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Behavioural Development in the Cat
Patrick Bateson
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| Seminar Introduction |
![[cat]](21701782_intro.jpg) | | Michael Edwards |
The cat is a much loved and well-known animal. In Western countries it has become one of the most popular pets, whilst on farms, its talent for catching rodents has been appreciated for centuries. Loved and familiar though the cat is, it remains an enigma. In Rudyard Kipling's phrase, the cat 'walks by himself', readily accepting the comforts of the human home and yet behaving as though its independence were total. However, a great deal has been discovered about the cat's behaviour, and many of its former secrets have been penetrated. In this seminar, Patrick Bateson of the University of Cambridge, author of The Domestic Cat: The Biology of its Behaviour, draws on the work of modern scientists, and his own fund of knowledge and experience, to present a thought-provoking and in-depth scientific analysis of the behavioural development of young cats. The research he surveys includes details of animal experiments which some readers might not agree with, but which undoubtedly have led to a greater understanding of the mysterious world of the cat. Bateson starts by describing the normal development that cats exhibit, and then explains the processes that underlie those changes. He goes on to analyse how kittens are affected by their social environments, what they learn from other individuals, and how development may be affected by alternative circumstances to the norm.
- Describe how newborn kittens that are unable to see, walk or eat solid food, develop the ability to do all those things.
- Explain they ways in which a kitten's development depends on its relationship with its mother.
- Analyse how young cats learn predatory skills.
- Understand what young cats can learn from their mothers, their littermates and their human companions.
- Discern how the process of weaning affects a cat's behaviour.
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| Learning Objectives |
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| Sessions |
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| Credits |
This seminar is extracted chapter two of Copyright Cambridge University Press. This seminar is extracted from chapter two of The Domestic Cat: The Biology of its Behaviour, by Patrick Bateson. Copyright Cambridge University Press.
 | Humans have lived with cats for thousands of years, and there are now more cats kept in Western households than any other animal. Cherished as companions, valued as rodent catchers, their enigmatic behaviour has intrigued and bewildered us for generations. Whilst accepting the comfort of human homes, cats do seem to 'walk by themselves.' Although loved for their independence and self-reliance, myths and fables surround them, leaving them open to persecution and misunderstanding. Covering all types of cats from pampered pets to feral hunters, this completely revised new edition of The Domestic Cat shows how cats live and behave in a variety of circumstances and surroundings. With new chapters on welfare issues, and cat-cat communication, this volume penetrates the enigma that is Felis s. catus, sorting fact from fiction, and helping both the general reader and the specialist in animal behaviour or veterinary science to understand what cats really are.
The Domestic Cat: The Biology of its Behaviour
Patrick Bateson
Paperback (Second edition, 2000) |
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| Technical Requirements |
To appreciate this seminar experience, it is critical that you have the appropriate software, plug-ins, and network connections. Please take the time to download the latest versions of the plug-ins mentioned below if you do not already have them. Browser: Netscape versions 4.x up to 4.76, or Internet Explorer versions 4.x or later. Your browser must be JavaScript-enabled and must be set to accept cookies.
Network Connection: The recommended minimum connection is 56Kbps with a throughput of 34Kbps or more. A faster connection is encouraged to take better advantage of the media elements in the seminar.
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