Ethogram of the Domestic Cat
The existing domestic cat literature predominantly contains lists detailing its behaviour. However, these lists are neither specific enough for domestic cats nor general enough for all behaviours on a macro level of the domestic cat. Furthermore, the majority of studies lack illustrations. Therefore...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-10-01
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| Series: | Pets |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2813-9372/1/3/21 |
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| author | Isabelle Kappel Marie-Christin Riedel Fiona Becker Shay Hicks Nicole Warlich-Zach Udo Ganslosser |
| author_facet | Isabelle Kappel Marie-Christin Riedel Fiona Becker Shay Hicks Nicole Warlich-Zach Udo Ganslosser |
| author_sort | Isabelle Kappel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The existing domestic cat literature predominantly contains lists detailing its behaviour. However, these lists are neither specific enough for domestic cats nor general enough for all behaviours on a macro level of the domestic cat. Furthermore, the majority of studies lack illustrations. Therefore, we have developed a comprehensive ethogram of the domestic cat and scalable schematic representations of the behaviour units. We evaluated observational data from free-roaming cats and cats from private households using ad libitum and focal animal sampling (video material 55.31 h, <i>n</i> = 170 animals). In addition, we used the leading literature and detailed anatomical studies to create systematic categories and morphologically correct drawings. A total of 117 discrete behaviours were recorded and divided into 12 categories. The description of each behaviour includes a name, a word definition, an ethological classification and a schematic illustration (excluding the category devoted to vocalisations). An ethogram is needed to better understand the behavioural repertoire of healthy domestic cats and to facilitate the design phase of further investigations. This document can help to better distinguish species-appropriate behaviours and body postures from those behaviours and poses that indicate chronic pain, stress or discomfort. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e5d373a46e164693ab72e1856e876823 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2813-9372 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pets |
| spelling | doaj-art-e5d373a46e164693ab72e1856e8768232025-08-20T03:12:06ZengMDPI AGPets2813-93722024-10-011328431410.3390/pets1030021Ethogram of the Domestic CatIsabelle Kappel0Marie-Christin Riedel1Fiona Becker2Shay Hicks3Nicole Warlich-Zach4Udo Ganslosser5Institute of Zoology and Evolutionary Research, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Erbertstr. 1, 07743 Jena, GermanyInstitute of Zoology and Evolutionary Research, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Erbertstr. 1, 07743 Jena, GermanyFaculty of Biology, University of Vechta, Driverstraße 22, 49377 Vechta, GermanyInstitute of Zoology and Evolutionary Research, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Erbertstr. 1, 07743 Jena, GermanyFaculty of Biology, University of Vechta, Driverstraße 22, 49377 Vechta, GermanyInstitute of Zoology and Evolutionary Research, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Erbertstr. 1, 07743 Jena, GermanyThe existing domestic cat literature predominantly contains lists detailing its behaviour. However, these lists are neither specific enough for domestic cats nor general enough for all behaviours on a macro level of the domestic cat. Furthermore, the majority of studies lack illustrations. Therefore, we have developed a comprehensive ethogram of the domestic cat and scalable schematic representations of the behaviour units. We evaluated observational data from free-roaming cats and cats from private households using ad libitum and focal animal sampling (video material 55.31 h, <i>n</i> = 170 animals). In addition, we used the leading literature and detailed anatomical studies to create systematic categories and morphologically correct drawings. A total of 117 discrete behaviours were recorded and divided into 12 categories. The description of each behaviour includes a name, a word definition, an ethological classification and a schematic illustration (excluding the category devoted to vocalisations). An ethogram is needed to better understand the behavioural repertoire of healthy domestic cats and to facilitate the design phase of further investigations. This document can help to better distinguish species-appropriate behaviours and body postures from those behaviours and poses that indicate chronic pain, stress or discomfort.https://www.mdpi.com/2813-9372/1/3/21behaviourcatsethogramwelfareillustrations |
| spellingShingle | Isabelle Kappel Marie-Christin Riedel Fiona Becker Shay Hicks Nicole Warlich-Zach Udo Ganslosser Ethogram of the Domestic Cat Pets behaviour cats ethogram welfare illustrations |
| title | Ethogram of the Domestic Cat |
| title_full | Ethogram of the Domestic Cat |
| title_fullStr | Ethogram of the Domestic Cat |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ethogram of the Domestic Cat |
| title_short | Ethogram of the Domestic Cat |
| title_sort | ethogram of the domestic cat |
| topic | behaviour cats ethogram welfare illustrations |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2813-9372/1/3/21 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT isabellekappel ethogramofthedomesticcat AT mariechristinriedel ethogramofthedomesticcat AT fionabecker ethogramofthedomesticcat AT shayhicks ethogramofthedomesticcat AT nicolewarlichzach ethogramofthedomesticcat AT udoganslosser ethogramofthedomesticcat |