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بسم هللا الرحمن الرحيم
ISSN 0178-6288 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Norman_KhalafPrinz_Sakerfalke_Von_Jaffa/publications https://palestine.academia.edu/NormanKhalaf https://issuu.com/dr-norman-ali-khalaf/docs
================================ النشرة الفلسطينية لعلم األحياء: الغزال Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin Gazelle : Das Palästinensische Biologische Bulletin
================================ Monthly Bulletin – Volume 40 – Number 211 – July 2022 Published by Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Khalaf Department for Environmental Research and Media, National Research Center, University of Palestine, Gaza, State of Palestine
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Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – ISSN 0178-6288 – Volume 40 – Number 211 – July 2022
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The Attacking Behaviour of Domestic Cats (Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758) on Wild Birds * By: Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Bassam Khalaf-von Jaffa * This Project Assignment being a requirement for the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC): Introduction to Animal Behaviour (AB101x) offered by Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands, and edX in October-November 2020.
Our three Angora-Persian breed cats watching pigeons and doves eating from the wild bird feeding station situated in our terrace in Dubai-Al Nahda, UAE. From left: the neutered gib-cat “Pico”, the molly-cat “Baqa’” watching wild birds with big interest, while the queen-cat “Tussy”, mother of the two, is not interested and is lying down and resting in its slumber bed. Photo by: Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Khalaf-von Jaffa on 13.06.2016. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10154188342049831&set=a.10150211908229831 Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – ISSN 0178-6288 – Volume 40 – Number 211 – July 2022
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Abstract The attacking behaviour of domestic cats (Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758) on wild birds (rock pigeons and Eurasian collared doves) was studied. We know that cats are hunters and predators, and they attack birds. But, does a cat attack birds when it is well-fed, or only when it is hungry? or in both cases. My Hypothesis was: As stalking and hunting are instinctive behaviour in cats. The cats will attack the wild birds in both cases, when hungry and well-fed. My four house cats were observed for two days. They showed various behaviour like: bird watching, producing chattering ‘chirp’ sound, stalking, attacking and scratching. The attack behaviour was observed in both cases, when hungry and well-fed. This shows that attacking and trying to pounce on and catch and kill the wild birds was an instinctive hunting behaviour, and they will do it for sport, not necessarily to eat the prey.
Our two Angora-Persian breed cats, the gib-cat “Pico” and his sister “Baqa’” watching a Eurasian collared dove in our terrace in Dubai-Al Nahda, UAE. Photo by the author on 09.03.2015. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10153084623924831&set=a.10150211908229831
ُملخص تمت دراسة السلوك الهجومى للقطط الداجنة على الطيور البرية (الحمام الجبلي واليمام المطوق ولكن هل تهاجم القطط. تعتبر القطط حيوانات صيادة ومفترسة وتقوم بمهاجمة الطيور. )األوراسي : كانت فرضيتي هي. أم فقط عندما تكون جائعة ؟ أو في كلتا الحالتين، الطيور عندما تكون شبعانة Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – ISSN 0178-6288 – Volume 40 – Number 211 – July 2022
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حيث أن المالحقة واإلقتراب بخلسة والصيد تعتبر سلوك غريزي في القطط ،فإن القطط ستهاجم الطيور البرية في كلتا الحالتين ،في حالتي الجوع والشبع .لقد تمت مراقبة قططي المنزلية األربعة لمدة يومين .وقد أظهروا سلوكيات مختلفة مثل :مراقبة الطيور ،وإصدار أصوات ثرثرة ،والمالحقة واإلقتراب بخلسة ،والهجوم ،والخدش .وقد تمت مالحظة سلوك الهجوم في كلتا الحالتين ،عند الجوع والشبع .وهذا يدل على أن مهاجمة ومحاولة إنقضاض القطط على الطيور البرية وقتلها كان سلوك صيد فطري ،وسوف يفعلون ذلك من أجل المتعة ،وليس بالضرورة إلفتراس الفريسة .
