Feline ethology
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The term 'Feline' is used as a term to name the 'Felidae' family, or Cat family. Ethology is used to describe the study of animal behaviour. Therefore, Feline Ethology is the study of Cat behaviour.
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[edit] Behaviour Patterns
[edit] Purring
A lot of people see purring as a sign of content, which it is; however, it is slightly more than that. Some cats purr when they are in extreme pain, or in labour, simply to try and calm them down. Purring therefore can be a sign of pleasure or pain, usually the former. Scientists have not yet been able to discover how purring works, but it is suspected that is caused by minute vibrations in the voice box.
[edit] Scent Rubbing
This behaviour is used primarily to claim ownership of something, a territory, a toy, or the most common being you, the owner. This is when the cat rubs against your legs or any other part of your body. The cat has scent glands in its face and rear, and will use either of these to make a mark that only other cats can smell. To them, it says "This human belongs to me." Scent rubbing doesn't have to be a positive response, though, like purring. Scent rubbing can occur when a cat feels its territory is being invaded, and will use scent marking to restate that this particular territory is theirs. This can occur in a more territorial form: spraying.
[edit] Food Patterns
Cats are unique eaters; there is no other mammal that eats quite like them. They are obligate carnivores, which means they will only eat meat, and can survive without vegetation. Felines in the wild will usually hunt smaller mammals regularly throughout the day to keep themselves nourished. Domestic cats, however, are used to a relaxed lifestyle and, therefore, will eat even smaller amounts, but more regularly. Because of this, the domestic cat's intestinal tract is longer due to the lack of need to digest quickly.
[edit] Courting
Cats, compared to many other mammals have a unique courting style. It is very cold, as far as emotion goes, and absolutely no bonding occurs between the father and mother. Courtship consists of firstly the female coming into season, or heat. Male cats will be able to smell a female cat in heat miles away, and will therefore be seeking her out. This can be very problematic for any owner who has a whole female. When males arrive, they will fight mercilessly for the right to be the first to mate with the female. After the dominant male has left, the less dominant males will then each mate with the female in turn. It is therefore possible that even if a male cat loses first breeding rights, he can still be the father. This is also the cause that a litter of kittens can sometimes consist of two or sometimes even three fathers.
