Maternal care and differences in the use of nests in the domestic cat

摘要: Abstract Abstract. The domestic cat, Felis silvestris catus, exhibits several different forms of maternal behaviour, including solitary and communal care offspring. Domestic cats, along with wild felid relatives, use covert nest sites in which to rear their young; multiple are used over the pre-weaning period. presence styles allows an examination functions nest-moving. Two groups semi-fetal living a large natural outdoor enclosure, were studied. Communal litters occupied twice as many nests first 6 weeks after birth. Kittens also left approximately 10 days earlier than kittens litters. After testing overall litter size number occupied, data showed little evidence that fouling through accumulation elimination products, ectoparasites food waste was responsible for increased moves. A more likely explanation is frequent moves employed maintain covertness possible predators infanticide by conspecifics. Multiple carers may be better able move efficiently therefore freed from physical constraints affecting mothers. Nest disturbance conspecific part moves, but probably does not account differences seen.