Our gib-cat “Pico” and his sister “Baqa’” were surprised after I discovered their hide during their dove watching time. Photo by the author on 21.01.2016. https://www.facebook.com/dr.norman.ali.khalaf/posts/10153809880509831 Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – ISSN 0178-6288 – Volume 40 – Number 211 – July 2022
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A Cat Story: Our gib-cat “Pico” and his sister “Baqa’” watching a Eurasian collared dove (left); and their situation after the dove flew away (right) .. As they are telling me: Help us Papa; the dove is gone. Photos by the author on 09.03.2015. https://www.facebook.com/dr.norman.ali.khalaf/posts/10153084624424831
Introduction In my home terrace where I live in Dubai-Al Nahda, United Arab Emirates, we have placed a wild bird feeding station since many years. I observe with my family every day with joy the visit of the wild visitors. Birds visiting the feeding station are mainly: rock pigeons (Columba livia), Eurasian collared doves (Streptopelia decaocto), house sparrows (Passer domesticus) and white-eared bulbuls (Pycnonotus leucotis). In the same time, I have inside my house four domestic cats (Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758), three of them are Angora/Persian breed, and one is a stray street breed. As cats are hunters and predators, I would like to study the attacking behaviour of domestic cats on wild birds. Does a cat attack bird when it is well-fed, or only when it is hungry? or in both cases. My prediction: As stalking and hunting are instinctive behaviour in cats. The cats will attack the wild birds in both cases, when hungry and wellfed.
Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – ISSN 0178-6288 – Volume 40 – Number 211 – July 2022
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Previous studies showed that domestic cat attacks cause variety of wildlife deaths (Kobilinsky, 2016; Mori, et al., 2019; Trouwborst, et al., 2020). In North America, domestic cats killed 84 different animal species including mice (Mus musculus), brown rats (Rattus norvegicus), American robins (Turdus migratorius), mourning doves (Zenaida macroura), blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata), eastern cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus), eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) and southern flying squirrels (Glaucomys volans) (Kobilinsky, 2016). In Italy, domestic cats killed 207 animal species including many birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians (Mori, et al., 2019). But the question is, will domestic cats attack wildlife when it is well-fed, or only when it is hungry? or in both cases.
Our stray street queen-cat “Ghareeba” stalking and ready to attack. Photo from a video by Ola Khalaf on 13.05.2017. https://www.facebook.com/ola.khalaf.5203/posts/1901811030072273:1
Methods The study was done in the morning at 8.00 a.m. on 11 and 12 October 2020, at my house in Dubai-Al Nahda, United Arab Emirates. A wild bird feeding station was placed in my terrace since many years. Many wild bird species visit the feeding station including rock Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – ISSN 0178-6288 – Volume 40 – Number 211 – July 2022
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pigeons, Eurasian collared doves, house sparrows and white-eared bulbuls. In the same time, I have inside my house four domestic cats (Felis catus). The attacking behaviour of domestic cats on wild birds was studied, in both cases, when the cats were hungry and well-fed. The sampling method was scan sampling, because I was observing the behaviour of four cats in the same time, in two different days, for 30 continuous minutes each day. On the first day (11.10.2020), the observation was made for 30 continuous minutes in the morning before feeding my four cats; so, the cats were hungry. I opened the curtains, and my cats saw pigeons and doves eating from the feeding station in the terrace. Their instinctive attacking behaviour on wild birds was observed, when they were hungry. On the next day (12.10.2020), I made the same observation like the day before, but after I fed my cats; so, the cats were well-fed. Their instinctive attacking behaviour on wild birds was observed, when they were well-fed. There was a terrace window separating the wild birds from the cats. No wild bird was harmed in our observation experiment. The cats showed various behaviour. The cat Ethogram included various behaviour like: bird watching, sitting upright while watching, producing chattering ‘chirp’ sound, stalking, attacking, scratching, and other behaviour like walking and lying down.
