Comunicação química por meio das fezes e da urina e comportamento social em gatos domésticos (Felis silvestris catus L.) / Chemical communication via feces and urine and social behaviour in the domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus L.)

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2006

RESUMO

Domestic cats may be used as a model for the study of the Felidae family, since they do not reach greater physical proportions, are found in high population densities all over the world and share with wild felids a variety of scent marks methods. Odor transference between cats and the environment occurs through corporal contacts and elimination of feces and urine, which seem to be important carriers of chemical information in almost all terrestrial mammals, thus facilitating social interactions between individuals. The aim of the present study was to analyze aspects of the behavior of domestic cats, with emphasis in chemical communication through feces and urine between animals, and the relationships between these aspects and their intraspecific social structure. The study was carried out in domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) from both sexes, without defined race, including kittens, youthful and adults neutered with nearly one year old; animals were kept in high (0,3 animals/m2) or in low population density (0,04 animals/m2). The collection of the behavioral data for elimination of feces and urine was carried out using the “focal animal" method. The number of movements and the time spent to dig a hole in the ground (before the animals defecate or urinate), the number of movements and the time spent to bury their feces or urine, and whether olfative verification of the excrements was or not performed were carefully recorded. Recordings also involved the places where the animals deposited their excrements and the behavior patterns farther or closer to the places used for rest and feeding were compared, in the area of high population density. Also, the two areas of study were compared regarding animal behavior. As far as social organization is concerned, it was recorded which individuals were sleeping or resting in direct physical contact with other individuals, in both areas of study. Moreover, the places (boxes) used by the animals for resting, in function of their height, were also recorded. Results show that animals execute a greater number of forelimb movements and spend more time to bury feces, when compared to urine. Females show more effort after the elimination of feces than males, which may indicate a strategic behavior for the kitten protection. Animals dedicate more effort to bury feces in high population density, when compared to low population density. Regarding olfative verifications, feces are verified more frequently than urine, for both males and females, not only in high but also in low population density. In high population density, males and females deposit feces farther and urine closer to the places used for rest and feeding. As far as social organization is concerned, high population density seems to propitiate greater number of direct physical contacts between animals than low population density. Moreover, animals show predilection for occupying boxes located in higher positions, than the lower ones, and some animals restrict their occupation to either the high or the low boxes, which may indicate some degree of social stratification in the group, according to animal hierarchical position.

ASSUNTO(S)

domestic cat urina gato doméstico social organization chemical communication comunicação química fezes feces organização social urine

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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