The long list of differences between cats and dogs has just added a new (and worrying) element.A study carried out by researchers from Liverpool, in the United Kingdom, determined that "it is probable that all cats have an element of psychopathy".The work published in the Journal of Research in Personality indicates that this disorder could have been useful to the ancestors of these animals because it allowed them to acquire important resources such as food, territory and more mating opportunities.For this research, the authors focused on five main traits.Thus, they measured boldness, which is related to social dominance and low levels of fear.They also looked at disinhibition, which has to do with self-control issues and nastiness evidenced by a lack of empathy.Finally, those in charge of the study also focused on the antipathy of cats towards other pets but also towards humans.The work was carried out with more than 2,000 owners of domestic cats who had to answer a survey of 46 questions."The findings provide insight into the structure of triarchic psychopathy in cats," says the study's conclusion, which refers to the triarchic model, which defines psychopathy as a disorder comprised of boldness, pettiness, and disinhibition.The scientists developed a tool they called CAT-Tri, which was used to assess the mental stability of cats and which, according to them, could help improve the relationship between a domestic feline and its owner.“A cat scoring high on the fearlessness scale may benefit from big cat trees and tall scratchers, as the elements of CAT-Tri+ suggest that a fearless cat enjoys exploring and climbing,” explains Rebecca Evans, a of the main authors of the research.Enhance your lifestyle Product review, technology news, tools to navigate the digital world.