🧬 The Felid Wiki — 3,000 research summaries

Although all modern house cats descend from the Near Eastern wildcat, archaeological cats at early Chinese farming villages were later identified as leopard cats, a different genus-level relative. Thi…

Managing free-roaming cats pits welfare, ethical and conservation considerations against one another, and this overview surveys the debate between lethal control and non-lethal approaches like trap-ne…

Research has investigated what cats prefer in litter and litter boxes, with direct relevance to preventing house soiling. This overview surveys studies testing preferences for litter substrate, textur…

Some studies have followed large managed cat colonies over many years to assess whether sustained trap-neuter-return reduces populations, and this overview surveys their findings. It examines long-ter…

Indoor lifestyles, while safer, are associated with reduced activity and elevated obesity risk in cats, a major welfare and health concern. This overview surveys research linking confinement, free fee…

Reducing cat predation depends on owner willingness to change behaviour, so social research has examined how owners view their cats' hunting and proposed interventions. This overview surveys studies o…

A growing line of research examines how owners' own personality traits relate to their cats' behaviour, health and welfare, paralleling parenting-style research in humans. This overview surveys studie…

Oxytocin, a hormone involved in social bonding, has been studied in dogs during owner interaction, and researchers have asked whether cats show comparable hormonal responses. This overview surveys the…

A cat's temperament is shaped not only by early experience but by inheritance, and this overview surveys evidence that the father contributes to kitten boldness and friendliness. It examines studies i…

Play is a prominent feature of cat behaviour and closely related to predation, and this overview surveys research on its forms, development and role in welfare. It examines object play that mimics hun…

Polydactyly, the presence of extra toes, is a common congenital trait in cats caused by dominant mutations in a limb-development regulatory region near the Sonic hedgehog gene. This overview surveys t…

Genetic tools illuminate how feral cat populations are connected, structured and sourced, informing management, and this overview surveys that research. It examines studies using molecular markers to…

Purring is not unique to the domestic cat, and its distribution across felids has long been used to divide the family. This overview surveys the traditional contrast between purring cats, which cannot…

Although purring is popularly equated with happiness, cats also purr when injured, frightened, giving birth or near death, prompting research into the contexts and possible functions of the behaviour.…

Assessing how good a cat's life is requires validated tools, and this overview surveys the development of quality-of-life and welfare assessment instruments for cats. It covers questionnaires and clin…

Return-to-field programs sterilize, vaccinate and return healthy unowned cats brought to shelters rather than euthanizing them, and this overview surveys their rationale and evaluation. It examines ho…

Much cat communication is olfactory, and this overview surveys the chemical signalling that structures feline social and territorial life. It covers the main marking behaviours, including urine sprayi…

Scratching is a normal, important feline behaviour that becomes a problem when directed at furnishings, and this overview surveys its functions and humane management. It examines how scratching mainta…

Long thought immune to separation distress, cats are now recognized to sometimes show separation-related problems, and this overview surveys the emerging research. It examines survey and observational…

Cats spread across the globe largely as working passengers on boats, where they controlled rodents that ate cargo and gnawed rigging. This overview synthesizes archaeological, genetic and historical e…

Many homes keep several cats, but because cats are facultatively social and territorial, cohabitation can generate chronic stress. This overview surveys research on the welfare challenges of multi-cat…

Although often considered solitary, cats form social groups under abundant resources, and this overview surveys research on the structure of feral colonies. It examines how colonies typically center o…

Shelters can apply knowledge of the sensitive period to improve the socialization and adoptability of kittens, and this overview surveys research on such programs. It examines interventions providing…

A key question raised by findings of secure and insecure attachment in cats is whether those styles are stable traits or transient states. This overview surveys evidence on the consistency of feline a…

Confinement in catteries and shelters exposes cats to novelty, noise, restricted space and unpredictable handling, which can elevate stress. This overview surveys research using behavioural scoring an…

Shelters impose acute stress on cats, which manifests in behaviour relevant to welfare and adoptability, and this overview surveys research on the topic. It examines behavioural signs of stress in she…

Beyond animals killed directly, the mere presence of cats may harm wildlife through fear and disturbance. This overview surveys research on sublethal effects, including the idea that prey perceiving p…

Much of what is known about pet cat hunting comes from studies of suburban cats, often relying on prey animals brought home. This overview surveys research, including radio-tracking and prey-return re…

Kittens born to feral mothers can often be tamed if reached early enough, and this overview surveys the practice and its grounding in the sensitive socialization period. It examines evidence on the ag…

Cats develop many spontaneous diseases analogous to human conditions, and this overview surveys their value as natural genetic models. It examines feline counterparts of human disorders including poly…