Behavioural aspects of the population genetics of the domestic cat
Behavioural aspects of the population genetics of the domestic cat
This project investigated the effects of high levels of neutering on population dynamics and the population genetics of cat temperament. Male ranging behaviour, and the mating system of cats living in the urban environment of Southampton at the time of the study were also explored.
A population dynamics study was carried out by means of door to door surveys. These revealed that neutering rates amongst adult cats were as high as 98% (females) and 97% (males) in the Shirley area of he city.
A radio tracking study of entire males revealed home ranges of up to 14 ha, with core areas of 2-6 ha. These are larger than previously documented, and demonstrate that there is the potential for overlapping home ranges and competition for mating opportunities between entire owned males even in areas where high neutering reduced their density. Microsatellite analysis of kinship relationships between cats showed that there were more males siring kittens within the Upper-Shirley area than the population dynamics survey predicted would be present, even allowing for extensive ranging behaviour shown by pet toms. I suggest that some of the sires in this area are feral cats.
Paternal genetics are known to have an important influence on cat temperament. Given the different selection pressures applied to owned and feral cats, it seems likely that feral cats tend to show traits such as lack of sociability to humans, that make them less well suited to being pets. The possible effects of an increase in owned kittens sired by feral males, promoted by neutering of owned males, was investigated by a temperament testing study. Temperament of litters born in areas of high and lower neutering were compared. This revealed a non significant trend at 6 months of age for kittens born in areas of high neutering to be less sociable to humans, as predicted by the hypothesis. These differences were not apparent when the kittens were re-tested at 18 months.
University of Southampton
Horsfield, Giles Frederick
6ab37bbe-a558-4629-8832-79ebf6c9dcb3
1998
Horsfield, Giles Frederick
6ab37bbe-a558-4629-8832-79ebf6c9dcb3
Horsfield, Giles Frederick
(1998)
Behavioural aspects of the population genetics of the domestic cat.
University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.
Record type:
Thesis
(Doctoral)
Abstract
This project investigated the effects of high levels of neutering on population dynamics and the population genetics of cat temperament. Male ranging behaviour, and the mating system of cats living in the urban environment of Southampton at the time of the study were also explored.
A population dynamics study was carried out by means of door to door surveys. These revealed that neutering rates amongst adult cats were as high as 98% (females) and 97% (males) in the Shirley area of he city.
A radio tracking study of entire males revealed home ranges of up to 14 ha, with core areas of 2-6 ha. These are larger than previously documented, and demonstrate that there is the potential for overlapping home ranges and competition for mating opportunities between entire owned males even in areas where high neutering reduced their density. Microsatellite analysis of kinship relationships between cats showed that there were more males siring kittens within the Upper-Shirley area than the population dynamics survey predicted would be present, even allowing for extensive ranging behaviour shown by pet toms. I suggest that some of the sires in this area are feral cats.
Paternal genetics are known to have an important influence on cat temperament. Given the different selection pressures applied to owned and feral cats, it seems likely that feral cats tend to show traits such as lack of sociability to humans, that make them less well suited to being pets. The possible effects of an increase in owned kittens sired by feral males, promoted by neutering of owned males, was investigated by a temperament testing study. Temperament of litters born in areas of high and lower neutering were compared. This revealed a non significant trend at 6 months of age for kittens born in areas of high neutering to be less sociable to humans, as predicted by the hypothesis. These differences were not apparent when the kittens were re-tested at 18 months.
Text
656884.pdf
- Version of Record
More information
Published date: 1998
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 463558
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/463558
PURE UUID: 4609ddb8-3e9c-4e1d-be45-ef56b942ec1e
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 04 Jul 2022 20:53
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 19:04
Export record
Contributors
Author:
Giles Frederick Horsfield
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics