Biology and behavior
 

A silent predator

Our domestic house cat was once African, a descendent of the African wild cat. A pronounced characteristic of the domestic cat is its marked individuality. Cats can build warm relationships with human beings and simultaneously show little interest in other cats. The contrary, however, is also possible, i.e. that a cat will feel most comfortable when among other cats. Cats are hunters by nature and hunting, often expressed in play, is one of their main activities. It is typical for cats to wait for hours waiting for prey or to play with a caught mouse.

 

Cats are also very sociable

Contrary to their still widespread image, most cats are very sociable towards human beings as well as towards other cats. Their social behavior, however, differs from that of dogs in many respects. Cats are clearly sociable animals that have greeting rituals. They preferably rest and sleep next to one another, lick and clean each other and play together. Their social behavior can sometimes be aggressive – just like the behavior of human beings. Related mother cats take care of their young together, whereas tomcats do not take part in bringing up their young.

 

Cats have no natural enemies other than human beings, a fact which is manifested in their carefree relaxing – up to an average of 16 hours a day. But even during these resting phases, they observe everything going on around them. If there is good reason to „take action“, e.g. to play, cats will take it.

During the calmer hours of the day, cats will tend to their body hygiene – and very extensively so. Mutual licking, however, has less to do with hygiene than with friendship, because body odors are exchanged and a „familiar smell“ is thus generated. Please find more information on domestic cats here.

 

Secretive and curious

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