Let's continue to carry you in the skin of your cat the time of a blog to understand the hierarchical behavior of cats and the management of their territory. Ready? Let's go!
You are peacefully lying in your favorite box. The one that contained the beautiful cat basket that your owner had bought just for you but that you never used. That's when you hear your feline companion of the house, Fluffy, approaching your box.
- Hey! it's time to switch! He simply said.
According to the contractual agreement you have with Fluffy, it is when the neighbor comes back from work that you have to give up your place and go to sleep on the bed. You get up and you stretch slowly when suddenly you realize that you have not yet heard the commuter train located near you. As a cat, you do not perceive time as humans do. For you, time is not calculated in hours and minutes, but rather as a series of events. As the neighbor always returns from work after the train passes, you understand that Fluffy seems to want to change the contract you established a long time ago.
- It's not time to switch places, according to our contract. Why change when it's been 5 months since our routine is established?
Fluffy seems a little disappointed that you unmasked him.
- It is because yesterday, our owner decided to close the window near the cat tree in the living room since the cold weather is back. So my favorite place has lost its appeal, he replied.
- And you really want to renegotiate our agreement on these bases to occupy this box sooner?
You see that Fluffy hesitates. You do not take a chance and you immediately begin to negotiate by staring at Fluffy in the eyes and scold lightly. If he does not understand, you will probably have to hit him with your paws and if that's not enough, you'll have to fight, which is not your goal at all. You know that Fluffy also does not want to get there either. After all, you are not two hungry stray cats who want the only mouse available in the neighborhood. Here, all your needs are already fulfilled and you know that you will have to continue to cohabit with Fluffy no matter what happens. A battle would only increase the stress in the house.
Nevertheless, this box is very comfortable and, as autumn arrives, you know that the heat near the box will make this place even more comfortable, so it is important to keep your privileges. Then your owner gets involved.
-Hey friends, don’t fight! she said.
Why doesn’t she mind her own fluffballs?! For this kind of thing, she should not interfere otherwise how will you be able to sign your contracts? Well, maybe intervening by throwing a cushion when you're engaged in a big fight could be justified, but when it's just rumbling, screaming and hitting the muzzle, humans should never interfere in your things. If she intervenes too often, the contracts will never be signed and you will be in perpetual negotiations. Worse than that, it is quite possible that the confrontations become more and more violent simply because you never succeed in signing the contracts.
Lucky for you, Fluffy decides it's not worth it and turns his paws sighing and settles into the basket, much less comfortable than your box.
-Well, my "dominant cat" always win, says your owner.
What does she mean? It is not a matter of being the dominant of the house. Domination is not a trait of character. A dominant cat does not exist. We could rather talk about hierarchical behaviors for something specific, at a specific time, and it always depends on the importance of something to a cat. For example, even if this time you kept your box, when the time comes to access food in the morning, it will be Fluffy who will have the right to eat first. On the other hand, in the evening it is often your turn to go first. That's how you set the contracts. Fluffy gets access to your owner's affection first. You really have to be called Fluffy to love to get petted and sign a contract to have first access to your owner on the sofa after diner. And yes, contracts are sometimes as specific as that.
-You have to learn that, here in the house, I am the dominant, said your owner, laughing.
POUHAAAAHAH AH AHA HA! You're laughing. Rectification: you would be laughing if you were able to do it. You could tell him that inter-species dominance does not exist. Whether we’re talking about a cat or a dog, this principle of domination or the "leader of the pack" is totally false and it is precisely because of some high-profile canine world that people still believe in these falsehoods. You cannot dominate a cat just as a cat cannot dominate a human. This is a topic that we will discuss in another article. You have already lost enough sleep time because of Fluffy, you surely will not lose more because of your slav ... hmm ... owner.
