The Cat - The Social Animal

  Cats have a reputation for being aloof and independent. But anyone who has had a cat, especially an indoor cat knows that they bond to humans and are very social in their own right.

  Most cat lovers know that cats need to be “imprinted” with humans at a very young age so they do not fear them. During this imprinting process, kittens learn that humans are just big cats (in their point of view) and that humans treat them as their own kittens. Because of this perspective, cats will tend to remain dependent on their humans to some degree. Whether it’s for everything from food to friendship or just health and companionship, cats do need social interaction.

  How can we tell that cats like us and depend on us? Cats tell us every day that they respect us and even love us. Read more about The Affection of Cats. That wraparound of your legs as you walk in the door is a way of acknowledging your status as the “top cat”. Body language plays a big part of a cat’s interaction, with both humans and other animals, especially other cats.

  Cats in groups develop strong social structures in and out of the wild. Dominance can change from day to day or not – but often one cat will become a pyriah for one reason or another. In wild colonies, kittens are often raised by more than one mother cat – a definite sign of social organization. These set structures and need for them can create problems and behavior issues for some cats. My next article will explore that aspect of social cats more in depth.

  If you observe your cat, especially his interactions with you and other animals, the social aspects of his nature will become apparent. Once we understand that, we can have better relationships with our feline friends.

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