Perhaps it is fair to say that sometimes cat owners (caregivers) forget that their feline friend operates on DNA hard-wired instinct as they are often seen as little human members of the family which is nice. Moreover, this DNA is inherited from their wildcat ancestor. The domestic cat’s behaviour is rooted in the behaviour of wildcats. We ask them to fit into the human environment and they succeed in this task as they have become very adaptable and despite being essentially solitary, somewhat sociable. The cat learns but the learning process is also based in instinct: ‘If I do this, I get that’.
Domestic cats operate on instinct placing a high level of responsibility on owners. Infographic. by Michael BroadI think that it is useful for cat caregivers to occasionally touch base with the foundations of the human-to-cat relationship in reminding ourselves that the ‘little man or woman’ snoozing on the sofa is a domesticated wildcat programmed to hunt as one of the world’s best predators. It puts the relationship in perspective and ensures that we are excellent caretakers in providing the best possible environment for our cats.
This responsibility has become heightened by the trend to keep cats indoors all the time. They live their whole lives within an artificial environment very different to that which they need to experience. The added responsibility is in modifying the home to both satisfy both cat and caregiver. A tricky task as very few people are prepared to compromise in the look and feel of the interior of their homes.
More: instincts
