The Hierarchic System Among Cats

About the Hierarchic System Among Cats

Why Hierarchy At All?

People usually think of oppression and tyranny, when we hear the word hierarchy.
It seldom works that way among animals, and especially not predators. Because of the dangerous weapons at their disposal they are equipped with heavy inhibitions on their aggressions, otherwise a species would be able to exterminate itself in no time at all; some predators - among others the domestic cat –

must even learn from their parents that it is OK to vent their aggressions on prey.
To further supplement these inhibitions cats have a hierarchic system. Among other things it helps cats outside to use common areas without daily battles – it will determine, for example, which cat has to give way for the other when they meet

Different Types of Hierarchy

As many probably have experienced, it may be a lengthy business to get two cats to accept each other, especially if both are adults when they are introduced to each other. One of the reasons is that the hierarchy system of cats is very complex.
Dogs (and wolves) have a hierarchy system called absolute: each individual has a place in the system which is in force in all situations, until it maybe wins a better place or - reversely - is "fought down" by another individual. It actually also happens that an individual voluntarily cedes a position.
Cats have what is called a relative hierarchy: each individual may have a different position depending on time, place, and situation in general.
So a lot of bigger and smaller pieces have to fall into place, before the cats are able to socialize relaxedly.
And that is - as mentioned above - the exact purpose of the

hierarchy system: to regulate the relations between the cats so that they work with as little aggression as possible.
This is why it may not always be the same cat that has to give way, when it meets another on the common paths; it may be one cat in the morning while in the afternoon it's the other way around.
One may see a certain difference between the sexes in that females are more inclined towards the absolute system than males. Females are also more inclined to stay on their base territory and therefore do not frequent the common areas as much as the males.
This is, however, complicated by the fact that the position of a female may rise and sink according to its reproductive status. Pregnant females and especially females with kittens tend to rise to the top, even if they normally have a relatively humble status.

Tough Job to Be a "Boss"

Then what may it mean to be high in the system? Can you beat up everybody else, steal their food? No, on the contrary! It can be hard work to be a leader among cats. Among indoor cats it's for example the leader's job to receive visitors in the hall and check if they-re dangerous ...
It also means – and this will probably surprise a lot of people –

you're supposed to take care of your "subject".. An excellent way to identify the leader in a group of cats is to check out who always licks the others but never gets licked itself.
It also means you feel obligated to check what sudden, potentially ominous sounds may mean. It is also your job to minimize conflicts among your "subjects".

What it looks like "in the field"

The relative system – where the cat can alternate between different places – is especially valid from the middle level and down. The top 2-3 places are usually relatively stable, or two cats are seen to take turns at being no. 1.

Leader Material?

Then who is it that typically becomes the leader? Well, it's not the big and strong one (unless it's because of other qualities), it's usually the cat who has one of the following qualities: Intelligence, the ability to stay calm in stressful situations, focus, a well developed parental instinct, calm, natural authority etc.

What's it like to belong to the rank and file?

Cat owners have often asked me for advice, because they are worried that one of the cats seems to have been “fought down” by one of the others – "and it doesn’t even defend itself".
This concern is based on the fact that we tend to transfer human ideas to the animals. It is certainly not fun to be “underdog” in the human world.
But for a cat (or a dog/wolf) it can actually be advantageous: one doesn’t need to worry about loud noises in the parking-basement (the leader will check them out), one will be washed behind the ears several times a day, one doesn’t need

to have a stand towards anything. It also happens that a leader voluntarily “abdicates”, and it is also commonly seen that this event is prepared in good time by "apprenticing a substitute".
That’s what happened in this house a while ago, where the moggie Kasper had been (a very good) leader. When the Russian Blue From day one the two were inseparable and when she reached "the age of discretion", she took over the top position, now with Kasper as “minister of justice”. She often used him as “policeman”, when she thought, someone needed a reminder.....

When it doesn't work ...

Of course situations can arise, where one or more cats find it difficult with the pecking order, but that is when things are not working, where some things haven’t settled. If the physical conditions do not allow the cats to give way or hide from each other in tense situations, it can become quite uncomfortable for everyone involved.
Therefore the solution of pecking order problems can be to buy some covered cat beds ...

It can also create problems, if one has fertile cats without letting them “live” their “inclinations”. A flock of females in constant heat, for example, will be rivaling constantly. Unneutered males cannot live together, generally.
But normally the cats solve these pecking order problems amongst themselves - given time and optimal physical conditions.