Our stray street queen-cat “Ghareeba” stalking and ready to attack a rock pigeon in our terrace in Dubai-Al Nahda, UAE. Photo from a video by the author on 20.12.2017. https://www.facebook.com/dr.norman.ali.khalaf/posts/10155873048589831 Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – ISSN 0178-6288 – Volume 40 – Number 211 – July 2022
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Our stray street queen-cat “Ghareeba” climbing the separation wall with our neighbours, and heading towards the 2nd floor balcony of our other neighbours, to attack their caged singing birds. Photo by Ola Khalaf on 30.08.2017. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1955890277997681&set=a.1414987132088001 Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – ISSN 0178-6288 – Volume 40 – Number 211 – July 2022
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Results First Day: On the first day, I made the observation for 30 continuous minutes in the morning at 8.00 a.m. before feeding my four cats; so, the cats were hungry. I opened the curtains, and my cats saw rock pigeons and Eurasian collared doves eating from the feeding station in the terrace. The cats directly began watching, stalking and trying to attack the birds, and even two cats were scratching on the window. All my 4 cats showed the attack behaviour on birds. This was a 100% clear percentage of the attacking behaviour for the 4 cats.
Statistics (first day): Time was recorded for the different behaviour in our Ethogram. Bird watching (20 minutes = 66%), sitting upright while watching (20 minutes = 66%), producing chattering ‘chirp’ sound (2 minutes = 6.6%), stalking (3 minutes = 10%), attacking (2 minutes = 6.6%), scratching (1 minute = 3.3%) (2 cats), and other behaviour like: walking (2 minutes = 6.6%), and lying down (0 minutes = 0%). Total Time: 30 minutes (100%).
Rock Pigeons flying and waiting to eat around the wild bird feeding station in our terrace in Dubai-Al Nahda, UAE. Photo by the author on Eid Al-Fitr on 07.07.2016. https://www.facebook.com/dr.norman.ali.khalaf/posts/10154249176984831 Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – ISSN 0178-6288 – Volume 40 – Number 211 – July 2022
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Second Day: The next day I made the observation for 30 continuous minutes in the morning at 8.00 a.m. after I fed my 4 cats, so they were well-fed. After feeding, I opened the curtains, and my cats saw rock pigeons and collared doves eating from the feeding station in the terrace. The cats were walking slower. 3 cats were observed watching, stalking and trying to attack the birds. One cat was not interested, and was walking around slowly, and then it laid down, and took a rest. In this observation, only 3 cats showed the attack behaviour on birds. They were engaged in the whole observation time in watching, stalking and attacking. This was a 75% percentage of the attacking behaviour for the 4 cats.
Statistics (second day): Time was recorded for the different behaviour in our Ethogram. Bird watching (18 minutes = 60%), sitting upright while watching (18 minutes = 60%), producing chattering ‘chirp’ sound (1 minute = 3.3%), stalking (2 minutes = 6.6%), attacking (1.5 minutes = 5%), scratching (0 minutes = 0%), and other behaviour like walking (4 minutes = 13.3%) and lying down (3.5 minutes = 11.6% for 3 cats, and 28 minutes = 93.3% for 1 cat). Total time: 30 minutes (100%).
