Animal Behaviour - Applied Cat Ethology
In applied cat ethology, behavioural genetics are primarily inherited through the paternal line. This means certain behavioural traits, such as temperament or sociability, can be strongly influenced by the genetics of the sire (father).
Where are behavioural genetics gained from?
Paternal line
Key Terms
Where are behavioural genetics gained from?
Paternal line
Why is the personality of kittens often less predictable than puppies?
Feral toms breeding with pet queens - behaviour determined genetically from the paternal line
What is the lifespan of a feral cat?
15 years
When are cats most active?
Nocturnal - evenings and mornings
What is the general food intake of a feral cat?
70% rodents
Are free living colonies necessarily feral?
No
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Where are behavioural genetics gained from? | Paternal line |
Why is the personality of kittens often less predictable than puppies? | Feral toms breeding with pet queens - behaviour determined genetically from the paternal line |
What is the lifespan of a feral cat? | 15 years |
When are cats most active? | Nocturnal - evenings and mornings |
What is the general food intake of a feral cat? | 70% rodents |
Are free living colonies necessarily feral? | No |
What are the most important factors for territory? | Shelter and food |
How do male and female territories differ? | Males ~3x size of female hunting ground, may incorporate |
How do feline social groups form? | Grows inwardly, usually related females - no one joins |
Until what age is fostering preferable to hand rearing? | 3 days |
What are the 4 cat “safety” behaviours? | Get up high Keep still Hide Run away If these behaviours are prevented -> ATTACK! -> Spraying -> Middening (feaces) |
What is the term for inappropriate defeacation? | Middening |
Why are stressed cats often unreported by owner? | They don’t notice the problem - “cat sits up on the chair all day very calm etc.” |
Why do cats not run as a fear response? | Provokes a chase |
How may chronic stress manifest itself in cats? | Overgrooming Stereotypies Obesity |
What are ideal sleeping arrangements for cats? | Multiple sleeping sites (ethnologically due to parasite control) |
Why are cats often termed “fussy eaters”? | Prefer to eat small amounts - then are taught to be fussy because the food is changed too regularly. End up on a highly palatable diet -> obesity and guarding and overeating |
How may food acquisition be altered in cats to prevent behaviour problems? When should this not be used? | Hide a prawn in an ice cube or rice paper, more hunting games resulting in feeding. Only to be used in cases of BOREDOM not anxiety - may increase anxiety levels |
How may reproductive behaviour elicit behavioural problems in cats? | Tomcats fighting ^ scent marking Females - yowling, lordosis, writhing around and trying to mate with everything |
Which kind of body positions denote stress? | Feet tucked under body, facing away but looking over shoulder, tail wrapped in under body |
Which kind of body positions denote a relaxed cat? | Tail uncurled, lying on side |
What are the 4 basic needs of any cat? | Safety (physical and pyschological) Body Maintenance (scratch posts, litter trays, food) Reproduction Social Interaction or Avoidance |
How should a distressed cat be treated? | Ignore it!! Do not go after it. More likely to want to be alone than want a cuddle |
Why is cat/human interaction different than dog/human interaction? | Solitary animals means poor communication skills “close up” Show very few appeasement/deferential signs To encourage interactino DO NOT PET as soon as cat comes to investigate you, let them initiate interaction Give more hiding places |
What behaviours are indicative of an aggressive cat? | Increase in size - piloerection, ears back, stands tall |
What behaviours are indicative of a defensive cat? | Small, crouching and flattened, head drawn back | Defensive paw swiping |
What behaviours are indicative of a "cat in conflict" (nervous)? | Arched back, standing sideways on, often seen in kitten play May hiss to startle and confuse the attacker |
How can play behaviours be differentiated from genuine behaviours? | Hooked end of tail |
Which behaviour indicates a confident, relaxed and non-aggressive attitude in the cat? When else may this be seen? | Rolling Repeatedly rolling and standing indicates oestrus in females Males also roll but purpose is unknown (often after intense object rubbing) |
What does a hooked over tail mean? | Inquisitve or playful - wants object/person to come nearer |
What is bunting? | Allorubbing / smell exchange from the face |
Do facial expressions change before or after body posture? | Before |
How do the eyes change when avoiding conflict? Anticipating an attack? Attacking? | Avoid eye contact to prevent conflict Pupils dilate Pupils narrow |
How does the display of teeth different between a confident aggressive cat and a defensive cat? | Confident will open mouth and show all teeth | Defensive will only show lower canines |
How does ear position differ between an offensive and defensive cat? | Defensive or threatened cat - sideways and down | Offensive - ears forward, then down and back |
Why is scent and spraying important to cats? | Solitary - used over long distances, at night, no need for actual interaction Assumed to inform age, gender, reproductive status VISUAL aspect of spraying also important as will do the behaviour even if not spraying |
What type of urine do cats spend longest investigating? | Spray |
Are urinating and defeacating problems? | Not to the animals! Normal behaviour, but unacceptable to owners |
Where is the majority of scratching directed? | Vertical surfaces in home territory |
What is the purpose of scratching? Where should scratch posts be positioned? | Scent marking through sebaceous glands in the feet Visual display similar to claw sharpening in from of conspecifics normal behaviour (but unacceptable to owners) Stress -> lower scratching (can't remember if physically lower or less frequent) Should be positioned high up or very tall |
Where are the three main facial scent marking glands? | Sub-mandibular Perioral Temporal |
Where are the two main scent glands in the tail region? | Caudal glands along the tail | Base of tail (plays a part in spraying) |
What is allorubbing? | Social interaction - affiliative Greeting behaviour, and feels good! Behaviour quickly subsides if there is no response from person/cat |
Are cats vocal? | Domestic cats are towards humans - owners assume this means they are hungry so reinforced by feeding when meowing. Not displayed towards other cats to elicit food People do not understand their cats meows Will yowl, miow and purr |
When do cats purr? | When in PAIN or social interaction |
When may purring stop? | About to attack or be aggressive Hunting Meeting a cat for the first time 1st experience of catnip |
When do cats miow? | Social situations | Females attracting males (high intensity, strained) |
What factors add to the stress associated with moving from home to cattery? | Loss of familiar scent, and then repeated every day due to new cats and cleaning products Loss of choice from home - temperature etc. Lacking familiar social interaction but overwhelmed by strangers Overstimulated and insufficient rest time Small area/territory - everything happening near each other Glass fronted kennels are very frustrating! Lack of smell |
How may catteries be designed to encourage cats to come out? | MORE hiding places - counterintuitive | Safer they feel more likely they are to explore |
Why may metal cages be better/worse than glass? | Better for transmission of smell (most important) | May emit a high pitched noise when struck |
What type of bowl is best to encouraging drinking? | Shallow glass |
What 4 negative emotions may be experienced by cats? | Frustration Anxiety Fear Abnormal (eg. phobia, compulsive repetitive) |
Name two ways to decrease anxiety in cats | Provide high up places to hide | Spread cat's scent around house with wet cloth |
What are the two stages/strategies of coping with stress? | Passive - hiding and inhibition | Active - restlessness, marking, vocalisation, aggression, self mutilation, obesity |
How can multi-cat households be organised to coexist peacefully? | Territory/space and resources for each social group |
How may social groups be identified? | Draw diagram with all cats names on - draw lines between social interaction |