As well as controlling the essential functions of eating, drinking and breeding, in many respects the feline sense of smell can be said to be the engine that keeps cat society running smoothly, defining as it does the individual cat’s place within its feline (or feline—human) community, its relationship with other cats (or, in the case of a human household, surrogate cats) and the boundaries of its personal territory. (more…)
A cat’s sunning spots or favourite indoor resting places are high on the list of those to which it claims an inalienable right. However, with the demands of other cats in a multi-cat household, or of many close neighbours outdoors, it may not be able to establish an exclusive claim and has to accept that its rights are on a time-share basis, valid only at certain hours.
An animal’s territorial claims are closely related to its food requirements — the hunter must have a wide enough range to provide it with sufficient prey. Both farm cats and ferals in cities usually need a fairly large territory, although their diet may be topped up with snacks from friendly humans or by scavenging in dustbins. (more…)
