Changes

Cats are not asocial, they will form colonies where resources are plentiful and they do develop [[Feline Social Behaviour|affiliative relationships]] with each other when there is a mutual benefit. For example, groups of related females may form in an area where there is an excess of hunting and sheltering opportunities. The primary means of identification between cats in a social group is through the establishment of a group odour. This requires that cats approach close enough to groom and rub against each other (allogroom and allorub). It would not be possible to establish a group odour if cats did not have some communicative mechanism for reducing distance. So, distance reducing behaviours are an essential part of communication that allows cats to approach one another.

Cats are not asocial, they will form colonies where resources are plentiful and they do develop [[Feline Social Behaviour|affiliative relationships]] with each other when there is a mutual benefit. For example, groups of related females may form in an area where there is an excess of hunting and sheltering opportunities. The primary means of identification between cats in a social group is through the establishment of a group odour. This requires that cats approach close enough to groom and rub against each other (allogroom and allorub). It would not be possible to establish a group odour if cats did not have some communicative mechanism for reducing distance. So, distance reducing behaviours are an essential part of communication that allows cats to approach one another.

====Allogrooming and allorubbing====

====Allogrooming and Allorubbing====

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.

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.

==Visual Communication==

==Visual Communication==

===Adaptations of the feline visual system===  

====Adaptations of the Feline Visual System====  

The function of the visual system of cats is highly biased in favour of [[Feline Predatory Behaviour|predatory behaviour]]. The cat’s [[Eye - Anatomy & Physiology#The Wall (retina, uvea and sclera)|retina]] has three times the rod density of the human eye, contributing to the light detection threshold in cats being eight times lower than in man. Although their vision is not monochromatic, cats have sixteen times fewer wavelength comparing retinal ganglia than primates and are '''behaviourally colour blind'''. The cat’s enhanced visual sensitivity to brightness, patterns and movement block learning associated with differences in colour; under normal conditions cats do not appear to learn associations based on colour discrimination. The [[Cranial Nerves - Anatomy & Physiology#Optic Nerve (II)|optic nerve]] in the cat has a much lower density of nerve fibres than in man, due to the much smaller amount of information transmitted from the cat’s retina. This is because the ratio of ganglionic cells to photoreceptors is very high in the cat; there is a far higher level of integration of information at the level of the ganglionic layer of the retina. The benefit of this is that '''movement detection is hard-wired into the sensory system''' and able to directly drive fast responding reflexive systems; the cat is therefore much more rapidly attentive and responsive to movement than a human. The overall effect is that cats are attentive to movement in the way that humans are attentive to colour.  

The function of the visual system of cats is highly biased in favour of [[Feline Predatory Behaviour|predatory behaviour]]. The cat’s [[Eye - Anatomy & Physiology#The Wall (retina, uvea and sclera)|retina]] has three times the rod density of the human eye, contributing to the light detection threshold in cats being eight times lower than in man. Although their vision is not monochromatic, cats have sixteen times fewer wavelength comparing retinal ganglia than primates and are '''behaviourally colour blind'''. The cat’s enhanced visual sensitivity to brightness, patterns and movement block learning associated with differences in colour; under normal conditions cats do not appear to learn associations based on colour discrimination. The [[Cranial Nerves - Anatomy & Physiology#Optic Nerve (II)|optic nerve]] in the cat has a much lower density of nerve fibres than in man, due to the much smaller amount of information transmitted from the cat’s retina. This is because the ratio of ganglionic cells to photoreceptors is very high in the cat; there is a far higher level of integration of information at the level of the ganglionic layer of the retina. The benefit of this is that '''movement detection is hard-wired into the sensory system''' and able to directly drive fast responding reflexive systems; the cat is therefore much more rapidly attentive and responsive to movement than a human. The overall effect is that cats are attentive to movement in the way that humans are attentive to colour.  

The cat's vision has therefore evolved to enable it to see in low light levels, break the camouflage of its prey and quickly detect movement. As a result of the wild cat’s camouflaged coat, [[Timing of Feline Activity|crepuscular and nocturnal activity]] and [[Feline Predatory Behaviour#Hunting Strategies|stealthy use of cover]], visual identification of affiliates is less important than the use of other sensory systems such as [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Olfactory Communication|olfaction]].

The cat's vision has therefore evolved to enable it to see in low light levels, break the camouflage of its prey and quickly detect movement. As a result of the wild cat’s camouflaged coat, [[Timing of Feline Activity|crepuscular and nocturnal activity]] and [[Feline Predatory Behaviour#Hunting Strategies|stealthy use of cover]], visual identification of affiliates is less important than the use of other sensory systems such as [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Olfactory Communication|olfaction]].

===Signalling===

====Signalling====

Visual communication involves '''facial and body postures''', as well as the '''visual aspects of''' certain behaviour such as '''spray marking''' and '''clawing'''. In general, visual signals operate over a limited range, in line of sight and are rapidly modified. This enables the signaller to alter its communication according to the response it elicits. Visual signalling is less effective at night, in adverse weather conditions and dense undergrowth. The main disadvantage of visual communication is that it must be delivered face to face with a competitor, which increases the risk of conflict and injury.  

Visual communication involves '''facial and body postures''', as well as the '''visual aspects of''' certain behaviour such as '''spray marking''' and '''clawing'''. In general, visual signals operate over a limited range, in line of sight and are rapidly modified. This enables the signaller to alter its communication according to the response it elicits. Visual signalling is less effective at night, in adverse weather conditions and dense undergrowth. The main disadvantage of visual communication is that it must be delivered face to face with a competitor, which increases the risk of conflict and injury.