Meow mix. (Letters).One cannot be around cats long without observing that they have intelligence and personalities nearly as complex and diverse as people do ("Social cats," SN: 9/15/01, p. 172). They communicate with each other and people, both verbally and with body language. They have preferences for whom they associate with, both human and feline feline of, or pertaining to, members of the family Felidae. See also cat. feline agranulocytosis see feline panleukopenia (below). feline actinic dermatitis see solar dermatitis. , and those can change. I think that complexity of personality is directly related to the capacity to communicate, in both people and cats. McClellan G. Blair Indiana, Pa. On my farm, I have two stable populations of cats, one living in a detached barn, a second living in a barn attic connected to the house. It is my observation that there exists in every litter of kittens a spectrum of personality styles running from total scaredy-cat to born friendly or at least bold. It's my theory that this increases the chances that at least one kitten kitten newborn or young cat or ferret. kitten mortality complex a general term applied to a syndrome involving death of young kittens, particularly in breeding establishments. suits the local circumstance: hazardous or kindly to cats. Joann Rogers Dixfield, Maine Have stereotypes of cats as antisocial antisocial /an·ti·so·cial/ (-so´sh'l) 1. denoting behavior that violates the rights of others, societal mores, or the law. 2. denoting the specific personality traits seen in antisocial personality disorder. beings really interfered with scientific study, or have some of these studies been conducted by scientists who haven't really observed cats carefully? Cats sometimes bring a fresh kill to a person as a gift. They will even proudly announce the gift with meowing. Even if they don't always want to be cuddled when people seek to express affection, cats are quite social. Food sharing with another species? How much more social could they get? Curiously, one of the studies described in the story seems to take advantage of this particular cat behavior Cat behaviour is how cats interact with other cats, animals, and environment. 'Language' Cats have a unique 'language' that consists mainly of body actions and occasionally, vocal calls. Body language
Gary W. Longsine Missoula, Mont. The article doesn't discuss some essentials of cat populations in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . Foremost is the enormous number, 30 million to 60 million, of feral cats. This number is added to each year by abandoned house cats. They are fierce, wild predators that disrupt ecosystems. They carry communicable diseases communicable diseases, illnesses caused by microorganisms and transmitted from an infected person or animal to another person or animal. Some diseases are passed on by direct or indirect contact with infected persons or with their excretions. fatal to many pet cats and even big cats in zoos. John Perry Winter Haven, Fla. |
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