Cats should not be considered asocial, as they often live in matrilineal social groups (ie, with related female and juvenile male cats). A cat will form attachments to certain individuals within its group and actively avoid others.1 However, feline temperaments can vary from sociable, confident, and easygoing to timid, shy, and unfriendly; they may also be active and aggressive.2
Related Article: Educating Clients on Kitten Behavior
In the average companion cat household, the caregivers create the social groups; however, these groups may not always be compatible and may create social tension among some group members. When compatibility is an issue or when space is unequally shared, difficulty accessing food bowls, litter boxes, and resting areas can result in fighting and/or house soiling.3 Another study has identified correlation between agonistic interactions away from food and the ability to control interactions at the food level.4