"The Truth About Cats' Feelings Toward Humans"
Studies suggest that while cats may not love humans in the same way dogs do, they do form emotional bonds with their owners, with the type of relationship depending on the owner's emotional investment and the cat's sociability. Cats prefer a "hands off" approach to petting and dislike having attention forced on them. The domestication of cats occurred about 10,000 years ago, and evidence suggests they endeared themselves to ancient farmers by controlling rodent populations.