Spitz-like tail carriage in two domestic cats

IF 2.3 2区 农林科学 Q1 VETERINARY SCIENCES
Morgane J.R. Van Belle , Noema Gajdoš Kmecová , Christel P.H. Moons , Frank A.M. Tuyttens , Daniel S. Mills , Tiny C.B.M. De Keuster
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Abstract

Domestic cats use visual cues to communicate with conspecifics and humans. This includes the position and movement of the tail. The tail up signal (i.e. tail held vertically with the tip curled) has been identified as a friendly greeting signal between cats and from cats to humans. We present here a report of two cats unable to display the classic tail up signal due to Spitz-like (curled) tail characteristics, a morphology not previously reported in the scientific literature. The cats, a British Shorthair (Mn, 2 y) and Domestic Longhair (Fn, 8.5 y), belonged to different households and were participants in a study of intraspecific social interactions. Video recordings show the cats displaying normal tail movements (waving, swishing, twitching) and position when the tail was hanging down. However, once the tail was raised to a vertical position, it immediately curled over the back. This Spitz-like tail posture was displayed both when greeting people and other cats. It had reportedly been present since adoption. There was no underlying medical history of injury or pain to indicate this was an acquired state. We suggest this Spitz-like tail is a spontaneously occurring anomaly, that does not seem to noticeably impair the cats’ communicative abilities, as normal affiliative behaviours were observed during interactions with the cohoused cat. We discuss the significance of this finding in relation to the formation of social bonds and the signalling of affiliative intent.
两只家猫的斯皮茨式尾巴
家猫利用视觉线索与同类和人类交流。这包括尾巴的位置和运动。翘尾信号(即尾巴垂直竖起,尾尖卷曲)已被确认为猫与猫之间以及猫与人之间的友好问候信号。我们在此报告了两只因具有斯皮茨(卷曲)尾巴特征而无法显示经典翘尾信号的猫,这种形态以前从未在科学文献中报道过。这两只猫分别是英国短毛猫(Mn,2 岁)和长毛家猫(Fn,8.5 岁),它们属于不同的家庭,是一项种内社会互动研究的参与者。视频记录显示,当猫的尾巴垂下时,它们的尾巴运动(摆动、摆动、抽动)和姿势都很正常。然而,一旦尾巴被竖起来,它就会立即卷曲在背部。在与人和其他猫打招呼时,它都会表现出这种斯皮茨式的尾巴姿势。据报道,这种情况自猫咪被领养以来就一直存在。它没有受伤或疼痛的病史,这表明它是后天形成的。我们认为,这种斯皮茨式尾巴是一种自发形成的异常现象,似乎不会明显影响猫的交流能力,因为在与同窝猫的互动中,我们观察到了正常的从属行为。我们将讨论这一发现对社会纽带的形成和隶属意向信号的意义。
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来源期刊
Veterinary journal
Veterinary journal 农林科学-兽医学
CiteScore
4.10
自引率
4.50%
发文量
79
审稿时长
40 days
期刊介绍: The Veterinary Journal (established 1875) publishes worldwide contributions on all aspects of veterinary science and its related subjects. It provides regular book reviews and a short communications section. The journal regularly commissions topical reviews and commentaries on features of major importance. Research areas include infectious diseases, applied biochemistry, parasitology, endocrinology, microbiology, immunology, pathology, pharmacology, physiology, molecular biology, immunogenetics, surgery, ophthalmology, dermatology and oncology.
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