Social Behavior of Cats
Territorial Aggression
Cats are territorial by nature; this is part of their predatory nature. They know instinctively that food supplies are limited so it's important to protect those supplies from other animals. They also know that their kittens and they themselves can become a tasty meal for a more aggressive and stronger animal, so they want to fight off those animals as quickly as possible.
Territorial aggression is just part of being a cat; unless they've been sheltered their entire life and have ... Read More »
Cats as Solitary Creatures
Remember too that cats can get set in their ways just like humans can. If your cat has been living for many years in a quiet home, all by himself or herself, and suddenly you bring in another animal or a crying baby or anything else that will disrupt his environment, expect him to show some resistance. That's only natural.
And cats are solitary creatures by nature. With some exception, they typically exist by themselves and do quite well on their ... Read More »
Cats as Predators
Because domesticated cats can become very accustomed to having their food brought to them and really have not much else to do around a suburban home but sleep and purr, it's easy to forget that by nature they are predators. Cats instinctively know how to hunt down their food, and this includes pouncing, attacking, biting, clawing, and doing whatever else they need to do in order to subdue that food.
This also means that they can be very territorial, as all ... Read More »
Training A Cat’s Social Behavior
Cats can and do get along with each other when needed but they're not social animals or pack animals the way dogs are. Cats can typically be by themselves for long periods of time without a problem, whereas dogs typically crave the company of other dogs or humans to keep them company and to play with them.
It's good to remember this when you're talking about training a cat's social behavior. You may find a great deal of joy in having ... Read More »