Understand your cat’s social behavior

The ancient Egyptians believed that cats were gods. In the Middle Ages, in Europe, cats were condemned, being considered companions of witches. However, they have always been seen as mysterious and unapproachable, and this reputation persists to this day.

Cats became domesticated only a few thousand years ago, compared to dogs, which were domesticated 30,000 years ago. Unlike dogs, cats are not made for social groups, their ancestors trace their roots to the African wild cat, one of the large solitary animals of the animal world.

Despite the mystery surrounding cats and their seemingly “reclusive” behavior, it has long been recognized that domestic cats have deep feelings for their owners and develop strong bonds. While a cat’s need for social contact with humans may vary, deciphering cat behavior can help us understand and appreciate our feline friends even more.

DECIPHER THE CAT CODE

There are many behaviors exhibited by our felines that we try to interpret. As their fellow humans, we make many assumptions and yet only vaguely understand what they are trying to tell us.

Your cat greets you at the end of the day with its tail raised. He can slide between your legs and you can even feel his torso. You interpret all this to mean that the cat is happy to see you. But is this really the message?

A raised tail, for example, is most likely not an expression of joy, but rather a signal of availability for contact. Imagine the wild cat in the tall grass of the jungle. It can calmly draw attention to itself by raising its tail. It’s a way of saying, “I’m ready to talk.”

Sliding between your legs may seem like affection on the cat’s part, but it is not a general act of love. In most cases, your cat is trying to get your attention, most likely for food, or to mark you as its territory.

Most of the time we take for granted that when the cat purrs he is happy, or at least tells us that he loves us.

Research into cat behavior has begun to show that there are many other reasons why cats purr, from being a self-soothing mechanism in uncomfortable situations to being a persuasive tool when they want something.

Your cat’s clearest expression of love is “kneading” with his paws.

This behavior is reminiscent of his first days of life as a kitten. “Kneading” with their paws is an act that kittens instinctively do to stimulate the flow of milk when they feed on their mother.

SOCIAL HIERARCHIES

There is a hierarchical structure in the cat world, and humans have very little to do with it. For example, female cats are more likely to form a community than male cats.

Wild females often form groups and in these groups, a cat who has given birth and has kittens will rise in rank. Spayed females, by contrast, are often at the bottom of the hierarchy.

And unlike male cats, groups of female cats show clear group solidarity.

Male cats find their place in the hierarchy thanks to a set of unwritten rules. This applies regardless of whether the cats are stray or domesticated.

Male cats can be very brutal in establishing and maintaining rank, although neutering generally provides calm among the males of a group.

Among male cats living together in the same house, rank is often evident through small gestures: who eats first, who sleeps where, and so on.

THE HUMAN-CAT CONNECTION

For dogs, the owners occupy the “alpha” position, they are the leaders of the group. This doesn’t apply to cats either. Nowadays, domestic cats seem to accept adapting to our environment in exchange for some company (when they want it!), regular meals, a good place to sleep and a warm, sunny place to nap.

While the human-cat bond doesn’t appear to follow any exact science, researchers have shown that there are significant benefits for cat owners from coexisting with felines, both physically and mentally.

Studies have shown that cat owners feel happier, more confident and less anxious than non-cat owners. They are also said to sleep, concentrate and deal with problems in their lives better.

Experts have also said that cats help release stress, help us be more sensitive and caring, and can even be beneficial to our physical health.