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Behaviour
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Description
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Olfactory communications:
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Cat directs a jet of urine against some object. The tail is raised
vertically and, in some species quivered as the urine is discharged.
Spray should be distinguished from squat urination.
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This type of urination occurs in a squatting position, and not against and
Object. Squat urinations are usually accompanied by a raking/scuffing of
the hind feet
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- Scuffing/scraping/raking of the
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This is often exhibited during squat urination, but does also occur alone. It
may be a method of transferring scent from the glands of the feet to the
substrate.
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- Faeces deposition on landmark
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Cat defecates on a prominent landmark
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Cat rubs its body and neck along the ground or against an object. This
behaviour is also strongly associated with female sexual behaviour as a
visual signal (see Lordosis)
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- Tree scratching/claw raking
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Cat grips tree trunk with extended forelegs and depressed body, and the
Claws are then drawn backwards simultaneously or alternately on strokes of
Variable length and speed. This action serves to remove loose claw sheaths
But also leaves a visual and possible olfactory trace.
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Visual communications:
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One cat idly observes another cat o human. This can be distinguished by the
way in which the cat’s eyes and head movement track what it is watching.
This is not necessarily directed at another cats eyes
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This is similar to Watch, but involves more fixed stare, with the cat not
Being easily distracted by any other activity around it. It is often directed at
The other cats eyes, and may frequently be followed by the recipient cat
looking away.
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Ears are held at the rear of the head
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Cat flattens its ears to its head, such that they tend to lie flush with the
Top of the head.
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Tail is held upright and the entire tail is quivered rapidly form the base
to the tip of the tail
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A cat rolls on the ground in the presence of another cat
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The tail is tucked right under the body. The position is normally held
Whilst the cat is crouching in a defensive manner
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The cat crouches in a defensive manner. Cats also often sit in a
crouching position. This is not included as being crouching
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A female cat crouches down and raise her hindquarters to present her
Genitals to a male when in a receptive oestrous state. Her tail is turned a
aside and her belly pressed close to the ground.
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One cat travels closely behind another
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Cat pummels paws into object or ground in a kneading motion. Claws
May be in or out. May occur with either the front or back feet.
Treading (also called skating) of the back feet is particularly associated
with the female during reproduction.
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Cat gapes its and puts its ears back in the expression that would
normally be attributed to a hiss, but no sound is made
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Cat opens its mouth and snaps it shut, as if biting the air. This is
normally directed towards another cat
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Cat rubs another: subdivisions are: -
Rub head (one cat rubs its head on another)
Rub flank (one cat rubs its flank on another)
Run tail (one cat rubs its tail on another)
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- Social grooming or allogrooming
- Social Licking
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One cat licks another
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Cat leaps at or on another cat
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Social play has been divided into contact social play, and non-contact
social play. Contact social play has also been described as jostle play
(described as one cat struggles with another cat, raking with its hind
legs and pulling the opponent towards its body with its forepaws).
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One cat smells the body of another cat. It may be subdivided into: -
Sniff nose (2 cats sniff each other’s noses)
Sniff rear (1 cat smells the perianal area of another cat)
Sniff body (1 cat smells the head, flank, or tail of another cat).
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2 cats touch each other’s noses: this is probably accompanied by
sniff nose.
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1 cat attempts, but fails to achieve, intromission. The mounting cat
normally holds the recipient firmly at the nape of the neck whilst
mounting (see Nape bite). It is also sometimes accompanied by treading
movements of the hind legs
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1 cat pushes its head ahead against the head, or more uncommonly, the
body of another cat. This resembles the form of a brief Rub but there
is no rubbing action, only a gentle push
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1 cat pats another individual with its forepaw, usually with claws
extended
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1 cat snaps its teeth at or succeeds in nipping another animal
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The hold used by a male cat whilst mounting the female. The female’s
Neck is held in a firm bite-hold
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1 cat strikes another cat with its forepaw, usually with claws extended
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A cat sits next to, or near to, another cat.
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