Changes

==Group Size==

==Group Size==

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 silvestris 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 living in groups. 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 silvestris 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 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.  

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.  

Neutering alters the social behaviour of male cats, reducing their territory size and the level of inter-male conflict. This is observed in large suburban cat colonies in which neutered males participate equally with females.

Neutering alters the social behaviour of male cats, reducing their territory size and the level of inter-male conflict. This is observed in large suburban cat colonies in which neutered males participate equally with females.

==Social structure in a domestic setting==

==Social Structure in a Domestic Setting==

In a domestic context, groups are formed by the successive introduction of unrelated individuals by the owner. There is no function for the group, and there may be a mix of breeds, age,  sex and personality traits (such as sociability). New cats may be introduced when the resident cats are in middle age; a time when their sociability may be reduced. This creates an artificial social setting in which individuals that would, in a wild or feral context, be unlikely to form a social group, are brought together. In a domestic setting, conflict and tension become increasingly likely as group size increases, or resources need to be shared. Lacking a functional social structure that incorporates all individuals, with domestic cat groups characteristic individual group and individual behaviour can become apparent:

In a domestic context, groups are formed by the successive introduction of unrelated individuals by the owner. There is no function for the group, and there may be a mix of breeds, age,  sex and personality traits (such as sociability). New cats may be introduced when the resident cats are in middle age; a time when their sociability may be reduced. This creates an artificial social setting in which individuals that would, in a wild or feral context, be unlikely to form a social group, are brought together. In a domestic setting, conflict and tension become increasingly likely as group size increases, or resources need to be shared. Lacking a functional social structure that incorporates all individuals, with domestic cat groups characteristic individual group and individual behaviour can become apparent:

'''Cliques or Factions''': groups or 3 or more cats that show greeting and other affiliative behaviour towards each other, but may be aggressive to other members of the domestic group.

'''Cliques or Factions''': Groups or 3 or more cats that show greeting and other affiliative behaviour towards each other, but may be aggressive to other members of the domestic group.

'''Pairs''': Pairs of cats, often litter mates or cats that were homed together when very young, that greet and show affiliative behaviour towards each other.

'''Pairs''': Pairs of cats, often litter mates or cats that were homed together when very young, that greet and show affiliative behaviour towards each other.

'''Social facilitators''': These cats will often offer and receive greetings and affiliative behaviour with cats from several factions or cliques. They may also associate with other cats outside the group and serve to maintain group odour between individuals and sub-groups that rarely interact directly with each other.

'''Social Facilitators''': These cats will often offer and receive greetings and affiliative behaviour with cats from several factions or cliques. They may also associate with other cats outside the group and serve to maintain group odour between individuals and sub-groups that rarely interact directly with each other.

'''Satellite individuals''': These offer and receive little or no greeting or affiliative behaviour with the other cats in the home. They may be involved in minor or passive aggressive incidents with other cats in the group, often as the recipient of threat.

'''Satellite Individuals''': These offer and receive little or no greeting or affiliative behaviour with the other cats in the home. They may be involved in minor or passive aggressive incidents with other cats in the group, often as the recipient of threat.

'''Despots''': These individuals may deliberately monopolise resources and create opportunities to intimidate other cats in, and outside the home.

'''Despots''': These individuals may deliberately monopolise resources and create opportunities to intimidate other cats in, and outside the home.

==Multi-Cat Households==  

==Multi-Cat Households==  

Like their wild ancestors, domestic cats have the capacity to form social groups, but they do not need to do so. There is no evidence that singly housed cats experience stress related health or behavioural problems. However, stress related behaviour problems such as indoor spray marking<ref>Pryor, P.A., Hart, B.L., Bain, M.J., Cliff, K.D. (2001) Causes of urine marking in cats and effects of environmental management on frequency of marking. ''JAVMA''. 219, 1709-1713.</ref> are more likely in multi-cat households. Greater levels of conflict are observed in multi-cat households, which is identified as an underlying factor in stress related health problems such as feline idiopathic cystitis <ref>Westropp, J.L., Buffinton, C.A. (2004) Feline idiopathic cystitis: current understanding of pathophysiology and management. ''Vet Clin Small Anim''. 34, 1043-1055.</ref>, which may also be more common in multi-cat households.

Like their wild ancestors, domestic cats have the capacity to form social groups, but they do not need to do so. There is no evidence that singly housed cats experience stress related health or behavioural problems. However, stress related behaviour problems such as indoor spray marking<ref>Pryor, P.A., Hart, B.L., Bain, M.J., Cliff, K.D. (2001) Causes of urine marking in cats and effects of environmental management on frequency of marking. ''JAVMA''. 219, 1709-1713.</ref> are more likely in multi-cat households. Greater levels of conflict are observed in multi-cat households, which is identified as an underlying factor in stress related health problems such as [[Cystitis#Feline Idiopathic Cystitis|feline idiopathic cystitis]] <ref>Westropp, J.L., Buffinton, C.A. (2004) Feline idiopathic cystitis: current understanding of pathophysiology and management. ''Vet Clin Small Anim''. 34, 1043-1055.</ref>, which may also be more common in multi-cat households.

Given the increased probability of inter-cat tension in multi cat households, and the very high cat population density in some urban areas, owners should be encouraged to exercise caution when considering the introduction of additional cats to a household. Although some cats do form strong social bonds with each other, these relationships are not the norm and are not something that cat owners should expect to see. Single housed cats with a suitably enriched environment has no intrinsic need for the companionship of another cat; the default state of cast is as [[feline Predatory Behaviour|solitary hunters]] that do not need to associate with other cats in order to survive. It is more important that owners focus on providing cats with sufficient [[Effect of Environment on Feline Behaviour|safe territory, food, shelter,]] and opportunities to play and exercise.

Given the increased probability of inter-cat tension in multi cat households, and the very high cat population density in some urban areas, owners should be encouraged to exercise caution when considering the introduction of additional cats to a household. Although some cats do form strong social bonds with each other, these relationships are not the norm and are not something that cat owners should expect to see. Singly housed cats with a suitably enriched environment have no intrinsic need for the companionship of another cat; the default state of cast is as [[feline Predatory Behaviour|solitary hunters]] that do not need to associate with other cats in order to survive. It is more important that owners focus on providing cats with sufficient [[Effect of Environment on Feline Behaviour|safe territory, food, shelter,]] and opportunities to play and exercise.

If a new cat is to be added to a household where there are already resident cats, then [[Effect of Environment on Feline Behaviour#Introducing a Cat to a New Home/Environment|the new cat must be introduced very carefully]]. Apart from introducing the new cat correctly, it is important to make sure that the resident cats have a surplus of the resources they need so that they feel comfortable to coexist without competition.  

If a new cat is to be added to a household where there are already resident cats, then [[Effect of Environment on Feline Behaviour#Introducing a Cat to a New Home/Environment|the new cat must be introduced very carefully]]. Apart from introducing the new cat correctly, it is important to make sure that the resident cats have a surplus of the resources they need so that they feel comfortable to coexist without competition.