Contribution to the ethogram ofFelis silvesttisSchreber 1777

The influence of body region, handler familiarity and order of region handled on the domestic cat's response to being stroked

“…For each occurrence of an affiliative behaviour or posture, a score of +1 was assigned, and for each occurrence of an agonistic or avoidant behaviour or posture, a score of −1 was assigned. Whether a behaviour or body posture was considered affiliative, avoidant or agonistic was based on the ethogram utilised in the study of Soennichsen and Chamove (2002) and extended using the existing literature on feline body language (Bradshaw and Hall, 1999;Cameron-Beaumont, 1997;Crowell-Davis et al, 2004;Curtis et al, 2003;Karsh and Turner, 1988;Kendall and Ley, 2006;Leyhausen, 1979;Overall, 1997;Ragni and Possenti, 1990;Rodan, 2010;Rodan et al, 2011;Turner and Bateson, 2000). Each of the eight body areas handled was given two behavioural response scores for a single handling session; one for agonistic and avoidant responses and one for affiliative responses.…”