Changes

Tolerance of group size varies considerably within ''Felis silvestris'', with some subspecies such as the Scottish wildcat (''Felis silvestris grampia'') being almost completely solitary, and others such as the African/Near Eastern wildcat (''Felis silvestris lybica'') being more sociable and group living. This may reflect climate differences in the locations where these subspecies evolved; in temperate and cold climates where human population density is also low, sources of food and shelter may be more sparse and subject to greater competition. Genetic studies indicate that the domestic cat is descended from Felis sylvestris lybica<ref>Driscoll, C.A., Menotti-Raymon, M., Roca, A.L., Hupe, K., Johnson, W.E, Geffen, E., Harley, E.H., Delibes, M., Pontier, D., Kitchener, A.C., Yamaguchi, N., O'Brien, S.J., Macdonald, D.W. (2007) The Near Eastern origin of cat domestication. ''Science''. 317(5837), 519-525.</ref>, which would suggest a higher level of sociability in the domestic cat compared with UK-native wild cats.  

Tolerance of group size varies considerably within ''Felis silvestris'', with some subspecies such as the Scottish wildcat (''Felis silvestris grampia'') being almost completely solitary, and others such as the African/Near Eastern wildcat (''Felis silvestris lybica'') being more sociable and group living. This may reflect climate differences in the locations where these subspecies evolved; in temperate and cold climates where human population density is also low, sources of food and shelter may be more sparse and subject to greater competition. Genetic studies indicate that the domestic cat is descended from Felis sylvestris lybica<ref>Driscoll, C.A., Menotti-Raymon, M., Roca, A.L., Hupe, K., Johnson, W.E, Geffen, E., Harley, E.H., Delibes, M., Pontier, D., Kitchener, A.C., Yamaguchi, N., O'Brien, S.J., Macdonald, D.W. (2007) The Near Eastern origin of cat domestication. ''Science''. 317(5837), 519-525.</ref>, which would suggest a higher level of sociability in the domestic cat compared with UK-native wild cats.  

Observational studies by authors such as Leyhausen</ref>Leyhausen, P. (1988) The tame and the wild- another Just-So-Story? In: D. C. Turner and P. Bateson (eds.). ''The Domestic Cat: the biology of its behavior.'', Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.</ref></font color>, Laundre (1977)<ref>Laundre, J. (1977) The daytime behaviour of domestic cats in a free-roaming population. ''Animal Behaviour''. 25, 990-998.</ref> and Fagen (1978)<ref>Fagen, R. M. (1978) Population structure and social behavior in the domestic cat (''Felis catus''). ''Carnivore Genetics Newsletter'' 3(8): 276-281.</ref> expanded knowledge of the social communication and organisation of cats, and revealed their capacity for group living. The work of authors such as Dards (1978<ref>Dards, J. L. (1978) Home ranges of feral cats in Portsmouth. ''Carnivore Genetics Newsletter''. 3(7), 242-255. </ref>, 1981<ref>Dards, J. L. (1981) Habitat utilization by feral cats in Portsmouth dockyard. Pp. 30-49 In: ''The Ecology and Control of Feral Cats.'' Potters Bar: Universities Federation for Animal Welfare.</ref>, 1983<ref>Dards, J. L. (1983) The behaviour of dockyard cats: interactions of adult males. ''Applied Animal Ethology''. 10, 133-153.</ref>), who studied dockyard cats in the UK, and Denny et al. (2002)<ref>Denny, E., Yakovlevich, P., Eldridge, M.D.B., Dickman, D. (2002) Social and genetic analysis of a population of free-living cats (Felis catus L.) exploiting a resource-rich habitat. ''Wildlife Research.'' 45(4), 405-413.</ref> have identified a now well recognised functional template for domestic cat organisation in which related female cats form social groups along with their offspring and juvenile cats. The purpose of the groups is to aid in successful kitten rearing. Males are loosely associated with these groups of females and roam a much larger territory that encompasses the home ranges of several groups of females.  

Observational studies by authors such as Leyhausen<ref name="Leyhausen">Leyhausen, P. (1988) The tame and the wild- another Just-So-Story? In: D. C. Turner and P. Bateson (eds.). ''The Domestic Cat: the biology of its behavior.'', Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.</ref></font color>, Laundre (1977)<ref>Laundre, J. (1977) The daytime behaviour of domestic cats in a free-roaming population. ''Animal Behaviour''. 25, 990-998.</ref> and Fagen (1978)<ref>Fagen, R. M. (1978) Population structure and social behavior in the domestic cat (''Felis catus''). ''Carnivore Genetics Newsletter'' 3(8): 276-281.</ref> expanded knowledge of the social communication and organisation of cats, and revealed their capacity for group living. The work of authors such as Dards (1978<ref>Dards, J. L. (1978) Home ranges of feral cats in Portsmouth. ''Carnivore Genetics Newsletter''. 3(7), 242-255. </ref>, 1981<ref>Dards, J. L. (1981) Habitat utilization by feral cats in Portsmouth dockyard. Pp. 30-49 In: ''The Ecology and Control of Feral Cats.'' Potters Bar: Universities Federation for Animal Welfare.</ref>, 1983<ref>Dards, J. L. (1983) The behaviour of dockyard cats: interactions of adult males. ''Applied Animal Ethology''. 10, 133-153.</ref>), who studied dockyard cats in the UK, and Denny et al. (2002)<ref>Denny, E., Yakovlevich, P., Eldridge, M.D.B., Dickman, D. (2002) Social and genetic analysis of a population of free-living cats (Felis catus L.) exploiting a resource-rich habitat. ''Wildlife Research.'' 45(4), 405-413.</ref> have identified a now well recognised functional template for domestic cat organisation in which related female cats form social groups along with their offspring and juvenile cats. The purpose of the groups is to aid in successful kitten rearing. Males are loosely associated with these groups of females and roam a much larger territory that encompasses the home ranges of several groups of females.  

Groups of females form in areas where food and shelter resources are abundant, but '''group members still continue to act independently of one another'''. Unlike some species in which females are hostile to the offspring of conspecifics, nursing queens seem to show little discrimination when caregiving to kittens; they will feed and groom any kitten that approaches them<ref>Ohkawa, N. and T. Hidaka. 1987. Communal nursing in the domestic cat, ''Felis catus''. ''Journal of Ethology'' 5(2): 173-183.</ref>. This adaptation provides the basis for the formation of female social groups, as it enables kittens to be protected and cared for by members of the group whilst others are hunting. Even so, the '''only sharing of food between cats is between mothers and their kittens'''; meals are not shared between adult females.

Groups of females form in areas where food and shelter resources are abundant, but '''group members still continue to act independently of one another'''. Unlike some species in which females are hostile to the offspring of conspecifics, nursing queens seem to show little discrimination when caregiving to kittens; they will feed and groom any kitten that approaches them<ref>Ohkawa, N. and T. Hidaka. 1987. Communal nursing in the domestic cat, ''Felis catus''. ''Journal of Ethology'' 5(2): 173-183.</ref>. This adaptation provides the basis for the formation of female social groups, as it enables kittens to be protected and cared for by members of the group whilst others are hunting. Even so, the '''only sharing of food between cats is between mothers and their kittens'''; meals are not shared between adult females.