ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the research pertaining to the behavior of the domestic cat, Felis silvestris catus. Although cats are the most popular companion animal in the US and in the world, they do not meet all the criteria for complete domestication. This characteristic has implications for how we maintain them in captivity and their response to confinement. This chapter will describe the behavior of free-roaming cats including communication, reproduction, social, and feeding behavior. This natural ethology will provide a basis for exploring cats’ responses to confinement and management practices aimed at optimizing the housing environment including aspects of the macro- and microenvironment, social groups, feeding strategies, and human–animal interactions. The aim is to provide a framework for identifying stress responses and alleviating them to promote optimal cat health and welfare.
