Overview

• Researchers at Kyoto University assessed genetic and behavioral data from 280 neutered mixed-breed cats through DNA analysis and owner surveys.
• Cats carrying the short-type androgen receptor allele demonstrated higher purring scores and increased vocalization in males.
• Female cats with the short-type variant showed elevated levels of stranger-directed aggression, revealing sex-specific genetic effects.
• Comparisons with 11 wild Felidae species found domestic cats harbor longer receptor gene variants absent in their wild relatives, implicating domestication and selective breeding.
• The team intends to broaden their study to other cat species and foresees that genotype-based care strategies could improve feline welfare outcomes.