Vocalizations of feral cats: sexual differences in the breeding season

Abstract

The vocalizations of mature feral cats, Felis catus, were analyzed based on sound spectrograms and behavioral interactions, focusing on sexual differences. Both males and females produced three distinct types of loud vocalizations during the breeding season: rutting cry, yowl, and mew. The rutting cry could be distinguished from the other two types by behavioral contexts and spectrographic features. The rutting cry was heard only during the breeding season, whereas the other two types were heard throughout the year. These results suggest the existence of a loud vocalization specific to the breeding season in feral cats. Males produced rutting cries more often than females.