2021). A domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus) model of triarchic psychopathy factors: Development and initial validation of the CAT-Tri+questionnaire. Journal of Research in Personality, 95, 104161 and Petter, O. (2021). All cats have an element of psychopathy according to a new study. Independent.

The test measures the following cat psychopathy scales: Boldness: One dimension of cat psychopathy is boldness; this is characterized by low levels of fear, harm avoidance, and stress. Cats high in Boldness are willing to engage in risky activities such as fighting with other animals, hunting by the roadside, and exploring unknown territory.

Disinhibition: This trait is manifested as reduced behavioral restraint and impaired regulation of affect and urges. Cats who are high in Disinhibition have impulse control problems, which are often expressed as a lack of planning and foresight. However, there is also an attention-seeking aspect to this trait that encourages such cats to seek greater closeness with people and other animals than is normally seen in cats.

Meanness: Cats with psychopathy tend to display mean behavior. They are aggressive, disobedient, and territorial. They may often chase other cats, walk on tables, climb curtains, frighten or attack others, and urinate or defecate on items out of spite, particularly after being scolded. Hence, the Meanness trait often predicts a lower quality of the cat/owner relationship.

Unfriendliness: Psychopathic cats tend to be unfriendly to people and other pets. They usually spend a lot of time alone, growl at or scratch others, dislike human contact, and do not seek affection from others. They also tend to dominate other animals, purr when attacking people or other pets, and strive to assert dominance or control of common areas.

The work of Evans and her colleagues has also informed some of the diagnostic criteria in the form of the newly-created psychological instrument, the CAT-Tri for clinical use especially by qualified mental health professionals. The present test is intended for educational purposes only. IDRlabs and the present IDRlabs Cat Psychopathy Test are independent of the above researchers, organizations, or their affiliated institutions.

Free online tests and quizzes such as this one are solely first takes and cannot provide accurate assessments of your pet’s potential condition. Hence, the test is intended to be used for educational purposes only. A definitive assessment of your pet’s behavior can be made only by a qualified professional.

As the publishers of this free online cat psychopathy test, which allows you to screen yourself for the signs and symptoms of your cat’s psychopathy (or lack thereof), we have striven to make the test as reliable and valid as possible by subjecting it to statistical controls and validation. However, free online quizzes such as the present cat psychopathy test do not provide professional assessments or recommendations of any kind; the test is provided entirely “as-is.” For more information about any of our online tests and quizzes, please consult our Terms of Service.