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Feline Behavior: History
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Contributor: Tinley Hu

Feline behaviour is the behavioural repertoire of the domestic cat (Felis catus), comprising social, communicative, predatory, and reproductive patterns and the developmental processes shaping them[1]. It is organised around territorial security rather than attachment to people or other cats: cats descend from a solitary, territorial ancestor, and domestication has reduced antagonism towards larger animals without removing that reliance[2]. Inadequate exposure to people during the socialisation period is a common origin of problem behaviour, and strongly aversive events at any age also contribute[2]. Chemical signals carry much of the information on which cats act, and feline sensitivity far exceeds human perception[2]. Housing constrains expression, and how far indoor environments meet behavioural needs is little studied[3].

  • feline behaviour
  • domestic cat
  • territorial behaviour
  • socialisation period
  • chemical communication

Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies • Small Animals • Veterinary • Health Sciences

References

  1. Bradshaw, J.W.S.; Casey, R.A.; Brown, S.L. The behaviour of the domestic cat; CABI Publishing: Oxon, United Kingdom, 2012. [CrossRef]
  2. John Bradshaw; Normal feline behaviour: … and why problem behaviours develop. J. Feline Med. Surg. 2018, 20, 411-421, 10.1177/1098612x18771203.
  3. Rachel Foreman-Worsley; Mark J Farnworth; A systematic review of social and environmental factors and their implications for indoor cat welfare. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2019, 220, 104841, 10.1016/j.applanim.2019.104841.
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