International Journal of Feline Psychology, 2013, 9, 1424-1425.
TEMPORARY ALTERATION IN FEEDING SCHEDULE IN A SEMI-STRUCTURED
HOUSEHOLD ENVIRONMENT CORRELATES POSITIVELY WITH AN INCREASE IN
FELINE AGGRESSIVE VOCALIZATION
University of Cincinnati
Felines of all breeds and both genders utilize a variety of vocal patterns (VP) to
communicate with other felines and different species, although primary communication with
each other tends to be non-verbal (Morris and Jones 1978). At least sixteen distinguishable feline
VP have been identified and catalogued into the general categories of murmurs, vowels and
high-intensity vocalization (Medway 2006). Murmurs, which are formed with a closed
mandible, include purrs and are widely believed to demonstrate contentedness and satisfaction
within the immediate environment. Vowels, which are formed with an opening and closing
motion of the mandible, include sounds such as the typical meow and are believed to
communicate a need or a request for attention. Aggressive vocalizations (AV), which are formed
with an open mandible, are believed to be utilized primarily during periods of high stress or
emotional distress and are positively correlated with aggressive behavior and posturing (Kellogg
1981). Typical AV is characterized as “louder and more frequent” (Smith 1983) than standard
vocalization patterns, and “decidedly more urgent in tone” (Tony 1983).
Predominant research on large feline breeds in the wild demonstrates that AV is most
frequently exhibited in conjunction with activities related to mating, hunting, and challenging
and defending disputed territorial ranges (Tyson 2006, Siegfried and Roy 2007). Small, feral
feline breeds typically found among and adjacent to human residential and agricultural areas
have also been found to display AV in similar situations (Simpson 2001). In the small,
domesticated, home-bound feline breeds, the usage of AV is less well understood and
researched, although casual observance has been documented by owners who occasionally
inquire regarding the causality and treatment of such behavior from their own felines,
particularly around feeding time.
For this study, the author seeks to determine if a relationship exists between expected
feeding times by a home-bound feline and exhibition of AV by the same feline.
Method
Participants
Two male domesticated felines and two human adults (male 50%, female 50%)
participated in the study. The feline participants averaged 7 years of age and were alike in breed
(American Shorthair) and color (grey). The human participants averaged 43 years of age and
were racially homogenous (white 100%).
Procedure
The human participants fed the feline participants a dry pellet-style food specifically
developed to address the nutritional needs the felines. Feedings were measured to 0.5 cups of
pellets two times per day. The first daily feeding coincided with the female participant leaving
the house in the morning at approximately 8:00 am to travel to her place of employment. The
second feeding coincided with the female participant returning in the evening at approximately
4:30 pm from the same place of employment. On days when the female participant was not
actively engaged in outside employment, feedings were disbursed as close as possible to the
same times as the other, more routine, days. This schedule was maintained for a three-month
period of time to allow the felines to develop an expectation of consistent feeding times and to
allow the humans to adequately observe the feline’s behavior and VP under consistent feeding
circumstances.
Following the initial three-month period, the human female altered her schedule to leave
the house approximately one and one-half hour earlier in the morning (6:30 am) and return at a
variable but later time in the evening (approximately 5:30 pm on three days, 8:30 pm on one day,
and 9:30 pm on one day). Feeding times remained concurrent with the departures and arrivals,
and the amount of food disbursed at each feeding remained constant. The expectation of the
author was that the increased amount of time between feedings would create a hunger-stress
event for the felines, and the variability of the timing of the second feeding would create
additional stress from an inconsistency of feeding expectation. The author hypothesized that this
additional stress regarding feeding would lead to AV from the felines, particularly in frequency,
upon the female human’s return to the home in the evening.
Result
The hypothesis was tested by counting and audibly recording the number of vocalizations
from the time the female human returned to the home until the time the second feeding was
disbursed. A paired t-test analysis of the data was conducted. The results, shown in Table 1,
show a conclusive and statistically significant (p < 0.001), increase in the amount of
vocalizations from the felines. Additionally, from review of the transcripts, it was observed that
the length of the vocalizations became greater and that they sounded more urgent. A sample day
from the transcript is provided in Table 2.
Table 1: Number of vocalizations
Feline
Pre alteration
Post alteration
participant
1
2
vocalizations
6
2
vocalizations
27
3
Table 2: Vocalizations from one day of transcript
Feline
participant
Pre alteration sample vocalization
1
“mew, mew, meow, meow-ow, prrr,
prrr, mew, mew”
2
“mew”
Post alteration sample vocalization
“meew, meew, meew, meew, meow, mew,
meow-ow, meow-ow, oowww, oowww,
mew, prrr, prrr, mew, mrow, mrow, mew,
row, row, mrow, meow, meew, meow,
mrow, prrr, meow”
“meow, meow, meeeeooooowwwwww,
mrooowww-owwww-eowrow”
Discussion
While there was a clear correlation between the alteration of the feeding times and an
increase in AV, the small sample size (2) and limited number of home environments (1) does not
allow for any broader conclusions to be drawn. The author would recommend further study with
an increased population of felines across a broader array of home environments.