In memory of Bowser (1999-2018).
Cats are the only small felid to form social groups when free ranging. This capacity for group living probably evolved 5,000-10,000 years ago, a little before or concurrent with domestication.
Feral cat colonies are usually formed around related females, who help raise each other’s kittens. Female associates may even clean the mom’s kittens and consume the amniotic membrane.
Cats engage in all sorts of behavior that cement their social bonds: nose touching, rubbing against each other, social grooming, soliciting play (e.g., extending paws with claws retracted), play, and simply lying around each other.
Social grooming is typically a highly cooperative interaction, with the recipient tilting and rotating its head to provide access to the groomer.
Cats do purr around each other, such as when being groomed.
Cats use each other as pillows, even in conditions of extreme heat, indicating this behavior is a matter of social bonding rather than comfort.
Tail-up signals friendly intentions upon approach.
All that nose-touching, rubbing, and grooming comes with exchange of scents, suggesting that cats within a given colony develop a ‘colony odor’ that is maintained during these behaviors.
Dominant cats get first choice of eats but they can be pretty gracious about it (unless hungry).
Cat friends are called “preferred associates”. In free-living and feral colonies of neutered or intact cats, there is no effect of gender on which cats are preferred associates (not counting females in heat).
Bowser’s preferred associate was Little Guy. Seen here together:
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References:
Bradshaw, J. W. S. (2016). "Sociality in cats: A comparative review." Journal of Veterinary Behavior 11: 113-124. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1558787815001549
Crowell-Davis, S. L., Curtis, T. M., & Knowles, R. J. (2004). Social organization in the cat: A modern understanding. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 6(1), 19–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfms.2003.09.013
Loberg, J. M. and F. Lundmark (2016). "The effect of space on behaviour in large groups of domestic cats kept indoors." Applied Animal Behaviour Science 182: 23-29. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159116301770