The influence of female presence and seasonality o

Authors: Giovanne Ambrosio Ferreira Eduardo NakanoOliveira Artur Andriolo Gelson Genaro

Publish Date: 2016/04/02

Volume: 34, Issue: 3, Pages: 207-217

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Abstract

The factors that affect the home range size of domestic cats Felis silvestris catus in a semidomesticated condition ie cats that receive shelter and food from humans but are free to move in the wider natural environment is not completely understood Here using radio telemetry we present the first assessment of the home range size and activity patterns of male domestic cats living in the insular environment of Brazil’s Atlantic Forest and examine the extent to which these were influenced by the presence ‘resident males with females’ RMF group or absence ‘single males’ SM group of females in the residences of their owners Daily and seasonal activity patterns have also been characterized Home ranges of the RMF were markedly smaller than that of the SM and exhibited less overlap with the home ranges of other males than did those of the SM Male cats were most active at twilight and evening 4468 ± 107 and least active in the afternoon 2876 ± 279 RMF presented nocturnal activity greater than SM especially in the dry season Our data indicate that presence of females is an important factor in shaping these parameters of domestic male catsThe authors thank the Intituto de Pesquisas Cananéia IPeC and Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora for their logistic and scientific support They also thank Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior– Capes for granting a Master’s scholarship to G A Ferreira and Idea Wild and Fórmula Foods Alimentos LTDA for the contribution of materials and equipment used in this project

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