how is a cat nature should be??
Answers
To some people, cats are the perfect pet. Intelligent, elegant, calming companions, capable of dealing with their own exercise and cleaning. To others, they are frustratingly independent, cool and aloof. So what is the true nature of the domestic cat?
The cats many of us choose to share our homes with did indeed evolve from a solitary species, the African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica). But feral domestic cats can form colonies, based on friendly and reciprocal relationships when resources are plentiful.
This capacity to live in social groups has been exploited by humans for thousands of years. Before realising their value as animal companions, communities initially took advantage of the cat’s prowess as predators of vermin species to safeguard crops. Cats are now one of the most popular companion animal species in the world. There are over 10m estimated to be living in the UK alone, and around 25% of UK households own at least one cat.
So cats clearly share some characteristics with other pet species to make them such a popular addition to the home. They are able to satisfy people’s need for a human-animal bond, providing owners with social and emotional support. And the fact that cats often engage in undesirable behaviours (from an owner’s perspective) such as hunting, mean that that bond must have the capacity to be very strong.
Cats have not been as commonly studied as dogs when it comes to social behaviour and people (possibly because they are not perceived to be such willing subjects). Nevertheless, studies have shown that cats form affectionate bonds with their owners. (Although there is still some debate as to whether this is actually a preference for a person who provides safety and security.)
Although cats are known to show a preference for interacting with their owners over strangers, the social behaviour of cats can vary. The quality of human-to-cat interactions can also be influenced by the owners’ gender, age and how much time they have available. Cats appear to have the best relationship with owners who are adult women. Differences in human behaviour may help explain the varying quality of these relationships. For example, men are thought to be more likely to interact with cats while seated whereas woman tend to interact with cats at their level, normally on the floor.