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An Sc 378 > Cat Behaviour > Flashcards

Cat Behaviour Flashcards

1
Q

Taxonomical order of cats?

A

Carnivora

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2
Q

What were the first carnivores classified as (family)

A

Miacidae

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3
Q

Cats branched off from miacidae as…

A

Viveravines

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4
Q

How did selective pressures affect african wildcats?

A

Cats more tolerant to people and other cats have access to more food and shelter (human granaries = mice and rodents)

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5
Q

What is allogrooming and allorubbing

A

Rubbing/grooming that helps form a bond and is RECIPROCATED

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6
Q

How do different breeds of cats differ from different breeds of dogs

A

Physical appearance varies, but behaviour mostly the same

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7
Q

How does the tapetum lucidum aid in night vision

A

Light reflects off the retina

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8
Q

Who exhibits the flehmen response most

A

Tomcats

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9
Q

Difference between home range and home territory?

A

Cat feels comfortable in the home range (can be multiple cats) but are willing to defend their home territory

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10
Q

What is epimeletic vs etepimeletic behaviour

A

Epimeletic = care-giving behaviour (mom)
Etepimeletic = care-seeking behaviour (kitten)

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11
Q

Why do cats scratch

A

Leave visible or scent cues, stretch

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12
Q

Why do cats spray

A

Mark territorial boundaries, during mating season males/females find each other

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13
Q

When do cats groom

A

When they feel safe OR when they’re frustrated

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14
Q

What is special about the meow vocalization

A

Usually only used to greet humans, rare in cat-cat communication

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15
Q

When are kittens weaned

A

7-8 wks. nursing time starts to decline at week 5

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16
Q

Describe typical African wildcat behaviour

A

Solitary species, shy of humans, adults only come in contact to mate, establish territories to avoid contact

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17
Q

Cats are induced ovulators, what is this

A

Ovulate after first mating

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18
Q

Why would free-living cats form a social group

A

Stable/concentrated food source, availability of shelter and nest sites

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19
Q

When would free living cats not form a group

A

When there is a surplus of dispersed food

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20
Q

What kind of cats form a social group

A

Related adult queens and offspring

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21
Q

If not part of the social group, what do tomcats do

A

Move between groups to mate

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22
Q

what are affiliative behaviours

A

Allogrooming and allorubbing, strengthen bond and are RECIPROCATED

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23
Q

Why does behaviour not differ significantly between different breeds? What does?

A

Physical appearance (coat colour/type, anatomy)
Behaviour not different because breeds were not selected/developed for different working functions

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24
Q

Describe cat vision

A

Near sighted, dichromatic, good night vision (tapetum lucidum behind retina reflects light), pupil changes aperture
Binocular vision = 100-130
Panoramic = 250-280

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25
When do cats open their eyes
17 days
26
Describe a cats hearing
Developed at 4 weeks, 10-60KHz (hunt small prey), pinna rotation 180
27
Describe a cats sense of smell
Developed at birth (find teat, recognize home/litter mates/mom) more acute than humans, vomeronasal organ (tomcats = flehmen), mark territory
28
What happens to a cat when it loses its sense of smell
loss of smell = loss of appetite, change toilet habits
29
What is a home range vs home territory
Home range is the range in which the cat is comfortable roaming, territory is what they’ll defend
30
What does the order of dominance depend on
Time and place
31
What is agonistic behaviour
Tension/posturing to try to get another cat to move but not fighting
32
What is the most important period of a cats life
Socialization period Contact with more than one adult cat crucial Primary contact is mom/siblings
33
What is epimeletic vs etepimeletic behaviour
Epimeletic = care giving Etepimeletic = care seeking (strange environment)
34
What are the forms of scent marking in cats
Cheek and head rubbing, scratching, spraying
35
Describe scratching behaviour in cats
Visible/foot scent gland secretions detectable by intruder. Stretching More scratching = more significant object
36
Describe spraying behaviour in cats
Back up, raise tail, spray urine. Mostly by tomcats (territorial boundaries) Brings male & female together during breeding season
37
Describe cheek and head rubbing behaviour in cats
Chair, table, legs Scent glands on tail, forehead and lip/chin region marking special territory Tactile communication in groups (affiliative) Cats presence usually needs to be acknowledged before head rubbing against human
38
How do feral and domestic cat rubbing differ
Feral cats rub more for conspecifics (dominance? Rub less against objects)
39
How much time is spent by cats grooming per day
30%
40
Why do cats groom
Reduce anxiety when frustrated Keep skin healthy (dander, parasites) Social grooming
41
What are the three categories of cat body postures/facial expressions
Offensive threat (stare ready to attack) Defensive threat (back arched; halloween cat, approach sideways) Passive crouch (tail down, submissive)
42
When is acoustic communication important
When cats cannot see each other
43
What are the different call types
Purring (developed as kitten when full of milk/resting) Meow (usually greeting person) Growl/yowl for aggression Hiss/spit is defensive Yowl also for mating
44
Do cats experience one period of estrus?
No, they are polyestrus
45
How does a female in heat behave
Active/nervous, loud mating calls
46
How do females act during proestrus
Rolling, purring, stretching, open/closing of claws rhythmically
47
Does one female mate with one male during estrus
No, may be multiple
48
How does mating occur in cats
Male approaches from behind, female receptively crouches, elevates her tail and holds it to the side. Once penis withdrawn the female may become aggressive, roll and rub herself on the floor
49
Queens behaviour before parturition?
Finds dark quiet place
50
What does the Queen do right after the kittens are born
Licks them to stimulate respiration/clean. Licks/touches kitten crawling away Nursing begins 1-2 h after birth Teat order develops Grooms kittens, plays with them, cleans nest
51
What happens at the 5th week of life
Nursing time decreases, mother teaches kittens predatory behaviour (social play comes beforehand)
52
Describe the prenatal period
Conception to parturition 63 days gestation (3-7 days longer than AWC)
53
Describe the neonatal period
First two weeks Closed eyes, poor auditory Olfaction present at birth, developed at 3 weeks Tactile —> auditory —> visual Dominated by thermal, tactile, olfactory stimuli Responds to sound at 5 days, orients towards sound at 2 weeks, developed at 4 weeks Eyes closed until 7-20 days
54
Describe the neonatal period
Immobile for first two weeks (paddling gait) Teeth at 2 weeks Mother licks to stimulate
55
Describe the transitional period
2-3 weeks Rudimentary walking at 3 weeks, moving well at 4 weeks Solid food at 4 weeks (weaning begins) Social play at 4 weeks
56
Describe the socialization period
3-10 weeks Righting reaction at 4-6 weeks 5-6 weeks = voluntary elimination, search for object disappeared Weaning done at 7 weeks Adult sleep patterns = 7-8 weeks Complex motor patterns 11-12 weeks
57
Describe the juvenile period
Adult teeth at 3 and a half months
58
when is olfaction fully developed
3 weeks
59
what does mutual gaze signify
Threat
60
How do cats scent mark
Scratching, spraying, cheek/head rubbing,
61
when do feral cats mark more
In front of conspecifics
62
A female in proestrus period will...
Roll, purr, stretch, rythmically open/close claws

An Sc 378 (21 decks)

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