How PurrJung Works
Understanding the science and methodology behind our cat personality assessment
1 Overview
PurrJung is a cat personality assessment that categorizes cats into 16 distinct personality types based on four behavioral dimensions. The test consists of 16 questions (4 per dimension) that observe your cat's natural behaviors and preferences. Each question uses a bipolar trait scale, allowing you to indicate where your cat falls between two opposing behavioral tendencies.
2 The Four Dimensions
E (Extroverted/Social): Seeks interaction with humans and other animals, approaches visitors, enjoys group activities.
I (Introverted/Solitary): Prefers alone time, bonds with select individuals, retreats from unfamiliar situations.
S (Sensing/Routine): Prefers familiar patterns, consistent schedules, known environments and toys.
N (Intuitive/Novelty): Explores new things, adapts to changes, curious about unfamiliar objects and spaces.
T (Thinking/Independent): Self-reliant, makes own decisions, less influenced by human cues or emotions.
F (Feeling/Bonded): Emotionally attuned to humans, seeks comfort, responds to owner's mood and presence.
J (Judging/Structured): Predictable schedules, consistent behaviors, prefers order and routine activities.
P (Perceiving/Spontaneous): Impulsive behavior, flexible timing, unpredictable bursts of activity.
3 Scoring Methodology
Each question presents a behavioral spectrum with two opposing traits. You rate your cat on a 1-5 scale:
For each dimension, scores from 4 questions are summed, resulting in a range of 4-20. A threshold of 12 determines the letter:
- Score ≤ 12 → First letter (E, S, T, or J)
- Score > 12 → Second letter (I, N, F, or P)
The percentage shown in results indicates how strongly your cat leans toward one side of each dimension.
4 Scientific Foundation
PurrJung draws inspiration from established frameworks in both human and animal personality psychology:
The Feline Five
Research by Litchfield et al. (2017) at the University of South Australia identified five core personality traits in cats: Neuroticism, Extraversion, Dominance, Impulsiveness, and Agreeableness. This peer-reviewed study surveyed over 2,800 cats and established a scientific basis for feline personality assessment.
Learn more about Feline Five vs PurrJungMBTI-Style Framework
PurrJung adapts the four-dimension typology (similar to Myers-Briggs) to create 16 distinct cat personalities. While MBTI measures human cognitive preferences, our dimensions focus on observable feline behaviors such as social interaction patterns, environmental preferences, and activity styles.
Note: PurrJung is designed for entertainment and educational purposes. While grounded in behavioral observation principles, it is not a clinical diagnostic tool.
PurrJung is a sub-project of OpenJung.org, an open-source initiative dedicated to making personality psychology accessible and fun for everyone.
5 Tips for Accurate Results
- ✓ Think about your cat's typical behavior, not just recent or unusual incidents
- ✓ Consider how your cat behaves in familiar, comfortable settings
- ✓ If unsure, choose the middle option (3) rather than guessing
- ✓ Cats over 1 year old have more stable personalities for assessment
- ✓ You can retake the test as you observe more of your cat's behaviors