Study Says Cats Are Social Too

Cats belong to a social species, capable of forming close stable relationships with one another, according to new research.

Social skills, like those dogs use when connecting with their packs, are no longer being questioned in our feline friends (not that they want to be associated with dogs).

According to an article on Catster until recently, scientists considered loins the only true "social" feline species, since they live in prides with a hierarchical structure.

Eventually Bobcats and Cheetahs were discovered to have their own unique social structures.

Finally scientists are recognizing what most folk who live with cats, or those who tend feral cat colonies, have been aware of for a very long time; that both domestic and feral cats co-exist in distinctly hierarchical structures.

Social Structure

As recently as the 1970s, scientists perceived feral cat colonies to be comprised of a group of individual cats, brought together to share a common food supply, and tolerating other area cats.

This behavior indicated that the cats were more attracted to the food than instinctively fighting off the others. And since the feral cat’s behavior did not resemble the identical social interaction which packs of dogs exhibit, the cats were determined to be unsocial.

However, over the past 30 years, studies have shown that both feral and domestic kitties (even indoor only cats), form closely-knit matriarchal hierarchies and have best friends. Favorite "hang out" spots are often chosen as territories which are not violated unless the cats are closely bonded.

Social Cats in Domestic Situations

Domestic cats living in a multi-cat household co-exist within a complex hierarchical structure. Tightly-knit friendships are not necessarily based on sibling relationships or preferences to genders.

Of course not all cats fall into the “social butterfly” category. Some cats loudly broadcast their message that reads, “Leave me alone! “

Social Skills and New Cats

When a new cat is introduced into a household, squabbles often occur while the interloper tries to establish his or her own territory. Boundaries must be reestablished by the resident cats. Furthermore, when an established resident cat dies, his or her territory is usually inherited by the cat next in the hierarchical line.

Social Behaviors

Those of us who live with cats often observe our kitties rubbing against each other. By mingling scents, bonds are strengthened. In a multicat household a cat's status in the hierarchy can be measured by the number of times the cat is rubbed against by others. Cats that do the most rubbing rank lower on the totem pole; while cats enjoying being rubbed a lot, hold higher positions.

Those of us owned by cats may wonder how we fit into their complex social hierarchy. When a cat affectionately rubs against us, they are conveying they rank us higher than themselves. 

We can maintain greater balance and peace in multicat households by observing territorial boundaries and hierarchical positions.

For more on cat body language, read What Your Cat is Trying to Tell You.

Do your cats rub against you?  How do you translate this behavior?  Tell us in a comment.