Socialization and problem-solving in domestic cats (Felis catus)

There is evidence that an animal’s socialization towards humans and rearing environment can enhance their problem-solving ability. According to the social intelligence hypothesis, which states that intelligence evolved due to complex social environments, an animal’s social life should result in higher cognitive abilities. Domestic cats are capable of leading both solitary and social lives in their natural habitat, as well as in captive environments. I assessed both general problem-solving ability and the relationship between socialization and problem-solving ability, problem-solving speed, and latency to approach a novel apparatus in domestic cats. Twenty-four out of eighty-six cats solved the problem-solving task. There was also a significant relationship between the cats’ socialization with their problem-solving abilities, latency to solve, and latency to approach the apparatus. These results provide evidence that domestic cats are not only capable of problem-solving, but that their socialization towards humans influences their abilities.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Author dc:creator

• Howard, Mary

Contributors dc:contributor

• Foerder, Preston G.
• Warren, Amye; Rogers, Katherine H.
• College of Arts and Sciences

• Cats -- Behavior

Licence

• https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en

Language dc:language

English, eng

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholar.utc.edu/theses/550

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholar.utc.edu:theses-1703