Have you heard of feline ethology? This is a booming science, still experimental because not long ago humans began to share their homes with cats and when they began to have some problems that worried us.
But What exactly does feline ethology study? If you want to know, then I will also tell you when it is advisable to consult an ethologist.
What is it?
The behavior of cats has always caught our attention. It is very curious that these animals, usually reserved and very, very territorial, have decided to exchange their freedom for the pampering that people can give them. But this change, this adaptation, has not been easy for them, especially since we began to prohibit them from going out to the streets for their own safety.
That's how it was when the poor furry continued to do what they had been doing for millennia, but at home: sharpen their nails on furniture, mark their territory (that is, the home 😉), defend themselves and even attack whatever or anyone if they feel that their life is in danger, ...
As well, by forcing them to be with us, we exposed them to situations of stress, anxiety, depression, and unfortunately also mistreatment, harassment, not letting them live. For all these reasons, the need arose to understand them better in order to help them. That is why feline ethology was "born", to give an answer to all the questions related to the behavior of cats.
What do ethologists study?
Ethologists are people who dedicated to the study of behavior; in the case of felines, of cats. And, although each cat is unique, it does share a series of "behavioral needs" with its species, such as scratching on surfaces for example. These behaviors are very important to them, and they should be able to carry them out whenever they need to.
If we deprive cats of being and behaving like cats, we will compromise their happiness.
When to consult with one?
We will consult with a feline ethologist whenever we have doubts about the behavior of our cats, or when we have problems that we do not know how to solve, always related to feline behaviors. For example, they can be very helpful in cases such as:
- They meow at night
- They are aggressive towards us and / or visitors
- When a new member comes into the family and they are having a hard time accepting it
- They don't use their sandbox (here you have information on the subject)
- Destroy the furniture with your nails (in these cases we must ask ourselves if they have a scraper)
- Etc
And with this we are done. What did you think of this article?