The Social Lives of Free-Ranging Cats

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Cats are ubiquitous in human spaces. Cats live in our homes and on our streets and occupy a variety of social environments. However, scientists still disagree on the social nature of free-ranging cats (FRCs). This paper aims to review the relevant literature on the social behavior of FRCs and includes which behaviors have been observed and the main findings of each study. The findings of this review indicate that the relationships between FRCs are not random, are socially complex, and deserve further study. The body of literature that currently exists provides an excellent foundation for future work. Further research in this area can help further illuminate the social lives of FRCs. ABSTRACT: Despite the diversity of social situations in which cats live, the degree to which free-ranging cats (FRCs) are social is still debated. The aim of this review is to explore the literature on the social behavior of FRCs. A search of two major databases revealed that observations of intraspecies and interspecies social interactions have been conducted. The intraspecific social dynamics of FRCs differ based on group of cats surveyed. Some groups display strong social bonds and preferential affiliations, while other groups are more loosely associated and display little to no social interaction. Factors impacting FRC conspecific interactions include cat body size, cat social rank, cat individuality, cat age, relationship to conspecific (kin/familiar), cat sex, level of human caretaking, presence of food, the health of the individual, or sexual status of conspecifics. Interspecies interactions also occur with humans and wildlife. The human’s sex and the weather conditions on the day of interaction have been shown to impact FRC social behavior. Interactions with wildlife were strongly linked to the timing of cat feeding events. These findings support the idea that FRCs are “social generalists” who display flexibility in their social behavior. The social lives of FRCs exist, are complex, and deserve further study.