Do cats make 'friends'? Should you help your cat make friends?
Do cats have 'friends', or do they always vie for territory? Animal experts weigh in
https://theconversation.com/do-cats-have-friends-or-do-they-always-vie-for-territory-animal-experts-weigh-in-249013
Cats are generally thought of as flighty and unfriendly creatures, but it is believed that cats have developed their vocalizations to communicate with humans, and they have been shown to become attached to owners who show them good care.
Cats may also show friendship through grooming , such as licking another cat's fur, rubbing their heads, and playing together.
In contrast, cats may rush, fight, or chase other cats that are in conflict with them. Cats have very little in their behavioral repertoire that indicates the intention of 'resolving conflicts,' so when they are in conflict with another cat, they often run away from the other cat or avoid each other rather than attempting reconciliation. Nevertheless, cats are certainly capable of developing friendships with other individuals.
The tendency for cats to form friendships with each other varies depending on the environment in which the cat lives. Tepper and his colleagues explain the tendency in three cases: stray cats, indoor cats, and free-roaming cats.
First, in the case of stray cats, it seems that they are more likely to become friends if they are both female, grew up together, are closely related, and live in close proximity to each other.
On the other hand, indoor cats can build strong friendships with other cats living in the same household. In that case, it is easier to become friends if there are factors such as 'knowing each other when they were young,' 'being related by blood,' and 'living together for a long time.' Also, unlike stray cats, research has shown that males
Not much is known about the social lives of free-roaming cats, but interactions between free-roaming cats are generally peaceful, although the presence of food or entering unfamiliar stray cat territory can lead to fights.
To make matters even more complicated, if multiple cats are allowed to roam free in the same house, each cat will bring unfamiliar smells into the house when they go out, which can lead to fights between cats in the home .
Most research to date has focused on friendships between cats, but cats can also form good relationships with animals other than humans. For example, it has been reported that cats are more likely to form friendships with dogs kept in the same household, living in the same place,
However, for cats to build friendships with other animal species, it is important for them to get to know each other from a young age and slowly get used to each other. Interestingly, Tepper and his colleagues point out that indoor cats are more friendly to dogs in the same house than free-roaming cats. This is because free-roaming cats come into contact with multiple dogs outdoors and have bad experiences with them.
Tepper and his team advise that if you want your cat to make friends, you should be careful to make sure that introductions are supervised and positive, and to provide a safe space, toys, and plenty of food in the home to prevent conflicts.
'Ultimately, although cats can form friendships with other animals, this is not essential for their health and happiness. A cat's most intimate relationship is with its owner, and as long as you provide plenty of opportunities for attention and play, even the most sociable cat will be fine,' the authors wrote.
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