Changes

Cats use three main sensory channels for communication; [[Eye - Anatomy & Physiology#Vision|sight]], [[Ear - Anatomy & Physiology#Function - Hearing|sound]] and [[Nose - Anatomy & Physiology|scent]]. Each of these has certain advantages and disadvantages for communication. Communication in the cat has evolved to enable cats to '''maintain distance from each other both in time and space''', primarily through a system of '''chemical signals'''.  

Cats use three main sensory channels for communication; [[Eye - Anatomy & Physiology#Vision|sight]], [[Ear - Anatomy & Physiology#Function - Hearing|sound]] and [[Nose - Anatomy & Physiology|scent]]. Each of these has certain advantages and disadvantages for communication. Communication in the cat has evolved to enable cats to '''maintain distance from each other both in time and space''', primarily through a system of '''chemical signals'''.  

===Affiliative Behaviour===

===Distance Increasing Behaviour===

Cats avoid conflict by maintaining distance between the individuals. The main behaviours involve the whole body posture and certain types of vocalisation.

Cats that are part of a social group will groom and rub against each other each other in order to transfer chemical odour signals between cats and establish a "group odour". This group odour is a common identifier that enables members of a social group to recognise each other. A significant benefit of this method of group recognition is that, since the odour is transferred from cat to cat throughout a group, not all cats need to groom each other, or even meet on a regular basis, in order to share enough elements of the group odour to recognise one another when they meet. It should be remembered that this system evolved to regulate interactions between related individuals, and the genetic contribution to personal odour in cats is not yet understood. It may be more difficult for unrelated cats to establish a group odour, if there is less commonality in their personal chemical identity.

===Distance Reducing Behaviour===

===Distance Reducing Behaviour===

This is particularly important when we consider that cats have evolved a system of establishing group identity using odour, through '''allorubbing''' and '''allogrooming'''. It would not be possible to establish a group odour if cats did not have some communicative mechanism for reducing distance.

This is particularly important when we consider that cats have evolved a system of establishing group identity using odour, through '''allorubbing''' and '''allogrooming'''. It would not be possible to establish a group odour if cats did not have some communicative mechanism for reducing distance.

===Distance Increasing Behaviour===

===Allogrooming and allorubbing===

Cats avoid conflict by maintaining distance between the individuals. The main behaviours involve the whole body posture and certain types of vocalisation.

When approaching to greet another cat, a cat will  move its '''tail into a vertical position''' (tail-up). A '''quiet trill or chirrup''' is issued, and after getting to within around 0.5 metres the approaching cat will '''sit down'''. '''Slow eye blinking''' is also used to indicate that this is a friendly approach. Physical contact only occurs between cats in in about 30% of these approaches. Two cats may approach each other with tail-up, in which case they will often sit down in close proximity, but still without physical contact. When cats do make contact during a greeting, it is often only briefly; one or two rubs or a brief period of grooming. Cats that are younger than 2 years of age are more sociable and also more likely to engage in closer contact after a greeting, possibly even playing.

==Visual Communication==

==Visual Communication==