Heads and Tails: An Analysis of Visual Signals in Cats, <i>Felis catus</i>
Visual communication involves specific signals. These include the different positions of mobile body elements. We analyzed visual configurations in cats that involve ears and the tail. We aimed at deciphering which features of these configurations were the most important in cats’ interactions with o...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/9/2752 |
| _version_ | 1797520450608168960 |
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| author | Bertrand L. Deputte Estelle Jumelet Caroline Gilbert Emmanuelle Titeux |
| author_facet | Bertrand L. Deputte Estelle Jumelet Caroline Gilbert Emmanuelle Titeux |
| author_sort | Bertrand L. Deputte |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Visual communication involves specific signals. These include the different positions of mobile body elements. We analyzed visual configurations in cats that involve ears and the tail. We aimed at deciphering which features of these configurations were the most important in cats’ interactions with other cats and with humans. We observed a total of 254 cat–cat interactions within a sample of 29 cats, during a total of 100 h of observation scheduled with the “Behavioral dependent onset of sampling” method and using the “All occurences” sampling method. In addition, we sampled 10 interactions between cats and humans. In cat–cat interactions, we noted the positions of ears and tail of both protagonists, as well as the outcome of the interaction, which was either positive/neutral or negative. In a great majority of the 254 interactions sampled, both cats held their tail down. On the contrary, ear position was a critical element in predicting the outcome. When both partners held their ears erect, the outcome was significantly positive, such as rubbing or close proximity. In all other cases of the position of ears in both cats, the outcome was negative, with increased distance of the partners. Although the tail did not seem to play a significant role in visual configurations in cat interactions, the “tail-up” display was important when a cat approached a human being. In the vast majority of cases the cat rubbed itself on a human’s leg(s). Thus, we may conclude that the presence of a human has a specific meaning in the cat’s world, probably as the result of a long period of commensalism. It is important for pet owners to understand the signals that cats use with other cats and with humans in order to promote the welfare of cats. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:56:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-41634195d0dd408dbb0ff35f704c58be |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:56:56Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-41634195d0dd408dbb0ff35f704c58be2023-11-22T11:45:03ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-09-01119275210.3390/ani11092752Heads and Tails: An Analysis of Visual Signals in Cats, <i>Felis catus</i>Bertrand L. Deputte0Estelle Jumelet1Caroline Gilbert2Emmanuelle Titeux3Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, 7 Avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94704 Maisons-Alfort, FranceEcole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, 7 Avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94704 Maisons-Alfort, FranceEcole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, 7 Avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94704 Maisons-Alfort, FranceEcole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, 7 Avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94704 Maisons-Alfort, FranceVisual communication involves specific signals. These include the different positions of mobile body elements. We analyzed visual configurations in cats that involve ears and the tail. We aimed at deciphering which features of these configurations were the most important in cats’ interactions with other cats and with humans. We observed a total of 254 cat–cat interactions within a sample of 29 cats, during a total of 100 h of observation scheduled with the “Behavioral dependent onset of sampling” method and using the “All occurences” sampling method. In addition, we sampled 10 interactions between cats and humans. In cat–cat interactions, we noted the positions of ears and tail of both protagonists, as well as the outcome of the interaction, which was either positive/neutral or negative. In a great majority of the 254 interactions sampled, both cats held their tail down. On the contrary, ear position was a critical element in predicting the outcome. When both partners held their ears erect, the outcome was significantly positive, such as rubbing or close proximity. In all other cases of the position of ears in both cats, the outcome was negative, with increased distance of the partners. Although the tail did not seem to play a significant role in visual configurations in cat interactions, the “tail-up” display was important when a cat approached a human being. In the vast majority of cases the cat rubbed itself on a human’s leg(s). Thus, we may conclude that the presence of a human has a specific meaning in the cat’s world, probably as the result of a long period of commensalism. It is important for pet owners to understand the signals that cats use with other cats and with humans in order to promote the welfare of cats.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/9/2752visual communicationcats<i>Felis catus</i>cat–cat interactionscat–human interactionswelfare |
| spellingShingle | Bertrand L. Deputte Estelle Jumelet Caroline Gilbert Emmanuelle Titeux Heads and Tails: An Analysis of Visual Signals in Cats, <i>Felis catus</i> Animals visual communication cats <i>Felis catus</i> cat–cat interactions cat–human interactions welfare |
| title | Heads and Tails: An Analysis of Visual Signals in Cats, <i>Felis catus</i> |
| title_full | Heads and Tails: An Analysis of Visual Signals in Cats, <i>Felis catus</i> |
| title_fullStr | Heads and Tails: An Analysis of Visual Signals in Cats, <i>Felis catus</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Heads and Tails: An Analysis of Visual Signals in Cats, <i>Felis catus</i> |
| title_short | Heads and Tails: An Analysis of Visual Signals in Cats, <i>Felis catus</i> |
| title_sort | heads and tails an analysis of visual signals in cats i felis catus i |
| topic | visual communication cats <i>Felis catus</i> cat–cat interactions cat–human interactions welfare |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/9/2752 |
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