There is a common misconception amongst owners and professionals regarding dominance hierarchies in dogs and cats.
Our understanding of dominance theory and the behavior of domestic cats has grown considerably in the past decade. Unfortunately, the terms ‘alpha’,’ ‘top-cat,’ and ‘boss-cat’ are outdated and dangerous labels serving no purpose or offering solutions.
We must consider the natural social behavior of the domestic cat and avoid applying dominance concepts to feline behavior to treat conflict in multi-cat homes or resolve undesirable behaviors.
This article for Cats.com examines whether a dominance theory exists in pet cats and focuses on meeting your cat’s needs while balancing the relationship in multi-cat households.
