Research overview: density-dependent social tolerance in cats

The same species that lives solitarily where prey is scarce forms dense colonies where food concentrates, and this flexibility makes the cat a model for density-dependent sociality. This overview surveys research on how resource availability sets the limits of feline social tolerance, the formation of female kin groups, and the stresses that arise when unrelated cats are crowded together in homes and shelters. It discusses time-sharing of space, the importance of escape routes and separate resources, and signs of chronic social stress. The topic links the cat's natural facultative sociality to practical strategies for housing multiple cats compatibly.