Another interesting bit of research recently on cat social cognition: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/05/cats-rival-dogs-many-tests-social-smarts-anyone-br

Another interesting bit of research recently on cat social cognition: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/05/cats-rival-dogs-many-tests-social-smarts-anyone-brave-enough-study-them https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/05/cats-rival-dogs-many... Specifically, it parallels OP's point about cats being attached to humans (although not the terrified-outside part).