Behavioural adaptation of domestic animals on the example of different breeds of domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus L., 1758)

Abstract

The excessive increase in the anthropogenic burden on wildlife, namely the uncontrolled use of natural resources, including deforestation, mining, wasteful nature management systems, a decrease in biodiversity due to intensive agricultural development, and more recently, war, affect the living conditions of both wild and domestic animals. In the new realities of the modern world, pets, losing their usual natural environment, are forced to either adapt to changes or cease to exist. The purpose of the study was to investigate the level of adaptation of the body (Felis silvestris catus L., 1758) of domestic cats in home conditions. Long-term methods were used to achieve this goal: daily visual observation, time budget, followed by the analysis of data on greater animal activity. The behaviours of cats were evaluated on a six-point scale: imitation of hunting – active play using toys (5 points) and territory inspection, jumping, scratching claws (4 points); communication with the owner – food search and bunting (3 points); self-cleaning – passive walk, toilet (2 points); rest – state of light sleep or napping (1 point), state of deep sleep (0). The selected samples were compared statistically using Kendall's rank correlation coefficient It is established that intra-breed and inter-breed differences in the duration of behavioural acts of obligate and facultative behaviours are largely determined by the temperament and character of the animals under study. The daily activity of cats of different breeds is described, which is determined by the imposition of the influence of genetically determined cycles on specific character traits and is formed during selection breeding. It is statistically proved that there is a substantial consistency between the traits under study in animals with different temperaments. If the temperament is similar, behaviour and motor activity do not correlate with each other, and the differences in the behaviour and activity of male and female purebred cats are poorly expressed. It is substantiated that the results obtained can serve as a basis for understanding the problems and difficulties that arise in purebred cats in the process of adaptation to life together with humans and, thereby, provide an understanding of the main manifestations of behavioural adaptation of domestic animals