THE FUNCTION OF ALLOGROOMING IN DOMESTIC CATS (FELIS-SILVESTRIS CATUS) - A STUDY IN A GROUP OF CATS LIVING IN CONFINEMENT

Grooming interactions (n=83) occurring in a group of non free-ranging adult neutered male (n=14) and female (n=11) domestic cats (Felis silv estris catus) were analysed. Grooming was not induced by the proximity (distance <=0.5 m) of another animal. Grooming was in general directe d at the head-neck area. Higher ranking animals groomed lower ranking animals more often than the other way round. Groomers tended to adopt 'higher' (standing, sitting upright) postures than groomees (sitting, lying). Agonistic behaviour occurred in 35% of interactions. Groomers showed offensive behaviour more often than groomees, most often after grooming a partner. Furthermore groomers often groomed themselves afte r grooming a partner. The degree of relatedness of animals did not aff ect the frequencies or durations of grooming. These results are consis tent with the hypothesis that allogrooming in domestic cats may be a w ay of redirecting (potential) aggression in situations in which overt aggression is too costly.