Two Rock Pigeons and a Eurasian collared dove waiting to eat around the wild bird feeding station, while one pigeon is eating in our terrace in Dubai-Al Nahda, UAE. Photo by the author on 29.06.2016. https://www.facebook.com/dr.norman.ali.khalaf/posts/10154229709689831 Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – ISSN 0178-6288 – Volume 40 – Number 211 – July 2022
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Eurasian collared doves, a rock pigeon and a white-eared bulbul (bottom left on the ground), eating or waiting to eat from the wild bird feeding station in our terrace in Dubai-Al Nahda, UAE. Photo by the author on 27.11.2015. https://www.facebook.com/dr.norman.ali.khalaf/posts/10153685874554831
Discussion The attacking behaviour of domestic cats on wild birds (rock pigeons and Eurasian collared doves) was observed in both cases, when the cats were hungry and well-fed. But the speed of attack behaviour reaction and movement is slower when the cats are wellfed. It was observed that the time spent for bird watching, sitting upright, producing chattering ‘chirp’ sound, stalking and attacking behaviour was reduced if the cats were well-fed, while time spent for walking and lying down increased in the well-fed cats. Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – ISSN 0178-6288 – Volume 40 – Number 211 – July 2022
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This means my hypothesis was correct. As stalking and hunting are instinctive behaviour in cats. The cats will attack the wild birds in both cases, when they are hungry or wellfed. But the speed of attack behaviour reaction and movement is slower when the cats are well-fed. This shows that attacking and trying to pounce on and catch and kill the wild birds was an instinctive hunting behaviour, and they will do it for sport, not necessarily to eat the prey. The statistics will slightly differ if it is done by another scientist. The statistics could differ depending on the cat breed, cat sex, cat age, cat personality, cat weight, quantity of food given to the cat, prey species, number of wild birds, room temperature, different environment, year seasons, and different time during the day. But the results will be the same, in general, because attacking behaviour of domestic cats on wildlife is an instinctive hunting behaviour.
A Certificate from Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands, and edX, to Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Bassam Khalaf, for successfully completing the Introduction to Animal Behaviour course on 15.10.2020. https://courses.edx.org/certificates/97408a6f96c34312b320f69cb305726e
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References and Internet Websites Alley Cat Allies. Feral and Stray cats - An Important Difference. https://www.alleycat.org/resources/feral-and-stray-cats-an-important-difference/ Khalaf, Norman (1983). Al-Numour Fi Falestin (Leopards in Palestine). Al-Khalisah Bulletin. The National Palestinian Assemblage. Kuwait University, State of Kuwait. First Year. Number 3. April 1983. pp. 18 -19. (in Arabic). Khalaf, Norman Ali (2005, 2006, 2007). Chapter 3: Geography, Flora and Fauna. Pages 3239.in: Palestine: A Guide. By Mariam Shahin, Photography by George Azar. Co-Author: Norman Ali Khalaf. Northampton, Massachusetts: Interlink Publishing Group, 2005, 2006, 2007. xi + 471 pages. Appendices to page 500. http://ipsnewsite.mysite4now.com/journals.aspx?id=7323&jid=1&href=fulltext Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali (2006). Felidae Palaestina: The Wild Cats of Palestine. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Number 52, April 2006. pp. 1-15. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. https://web.archive.org/web/20091022043112/http://geocities.com/jaffacity/Felidae _Palaestina.html Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2006). Mammalia Palaestina: The Mammals of Palestine / Die Säugetiere Palästinas. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Number 55, Twenty-fourth Year, July 2006, Jumada Al-Thania 1427. pp. 1-46. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://web.archive.org/web/20080315233525/http://www.geocities.com/jaffacity/M ammalia_Palaestina1.html (Part 1) & http://web.archive.org/web/20090403201333/http://www.geocities.com/jaffacity/M ammalia_Palaestina2.html (Part 2). Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali (2006). Mammalia Arabica. Eine Zoologische Reise in Palästina, Arabien und Europa zwischen 1980-2006 / Mammalia Arabica. A Zoological Journey in Palestine, Arabia and Europe between 1980-2006. ISBN 3-00-017294-7. Erste Auflage (First Edition), Juli 2006, 484 pp. Norman Ali Khalaf, Rilchingen-Hanweiler, Deutschland & Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://dr-norman-ali-khalafbooks.webs.com/mammaliaarabica.htm & eBook (Google Drive): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mjzf_I_b8wTX_BHd1RsuU4ykhJlIKW2/view?usp=sharing Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2007). Felidae Arabica. A Zoological Journey in Palestine, Arabia and Europe between 1980-2007 / Felidae Arabica. Eine Zoologische Reise in Palästina, Arabien und Europa zwischen 1980-2007. ISBN 9783-00-019568-6. Erste Auflage (First Edition), Juli (July) 2007, 300 pp. Self-Publisher: Norman Ali Khalaf, Rilchingen-Hanweiler, Deutschland & Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. (in Arabic, German and English). Doctoral Dissertation. Ashwood University, USA. Doctor of Science Degree in Zoology (Summa Cumm Laude) on 26.09.2007. http://dr-norman-ali-khalaf-books.webs.com/felidaearabica.htm & Doctoral Dissertation eBook: https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/59397999/doctorate-dissertationGazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – ISSN 0178-6288 – Volume 40 – Number 211 – July 2022
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felidae-arabica-by-norman-ali-bassam-khalaf-doctor-of-science-ashwood-universityusa-2007 Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2008). Carnivora Arabica. A Zoological Journey in Palestine, Arabia and Europe between 2005-2008. / Carnivora Arabica. Eine Zoologische Reise in Palästina, Arabien und Europa zwischen 2005-2008. ISBN 978-9948-03-459-9. First Edition: September 2008. 396 Pages. SelfPublisher: Dr. Norman Ali Khalaf, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates & RilchingenHanweiler,Deutschland. http://dr-norman-ali-khalafbooks.webs.com/carnivoraarabica.htm & eBook: https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/59551346/book-carnivora-arabica-bydr-norman-ali-bassam-khalaf-von-jaffa-2008 Khalaf-Prinz Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Sharif Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher Mohammad Ahmad Ahmad Mostafa Abdallah Mohammad (2021). Leopards. Zoological Studies on Leopards between 1983-2021/Leoparden: Zoologische Studien über Leoparden zwischen 1983-2021. ISBN 978-9948-15-172-2. Publisher: Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Khalaf Department for Environmental Research and media, National Research Center, University of Palestine, Gaza, State of Palestine. The book is under preparation and will be published Inshallah in spring 2021. https://felidae-1.webs.com/leopards-book Khalaf-von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Bassam (2022). The Attacking Behaviour of Domestic Cats (Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758) on Wild Birds. [This Project Assignment being a requirement for the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC): Introduction to Animal Behaviour (AB101x) offered by Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands, and edX in October-November 2020]. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Volume 40, Number 211, July 2022. pp. 1-14. Publisher: Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Khalaf Department for Environmental Research and media, National Research Center, University of Palestine, Gaza, State of Palestine. (Abstracts in English and Arabic). https://felidae-1.webs.com & https://issuu.com/dr-norman-alikhalaf/docs/attacking_behaviour_of_cats_on_birds Kobilinsky, Dana (2016). JWM Study: Domestic cat attacks cause variety of wildlife deaths. The Wildlife Society. 28 October 2016. https://wildlife.org/jwm-study-domesticcat-attacks-cause-variety-of-wildlife-deaths/ Meowingtons. Why cats “chirp” at birds, according to Science. https://www.meowingtons.com/blogs/lolcats/this-is-why-cats-chatter-at-birdsaccording-toscience#:~:text=Many%20behaviorists%20theorize%20that%20the,the%20feline%20spot s%20its%20prey Mori, Emiliano; Mattia Menchetti, Alberto Camporesi, Luca Cavigioli, Karol Tabarelli de Fatis and Marco Girardello (2019). License to Kill? Domestic Cats Affect a Wide Range of Native Fauna in a Highly Biodiverse Mediterranean Country. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. Published 13 December 2019. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2019.00477/full Trouwborst, Arie; Phillipa C. McCormack, Elvira Martinez Camacho (2020). Domestic cats and their impacts on biodiversity: A blind spot in the application of nature Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – ISSN 0178-6288 – Volume 40 – Number 211 – July 2022
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conservation law. People and Nature Journal. Volume 2, Issue 1, March 2020, pp. 235-250. First published online: 04 February 2020. British Ecological Society. https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pan3.10073 Wikipedia. Cat. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat Wikipedia. Hauskatze. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hauskatze Wikipedia. قط. https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%82%D8%B7
Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Khalaf-von Jaffa sitting in his family terrace in Dubai-Al Nahda, UAE with his Angora-Persian breed gib-cat “Pico” .. World Animal Day 04th October 2020 .. Photo by Ola Khalaf. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10158605041299831&set=a.127745184830
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