Each cat It has its own typical and recognizable pattern of behavior, which is stable over time. These variations in cat behavior can be attributed in part to breed and age (male or female, neutered or intact), but certainly not entirely.
It makes sense to assume that cats also have certain “characters” that are expressed in the way they behave. Our domestic cats They are complex animals and, unfortunately, sometimes they fight because we do not understand their natural impulses, desires and reactions.
Understanding what type of environment cats prefer to live in, what their social structure is like, what their feeding patterns are and even their grooming habits, can help in the choices we make as owners for their care; options that significantly improve your quality of life.
Characteristics of a cat
Hunter
The cat is physical and its behavior evolved to become a specialized hunter, a predator at the top of the food chain. Seeing and hearing prey encourages him to hunt.
To maximize the chances of capture, the cat’s natural rhythm adapts to the time when its main prey, small animals, are active and vulnerable: usually at dawn and dusk.
Agile
The cats They possess a unique combination of balance, coordination, flexibility and strength. As a result, they can explore and exploit the three dimensions of their environment, hunt silently, and escape danger. Unlike many dogsit’s a extremely agile animal.
It also allows cats to keep their fur in perfect condition, its flexibility allows them to wash and groom themselves frequently and effectively. The cat’s body is better equipped for short, frequent bursts of activity than longer periods of exercise.
Sensitive to odors
They are extremely sensitive to odors, sounds and vibrations that are beyond human perception. Cats use scent and their keen sense of smell as a means of communicating with each other and marking their territory, usually in order to keep other cats at a distance, except when looking for a cat to mate with or when they are leaving scent trails. on members of their own cat group.
Independent
The cat does not need any conspecific in its vicinity. It can hunt independently, find shelter and defend its territory. He keeps himself clean and his nails sharp. He protects himself by constantly monitoring his surroundings and using his agility, speed, and strength when problems arise. When he finds himself unable to escape, he uses his hunting weapons to defend himself.
Cats do not have a biological need for companionship, like dogs and humans, on their own, many cats do just fine. Cats do not have a pack structure like dogs, and there is no hierarchy in cat groups based on dominance and submission.
Constantly scanning your surroundings
Because the cat hunts alone, it needs a highly developed system that allows it to react super quickly and successfully to opportunities to obtain food and avoid danger. Another reason it must be able to react very quickly is that it is a small animal and lacks the help of a pack or group to protect it or warn it if danger is imminent.
Additionally, you must watch for signs, usually scent cues, left by others of your own species. Although a cat sleeps two-thirds of the day, when he is awake, he is constantly aware of what is happening around him.
has emotions
The cat may not immediately be considered a emotional animal because it lacks the ability to express how it feels with its facial features, something that, for example, great apes and dogs can do. Without emotions, the cat could not survive. Feeling emotions, such as fear or pleasure, provides an appropriate response to environmental stimuli. If the cat is scared, this emotion will prompt it to flee or hide to escape the threatening situation. When potential prey moves, processes in the brain are activated and make the cat feel pleasant. That feeling of pleasure encourages him to hunt and is so strong that even if he does not catch the prey, the next time he will enthusiastically pursue a new prey.
Can adapt well
The cat can survive and thrive in a variety of environments and social conditions. It can live in groups, usually of self-selected relatives or conspecifics, where food and shelter are widely available. He has adapted to living with the high density of cats in our homes and gardens.
It has adapted to a life not so much about dawn and dusk activity but about the activity patterns of its owners and the availability of food when they are home, and a host of “companions” ranging from humans even dogs and other animals.