Research overview: dominance hierarchies and reproduction in group-housed felids

In felids housed or living in groups, social rank can influence which individuals reproduce and how successfully. This overview surveys how dominance hierarchies relate to reproduction in cats, including lions where pride dynamics structure breeding and captive groupings where rank affects access to mates and stress levels. It reviews how subordinate animals may experience reduced reproductive function and how managers account for social structure when planning breeding. The review connects dominance and reproduction to suppression, stress physiology, and welfare. Understanding the influence of dominance hierarchies clarifies how social structure mediates reproductive opportunity in felids, with implications for both interpreting wild mating systems and managing breeding in captive settings.