Infanticide in rural male cats (Felis catus L.) as a reproductive mating tactic

Pontier, Dominique; Natoli, Eugenia

doi:10.1002/(sici)1098-2337(1999)25:6<445::aid-ab5>3.0.co;2-k

Cited by 19 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Multiple mating of females may also enhance the genetic diversity of offspring in a variable environment like the urban situation, brought about by multiple paternity [Say et al, 1999;Yamane, 1998]. Furthermore, by confusing paternity of their litters, females may also decrease the risk of infanticide, although infanticide has been rarely witnessed in this species [Halliday, personal communication;Macdonald et al, 1987, Pontier andNatoli, 1999]. On the other hand, Halliday and Arnold suggested [1987] that multiple mating by females may have evolved as a consequence of a genetic correlation between the sexes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mate choice in the domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus L.)

2000

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The domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus L.) has colonized different types of environments that differ in their spatial distribution of resources. Urban environments are characterized by highly clumped distributions of food and shelter, allowing domestic cats to live in large multimale‐multifemale groups. In such a situation, questions arise about male and female mating strategies. In particular, do females exert active mate choice? We tested this question using behavioural records on acceptance and refusal of males by estrous females. Our results showed that most females copulated with several males during a single estrus period. The variability of female behaviour was high: six females copulated with all courting males whereas three others mated with most courting males; six others copulated with half or less of the courting males. Even if some females copulated with certain males more often than with others, the identity of the most successful males changed each time. These results show that most females did not choose mates among different males available. The results are discussed in terms of optimal reproductive strategies of males and females in an urban environment. Aggr. Behav. 26:455–465, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mate choice in the domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus L.)

2000

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“…The colony living on Church Farm was made up of a core group of 4–5 cats with cats from other groups also appearing at the observation site. Finally, two rural populations, Aimargues and Saint Just-Chaleyssin, near Lyon, France, have been the site of several studies on FRC population dynamics and epidemiology [ 45 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One final note should be made on the documented instances of infanticide in FRCs. Six spontaneous occurrences of infanticide were observed directly by Pontier [ 45 ]. These occurrences were noted while collecting data for another other research project.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Social Lives of Free-Ranging Cats

Vitale

2022

Animals

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Despite the diversity of social situations in which cats live, the degree to which free-ranging cats (FRCs) are social is still debated. The aim of this review is to explore the literature on the social behavior of FRCs. A search of two major databases revealed that observations of intraspecies and interspecies social interactions have been conducted. The intraspecific social dynamics of FRCs differ based on group of cats surveyed. Some groups display strong social bonds and preferential affiliations, while other groups are more loosely associated and display little to no social interaction. Factors impacting FRC conspecific interactions include cat body size, cat social rank, cat individuality, cat age, relationship to conspecific (kin/familiar), cat sex, level of human caretaking, presence of food, the health of the individual, or sexual status of conspecifics. Interspecies interactions also occur with humans and wildlife. The human’s sex and the weather conditions on the day of interaction have been shown to impact FRC social behavior. Interactions with wildlife were strongly linked to the timing of cat feeding events. These findings support the idea that FRCs are “social generalists” who display flexibility in their social behavior. The social lives of FRCs exist, are complex, and deserve further study.

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“…In addition, cats have a broad and complex vocal repertoire, which they also employ in communicating with their young (Brown, Buchwald, Johnson, & Mikolich, ; Farley, Barlow, Netsell, & Chmelka, ; Moelk, ; Scheumann et al, ; Yeon et al, ). Although they do not construct nests or dens, they are adept at hiding their kittens, already well‐furred at birth, in refuges (Feldman, ; Pontier & Natoli, ). But as solitary‐living obligate carnivores, cat mothers must spend considerable time away from their young to hunt (Bradshaw, Goodwin, Legrand‐Defretin, & Nott, ; Martin, ), leaving the young unprotected.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…But as solitary‐living obligate carnivores, cat mothers must spend considerable time away from their young to hunt (Bradshaw, Goodwin, Legrand‐Defretin, & Nott, ; Martin, ), leaving the young unprotected. During these periods, kittens are most vulnerable to predators and potentially infanticidal males (MacDonald, Apps, Carr, & Kerby, ; Pontier & Natoli, ). Although their age is almost impossible to determine, remains of cats, sometimes in large quantities (Bateman & Fleming, ) have been found in feces of several carnivores such as coyotes (Morey, Gese, & Gehrt, ), foxes (Contesse, Hegglin, Gloor, Bontadina, & Deplazes, ; Kidawa & Kowalczyk, ), and stone martens (Tóth, Bárány, & Szenczi, ) in urban and natural environments alike.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mother–offspring recognition in the domestic cat: Kittens recognize their own mother's call

Szenczi

Bánszegi

Urrutia

et al. 2016

Developmental Psychobiology

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Acoustic communication can play an important part in mother-young recognition in many mammals. This, however, has still only been investigated in a small range mainly of herd- or colony-living species. Here we report on the behavioral response of kittens of the domestic cat, a typically solitary carnivore, to playbacks of "greeting chirps" and "meows" from their own versus alien mothers. We found significantly stronger responses to the chirps from kittens' own mother than to her meows or to the chirps or meows of alien mothers. Acoustic analysis revealed greater variation between vocalizations from different mothers than for vocalizations from the same mother. We conclude that chirps emitted by mother cats at the nest represent a specific form of vocal communication with their young, and that kittens learn and respond positively to these and distinguish them from chirps of other mothers and from other cat vocalizations while still in the nest. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 58: 568-577, 2016.

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Infanticide in rural male cats (Felis catus L.) as a reproductive mating tactic

Cited by 19 publications

References 12 publications

Mate choice in the domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus L.)

Mate choice in the domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus L.)

The Social Lives of Free-Ranging Cats

Mother–offspring recognition in the domestic cat: Kittens recognize their own mother's call

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