Flight and defense behavior in cats.

Abstract

In previous work flight and defense responses have been described following stimulation of 2 separate zones within the amygdaloid complex in cats. In the present experiment the same responses were identified in the behavior of intact cats. Nine response categories used in stimulation experiment were scored for occurrence/nonoccurrence during 4 consecutive provocations of in-creasing severity. 15 feral cats (9 "wild" and 6 "moderately wild") and 9 tame housecats were observed. The resulting scores remain fairly constant for each S for weeks and months. The scores distinguish between "tame," "moderately wild," and "wild" Ss. Feral cats tend to show either flight or defense in the test situation (negative correlation, p<.05).