Does Urban Cat Density Effect Aggressiveness?

Do cats (specifically, urban ones) get more aggressive in defending their territories as more of them move into an area? I can see it happening in the wild, but in a city where food and shelter is plenty?

Haven't had much of a problem in the neighbourhood until a (likely) feral cat moved in. Neighbour, who's cat has been attacked twice by that cat, said she's seen 4 local cats all standing on a corner yawlering at each other. Hadn't see that before. Almost seems as if they were seeing their ranges shrinking so they were all trying to reassert who owns the place.

Thanks.

Territorial disputes are not always about food and shelter. Sometimes it’s about space. Same behavior can be seen in city dwelling people.

It's probably fighting over breeding. Tom cats are brutal. Colonies of female domestic cats are fairly stable. The male cats constantly fight, once there are females in heat, to control the territories and breed the females. There are always younger, stronger males showing up to challenge the existing dominant male. Typically the dominant male does not maintain dominance for long.

Keith

Kill any cat seen outdoors, problem solved.

Agree with warrior!

here cats have no protection like dogs , there is no cat license , any cay outside of a house is legally a feral cat , an invasive species.


however you can tell if you got your neighbors cat if it sits and meows in the live trap , if it makes a serious attempt to come through that cage and kill you , treat as feral no one wants that back in their house.

Had bobcat sets in the middle on nowhere with a black/white cat walking by the set just blows my mind.

It has always been my opinion that all "house cats" are indeed still wild. You can keep one from ever going outside for 10 years, then the first time you let it out, it will bring back a kill.
They use us like a professional bum working a street corner for cash.

Seen a few along the interstates this year in places they should not be at.

One of the strangest things I've seen was while waiting to sleep on the street in my truck; in front of a large chemical distribution center, Santa Cruz, Ca.
A little after dark as the street lights were coming on. A car came up the street, parked across from me and shut it's lights off.
As the trunk popped open, the dome light came on as two little old ladies exited the vehicle. If you've ever heard of the pied piper it was an exact replay.
Cats came running from everywhere! The little old lady must have had 50 pounds of cat food and 3 gallons of milk! The street was full of cats as she was rationing out groceries.
I got out and talked to them, to see what the deal was. These cats were their family. I don't think the old gals were 100 percent stable, but they loved these cats.
On the radio talk shows, they were always discussing the feral cats; but I would have never believed it if I had not witnessed it.

Have watched that same scene in many cities. The Colosseum in Rome, New York city, etc. Cats love a handout.

Keith nailed it. Male cats are always squabbling, especially this time of year.

This one was banging off the sides of the cage. Had a pretty good idea that it was feral. Looked like it had it's share of scraps--wonky eye and ear. Got it on the second day. Put an old t-shirt that the 'victim' cat had been sleeping on. Put that in the cage with some food and got 'bully' cat on the second day.

Only one female cat in the neighbourhood--she's been fixed, but still attractive to males.

I don't get to trap much, and I envy those of you who are able to do a lot of it. Animal behaviour is so interesting.

The male cat that was beat up twice by the feral didn't have any interest in the fixed-female. In fact, until the diet of the fixed-female was improved, she was beating up the same cat! But the female does roam the same territory, so the feral was likely just asserting his dominance in the territory--makes sense.

Or, maybe the neighbour's cat is just a big wuss!

I like that cat though. Occasionally, a bird gets caught in a rat trap I've got outside and every time I go out and run into that cat, he's always looking at me like, "Hey dude? Where's my fresh kill?" Doesn't like rats, though. They are always in the traps, untouched.

I used to bird hunt with an avid quail hunter who would tell a joke.
Question: what is the difference between a barn cat and a feral?
Answer: one hill.

At least I think he was joking anyway. I just try to stay in my own lane.

There is a whole feral cat movement I was searching for a price on smaller cages VS building my own and came across the “cat lady site”. Tru- catch cage traps has ads that lean towards the ladies needs. Funny they are the same place that supplies our State with nesting traps now. They catch them fix them and release them.

"They use us like a professional bum working a street corner for cash." Profound!!!!

ever since I was a kid ive heard it said that any cat that's 100 yards of the porch or out of the barn is hunting our quail and rabbits and will be dealt with accordingly...

I looked into that here. It wasn't cheap. Vets want their fees.

And it does nothing for the birds. You may save a predator, but none of their prey.