IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
| Bradshaw, J.W.S.; Brown, S.L.; Cook, S.E.; Durman, K.J.; Feldman, H.N.; Kerby, G.; MacDonald, D.W.; McCune, S.; Mendl, M.; Passanisi, W.C.; Robinson, I.; Smith, D.F.E. | |
| An ethogram for behavioural studies of the domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus L.) | |
| 1995 Conference Proceeding | |
This document arose from the co-operative efforts of ethologists from three British universities, all of whom wished to provide a standard set of descriptions of domestic cat behaviour for their own use, and for those who might study this species in the future. The primary focus of many, but not all, of those ethologists was the recording of social behaviour, and this is undoubtedly reflected in the degree of "splitting" and "lumping" of behaviour categories of different kinds. Many of the descriptions are extremely broad, and some could even form the basis for ethograms of their own, for example those concerned with play and with feeding behaviour. None of the group who drew up this document is likely to use it without modification, nor should any future user feel that the categories cannot be moulded to suit the objectives of a particular study. The list is intended only to be a common starting point, but as such should help to alleviate the problems that can be caused by research workers using the same words to indicate different behaviour, and vice versa. The task of categorisation is, of course, left to the individual researcher. However, we have subdivided the full list of behaviour into either "SOLITARY", where the behaviour does not generally involve another cat, or "SOCIAL", where the behavioural act involves at least two individuals being present at the same time, or is observed only in a "social" context. |
|
 |
PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here |
(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union) |