Helping kittens to become confident cats – why they and their owners need the support of the veterinary team. Part 1: genetic barriers
Claire Hargrave
Monday, July 2, 2018
As a companion animal, the cat (10.3 million) has overtaken the dog (9.3 million) for top position in popularity in the U.K. Yet, when compared with the canine companion, the cat has lived in close proximity to man for a relatively short period of time. Has this shorter period for domestication affected the nature of the cat's level of domesticity? If there are limitations to the level of behavioural flexibility that companion cats can offer, whose responsibility is it to assist a cat in maximising that flexibility? This article considers these questions with specific emphasis on how the cat's genetics can place considerable restrictions on its capacity to relax with and interact with other cats, humans and a human environment.
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