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Feline Communication Behaviour (view source)
Revision as of 14:30, 3 April 2014
, 14:30, 3 April 2014→Olfactory Communication
Claw, urine and facial/flank marks are generally deposited on vertical surfaces, often on objects that are close to an entry point to a particular space, so that other cats will notice them.
Claw, urine and facial/flank marks are generally deposited on vertical surfaces, often on objects that are close to an entry point to a particular space, so that other cats will notice them.
===Facial and Flank Marks===
===Marking===
The function of marking behaviour is to identify the significance of certain locations to the ‘sender’ and ‘receiver’ of the mark. Scent marks, therefore, act both as a memento of previous experience in a location as well as a signal to others. When a cat encounters the facial and flank marks on inanimate objects in the [[Feline Territorial Behaviour#Core Territory|core part of the territory]], they signify that this location has been safe in the past and when a cat leaves another face or flank mark, it is relabelling that place as safe based upon its current experience.
The odours that cats share when allogrooming and allorubbing help to identify the group so that these and the core territory odours are a memento of previous interactions.
Other odour marks are intended to enable cats to maintain distance from one another. Both claw marks and urine spray marks contain pheromone chemical signals that are intended to signal to cats outside the social group that they are entering an area that is also occupied by other cats.
====Facial and Flank Marks====
Facial and flank marks are signals largely used in a cat’s [[Feline Territorial Behaviour#Core Territory|'''core territory''']], where it only expects to encounter other familiar cats. In areas where facial and flank marks are left, other forms of marking (spraying and clawing) are reduced or absent.
Facial and flank marks are signals largely used in a cat’s [[Feline Territorial Behaviour#Core Territory|'''core territory''']], where it only expects to encounter other familiar cats. In areas where facial and flank marks are left, other forms of marking (spraying and clawing) are reduced or absent.
===Spray Marking===
====Spray Marking====
Spray marks are used to maintain '''temporal separation''' by indicating information about ownership of space as well as when a particular cat visits that location. The rate of spray marking by male and female cats is increased during the period when females are in [[Oestrus Behaviour - Anatomy & Physiology|oestrus]]. As a result, the rate of spray marking in males and females decreases after neutering, as does the pungency of the male spray mark.
Spray marks are used to maintain '''temporal separation''' by indicating information about ownership of space as well as when a particular cat visits that location. The rate of spray marking by male and female cats is increased during the period when females are in [[Oestrus Behaviour - Anatomy & Physiology|oestrus]]. As a result, the rate of spray marking in males and females decreases after neutering, as does the pungency of the male spray mark.
Urine spray marks provide a signal between cats that a particular area is likely to be in use by different individuals at certain times of day. The degradation of a urine mark over time provides other cats with an indication of when the depositor was last in that location. With regular re-marking, this provides cats with a geographical and temporal map that enables them to pass through an area without encountering one another.
Urine spray marks provide a signal between cats that a particular area is likely to be in use by different individuals at certain times of day. The degradation of a urine mark over time provides other cats with an indication of when the depositor was last in that location. With regular re-marking, this provides cats with a geographical and temporal map that enables them to pass through an area without encountering one another.
===Claw Marks===
====Claw Marks====
Claw marks are used to indicate firmer territorial boundaries that discourage the presence of non-resident cats. It is also used to stretch back muscles after resting, as well as to maintain the condition of claws, so owners are often confused about its meaning as a form of communication. When scent is released from pedal glands during clawing, this creates a signal that indicates territorial residency.
Claw marks are used to indicate firmer territorial boundaries that discourage the presence of non-resident cats. It is also used to stretch back muscles after resting, as well as to maintain the condition of claws, so owners are often confused about its meaning as a form of communication. When scent is released from pedal glands during clawing, this creates a signal that indicates territorial residency.