Oh my goodness YES cat DO have a hierarchy, just like dogs. AND there are alpha and omega cats. CATS are a matriarchal society, and they do best in groups, they are not loners. FEMALES rule. A colony will consist of many generations of females, with the youngest males. The older males will be on the outskirts of the colony.

A newby will have to learn where his / her place is in the pecking order, just as with dogs.

For the msot part, you can identify an alpha cat by head size. When both cats are full gown, the alphas have larger heads.

Here is a photo of 2 adult male cats. The head on the one on the right is noticeably larger than the head on the left. That is the alpha male. Most adult males will have a head about the size of the one on the left, and you won't really be able to tell where they fit in the pecking order.



It is the same with the females, I just don't have a picture loaded on photobucket to show you right now.

All that aside, all the usual sibling rivalries also apply. So the established cat becomes jealous, wants to warn the intruder away and hopes it will leave, and thinks mom and dad are crazy to be bringing this newby in.

It will take time for them to adjust - up to 6 weeks!

There are also omega cats - ones the entire colony beats up on. I have one now. It is a bit comical because he is the only male and he is the largest cat here of the 7! But they all pick on him, and he hollers and crys "ma, ma! she's picking on me!" but he never hits back, and he rolls over. That i genetic, it will never change.

Best wishes with your crew!