Abstract
The authors explored a possible relationship between coat color and aggressive behaviors in the domestic cat. This study used an Internet-based survey to collect information on coat color, affiliative behaviors toward cats/humans, agonistic behaviors toward cats/humans, other “problem” behaviors, and cat and guardian demographic data. A total of 1,432 cat guardians completed the online survey; after exclusions based on study protocol, data analysis included 1,274 completed surveys. Guardians reported sex-linked orange female (tortoiseshells, calicos, and “torbies”), black-and-white, and gray-and-white cats to be more frequently aggressive toward humans in 3 settings: during everyday interactions, during handling, and during veterinary visits. Kruskal-Wallis 1-way analysis of variance was used to compare possible differences between the 2 sexes and among different coat colors. Analyses of aggression due to handling, as well as aggression displayed during veterinarian visits, showed little difference among coat colors in these settings.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1-15 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 2 2016 |
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Keywords
- coat color
- Feline aggression
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Animal Science and Zoology
- veterinary(all)
Cite this
The Relationship Between Coat Color and Aggressive Behaviors in the Domestic Cat. / Stelow, Elizabeth A.; Bain, Melissa; Kass, Philip H.
In: Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, Vol. 19, No. 1, 02.01.2016, p. 1-15.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The Relationship Between Coat Color and Aggressive Behaviors in the Domestic Cat
AU - Stelow, Elizabeth A.
AU - Bain, Melissa
AU - Kass, Philip H
PY - 2016/1/2
Y1 - 2016/1/2
N2 - The authors explored a possible relationship between coat color and aggressive behaviors in the domestic cat. This study used an Internet-based survey to collect information on coat color, affiliative behaviors toward cats/humans, agonistic behaviors toward cats/humans, other “problem” behaviors, and cat and guardian demographic data. A total of 1,432 cat guardians completed the online survey; after exclusions based on study protocol, data analysis included 1,274 completed surveys. Guardians reported sex-linked orange female (tortoiseshells, calicos, and “torbies”), black-and-white, and gray-and-white cats to be more frequently aggressive toward humans in 3 settings: during everyday interactions, during handling, and during veterinary visits. Kruskal-Wallis 1-way analysis of variance was used to compare possible differences between the 2 sexes and among different coat colors. Analyses of aggression due to handling, as well as aggression displayed during veterinarian visits, showed little difference among coat colors in these settings.
AB - The authors explored a possible relationship between coat color and aggressive behaviors in the domestic cat. This study used an Internet-based survey to collect information on coat color, affiliative behaviors toward cats/humans, agonistic behaviors toward cats/humans, other “problem” behaviors, and cat and guardian demographic data. A total of 1,432 cat guardians completed the online survey; after exclusions based on study protocol, data analysis included 1,274 completed surveys. Guardians reported sex-linked orange female (tortoiseshells, calicos, and “torbies”), black-and-white, and gray-and-white cats to be more frequently aggressive toward humans in 3 settings: during everyday interactions, during handling, and during veterinary visits. Kruskal-Wallis 1-way analysis of variance was used to compare possible differences between the 2 sexes and among different coat colors. Analyses of aggression due to handling, as well as aggression displayed during veterinarian visits, showed little difference among coat colors in these settings.
KW - coat color
KW - Feline aggression
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U2 - 10.1080/10888705.2015.1081820
DO - 10.1080/10888705.2015.1081820
M3 - Article
C2 - 26467020
AN - SCOPUS:84952989871
VL - 19
SP - 1
EP - 15
JO - Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
JF - Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
SN - 1088-8705
IS - 1
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