Pets

So, did we domesticate the cat – or did they domesticate us..?

By Lynn Broom Longmead Veterinary Practice

CATS have interacted with humans for thousands of years, potentially as far back as 12,000 years ago when humans first started farming. It is thought that dogs started being domesticated at least 15,000 years ago, and recent DNA analysis suggests that wolf to dog domestication may have started as far back as 130,000 years ago while humans were still hunter gatherers.

Domestic dogs bear very little resemblance to their original wild ancestors both in physical and behavioural aspects. Dog breeds can range in size from about 2kg to 100kg whereas adult cats vary no more than a few kilos between breeds, typically ranging from 3kg to 8kg.

Dogs have been physically changed dramatically including head shape, leg length, tail structure and body type. But even quite genetically altered cat breeds such as Persians are still generally a similar size to the average domestic cat.

A lot of this variation is because, once domesticated, dog breeding became more controlled. As most bitches come into season every six months, humans were able to control which bitch mated with which dog in order to reinforce a behavioural or physical attribute. Cats come into season every three weeks and, unless kept physically away from males, female cats will mate freely with one or more nearby tomcat allowing free mixing of genes leading to broadly similar offspring. Street dogs in countries such as Romania tend to revert to a ‘type’ of dog of similar size, colour and coat type due to uncontrolled breeding.

We have bred dogs for particular uses which is often reflected in their behavioural and physical characteristics. Cats have varied very little in their ‘use’ to humans being essentially companions and pest controllers. The main changes due to domestication in cats has been the development of coat colour changes.

The default colour for cats is tabby. This is why even black cats can have a faint tabby pattern when they are young. Several ‘random’ mutations have occurred over the years leading to other colours developing. Many of these are due to recessive genes which are only displayed when both parents carry the gene. This is how certain pedigrees produce a consistent colour type but also how, even moggies, can randomly produce an unusually coloured kitten.

After all this time cats still retain their independent nature, their hunting instinct and their behavioural traits. Cats often choose to live with us but equally they can decide to move on if they feel that their current home is not suitable. Many cats frequent more than one home, choosing to eat and sleep in other houses even if they return to their original home daily. Hunting is a strong drive in most cats, although, because they are usually well fed, this may be shown by just catching and playing with their prey or chasing toys rather than actually eating birds or animals.

We may think we own our cats but actually, when left to make their own decisions, a number of cats will decide who they choose to live with. Many cats change ownership at some point in their lives and will often adopt a new ‘owner’!

Cats often choose to live with us but equally they can decide to move on if they feel their current home is not suitable PHOTO: Mabel Amber/Pixabay

MUCKY PUPS DOG GROOMER Friars Moor Sturminster Newton Contact Gloria 07784 332682 muckypupsfrance@yahoo.com http://muckypups-bee-online.com 15 years experience in dog grooming

Companions at Peace Pet Cremation

Independent family run business offering a very personal, caring pet cremation service to bereaved pet owners. Collection Service Farewell Room Out of Hours Service provided Located in a rural countryside setting on the Somerset Dorset border

6 BEAUTIFUL KENNEL CLUB REGISTERED GREAT DANE PUPPIES, 2 boys and 4 girls , mantle and harlequin . For information 07767 862353

ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL PUPS. Liver and White. 4 bitches and 4 dogs. Kennel club reg. Legal doc with certificate. First vaccination and micro-chipped. Ready after 24/11/22. 3 generation pedigree. Would make good workers or family pets. Further details and pictures 07932 061202. Westbury, Wiltshire. £850

The New Blackmore Vale

To advertise in our pet section call 01963 400186

STAFFY PUPS KC REG. Chipped & jabbed. Ready now £1,350. 07706 874466

HUNTAWAY X COLLIE PUPPIES. Ready now. 07551 409615 / 07973 661515

OUTSTANDING JACK RUSSELL PUPS Bred from working show parents 07779 685709

FLAT-COATED RETRIEVER PUPPIES. Microchipped and jabbed. Excellent temperament. Parents, hips and eye checked. Loving homes only. 07736 886736

CAN YOU BE A FOREVER HOME? Mid Dorset Branch Cats Protection

Cats looking for new homes

Theo (two) is very sweet and loving once he gets to know you

Hattie, one, gorgeous young cat coming out of her shell

Morris, 13weeks, adorable little purr machine

For details, please call our helpline on 01258 858644

or visit our website, www.cats.org.uk/blandford

LOST CATS

If you have lost a cat, please contact us via our website, phone or Facebook.

Please make sure we have a contact phone number so we can get in touch with you quickly if needed. n Grey and white male, escaped from Damory Vets car park, Blandford, 13 October. n Black and white male, Blandford, missing since 15 October. n Tabby, ten-month-old missing from Milborne St Andrew since 22 October. n White and tabby ten-year-old male, missing from Charlton Marshall since 26 October. n Tabby and white female, eight years old, missing from Marnhull since 25 October.

FOUND CATS

If you regularly see a cat in your garden or down your street that you don’t think has an owner, please give us a call – it might be a lost cat that could be reunited with its owner. n Black, long-haired with white star on chest – Sherborne. n Black and white male, about ten years old – Sherborne.

We are still offering neutering and micro-chipping for £5 in postcode areas DT10 and DT11, SP7 and SP8, and BH21. Phone: 01258 268695.

BEHAVIOUR TIPS

Tip #27: Puppy series – socialisation

By Helen Taylor

CORRECTLY socialising your puppy – especially between seven and 12 weeks of age – is the single most important job for new puppy owners. A puppy that rarely steps outside his garden, only meets a few visitors, does not encounter traffic or other animals until he is 12 weeks old is then highly likely to be fearful of these everyday experiences when he finally does encounter them.

This is not always fixable, and can lead to aggression problems in adulthood. Early and ongoing exposure to unfamiliar adults/children, dogs and every situation that he will encounter as an adult, including being alone, crowds, traffic etc is vital.

Exposure should be positive – that is should not scare the puppy – and should not include practising behaviours that are likely to be undesirable or problematic as adults – for example, running uninvited up to people or other dogs. It is important that puppies get at least some contact with other dogs in this period to avoid problems later on.

Until he is vaccinated, puppies should be restricted to play dates with vaccinated dogs in private gardens and to seeing and hearing other dogs from the owner’s arms, or a doggy stroller. n Helen Taylor BSc(Hons) ADipCBM; Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB); ABTC register of Clinical Animal Behaviourists and Animal Training Instructors, full member APBC and APDT (881); phone: 07951 985193; help@helentaylordorset.co.uk; www.helentaylordorset.co.uk

MID DORSET CATS PROTECTION

Loving homes needed for cats and kittens in our care.

For more details, please call our helpline 01258 858644 or visit our website: cats.org.uk/blandford