Animal Behaviour - Feline Social Behaviour
The only natural social bond in the feline world is the mother–kitten relationship. This bond forms the foundation for all feline social behaviour and serves as the primary model for human–cat interactions, influencing how cats relate to and depend on people.
What is the only social bond in the feline world?
Mother/kitten (therefore only available model for human/cat interaction)
Key Terms
What is the only social bond in the feline world?
Mother/kitten (therefore only available model for human/cat interaction)
How do territories in cats differ?
home-range where they hunt
overlap with other cats in core areas
male ranges much larger, likely to overlap several females (not JUST d...
How does breeding in cats work?
All females mate
Kittens raised in communal den (related females, “central-cats”)
- cooperative midwifery, suckling and defence
&...
How do male interactions and breeding work?
UNLIKE lions, males compete
Successful males visit several groups of females and interact a lot with them when present
“Resident” males...
What are aggression levels like?
Low within group
High between
- allogrooming = affiliative behaviour following conflict
- aggressor = groomer, appeasement
...
What is allorubbing?
Non symmetrical but still affiliative
- within a colony
Young>Old
Small>Large
Cat>Owner
- tail up followed b...
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
What is the only social bond in the feline world? | Mother/kitten (therefore only available model for human/cat interaction) |
How do territories in cats differ? | home-range where they hunt overlap with other cats in core areas male ranges much larger, likely to overlap several females (not JUST due to need for more food) NOT cooperative hunters |
How does breeding in cats work? | All females mate Kittens raised in communal den (related females, “central-cats”) - cooperative midwifery, suckling and defence > peripheral (cf central) cats produce less offspring |
How do male interactions and breeding work? | UNLIKE lions, males compete Successful males visit several groups of females and interact a lot with them when present “Resident” males produce fewer offspring |
What are aggression levels like? | Low within group High between - allogrooming = affiliative behaviour following conflict - aggressor = groomer, appeasement > does NOT show dominance - symetrical (will be shown equally by both individuals over time) |
What is allorubbing? | Non symmetrical but still affiliative - within a colony Young>Old Small>Large Cat>Owner - tail up followed by rubbing indicates trust (not just scent marking) |
What effect has neutering had on feral populations? How was this monitored? | TNR - trap neuter release Decreases aggression |
What is the dominance structure of at colonies like? | No clear hierarchy unlike dogs - No submissive behaviour - Avoid conflict with defensive posture - May run away but this may initiate a chase so more likely to freeze - heavily reliant on scent > In multicat households hierarchy more likely to rely on RHP/V model |
Before what age should cats be introduced in order to ^ affiliation? | 8 weeks |
How does the cat-owner relationship differ with different numbers of cats? | multi-cat household, owner receives less attention > due to owner personality? or cat behaviour? or both? > Quasar experiments - interpret carefully cf. dogs whereby whether or not they like other dogs in the household bears no significance as to whether or not they like people! |