Odour-guided social behaviour in newborn and young cats: an analytical survey |
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Authors: | Nicolas Mermet Gérard Coureaud Scott McGrane Benoist Schaal |
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Institution: | 1.Equipe d’Ethologie et de Psychobiologie Sensorielle Centre Européen des Sciences du Go?t,UMR 5170 CNRS/Université de Bourgogne/Inra 15,Dijon,France;2.The WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition,Leicestershire,UK |
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Abstract: | Summary. This article surveys early chemosensory mechanisms regulating behaviour in neonatal and juvenile domestic cats (Felis sylvestris catus). It aims to retrieve material from the available literature which may promote a better understanding of the semiochemical
system that supports female-to-kitten exchanges. Studies dealing with the development of olfaction from birth through weaning
are presented in three sections. The first aims at locating developmental periods suitable for applying analytical procedures
combining behaviour and chemistry. The second section offers a survey of observational and experimental work related to the
role of olfaction in the social and feeding behaviour of kittens before weaning. The final section traces the current knowledge
on the odour sources and substrates that may be involved in early mother-kitten transactions. |
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Keywords: | Domestic cat Felis sylvestris catus Olfaction Newborn Maternal behaviour Mother-infant relations Communication |
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