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Data and code from: Personality matters: Owner-€ascribed personality predicts range size tendencies and predation behavior in domestic cats

Berrand, Bastien12; Baudry, Emmanuelle2; Bonnaud, Elsa2

Research facility: Ecologie, Société, Evolution
Published May 01, 2026 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.jm63xsjrs

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May 01, 2026 version files 22.12 KB

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Abstract

Free-ranging domestic cats (Felis catus) are recognized as invasive and efficient predators on islands, although their impact on continental wildlife remains poorly understood. Predation behavior and space use are key indicators for estimating the influence of these felines on prey populations through direct killings and sublethal effects (landscape of fear). Previous work highlighted – and debated – the importance of biological (sex, age) and environmental (habitat type) factors as well as owner-related habits (feeding, play, hygiene) in shaping hunting and roaming behaviors. However, the influence of individual behavioral characteristics, known as personality, remains largely unexplored. In this study conducted in a suburban area south of Paris, we monitored 23 domestic cats using combined GPS and animal-borne camera devices (or “kittycams”) between March and May 2025. Cat predation behavior was analyzed using a detailed ethogram, and space use was studied through two parameters: core range (aKDEc50) and full range (aKDEc95). Although additional data would certainly strengthen our conclusions, our results already reveal that personality affects both range size and hunting propensity. More precisely, cats with high levels of agreeableness and neuroticism have smaller range sizes and hunt less than other individuals. Moreover, animal-borne cameras are far more reliable than the prey-report method to assess predation events and prey diversity, as only one prey was discovered of the 31 caught in total. These results pave the way for tailored, effective, and ethical management measures to mitigate the impact of domestic cats on wildlife.