Causes of shelter cats mortality in the Czech Republic

Awareness of the causes of mortality in shelter cats can contribute to its effective reduction. The aim of this study was to investigate the causes of mortality in cat shelters in the Czech Republic, taking into account the age of the animals and their length of stay in the shelter facilities until natural death or euthanasia. A cooperation with two private no-kill shelters in the Czech Republic was established. The subject of the study were records of 3047 cats admitted to the selected shelters in the period from 2013 to 2023. A total of 357 (11.7 %) out of 3047 cats died or had to be euthanized in two monitored shelters. No significant difference (p > 0.05) in the cat mortality was found between the two shelters (11.5 % and 12 %). The median length of stay of cats in the shelter until death or euthanasia was 23 days. The highest mortality was recorded in the youngest cats (≤ 6 months). The most common causes of death or euthanasia of cats in both shelters were feline infectious peritonitis (21.6 %), panleukopenia (18.5 %) and upper and lower respiratory tract infections (17.5 %). Adult and older cats were significantly (p < 0.05) more prone to death due to renal failure and cancer than young animals and kittens. The results of the study contribute to the knowledge on the health of cat population in shelters in the Czech Republic and can serve as a basis for further work that will target mortality reduction strategies in at-risk categories.

Use of Gabapentin or Alprazolam in Cats during Postoperative, Short-Term Hospitalization

This prospective, randomized study aimed to assess the anxiolytic efficacy of gabapentin or alprazolam in cats during short-term postoperative hospitalization. Sixty cats were randomly assigned to three groups (gabapentin-treated [100 mg per cat], alprazolam-treated [0.125 mg per cat], or placebo-treated), with treatments administered twice daily for two days. Stress levels were evaluated using Cat Stress Scores, serum cortisol, and glucose concentrations. Pain scores, food consumption, and adverse effects such as sedation were also monitored. Fifty-five cats completed the study. Both medications demonstrated similar reductions in stress levels. Cats receiving gabapentin had lower pain scores, while those receiving alprazolam exhibited significantly increased food intake on the first postoperative day. However, both medications resulted in comparable levels of sedation. In the context of postoperative hospitalization, pharmacological intervention with anxiolytics could be effective in reducing stress levels. Despite potential side effects, gabapentin and alprazolam may contribute to an improved quality of short-term hospitalization for cats.

A Scoping Review of the Evidence on Prevalence of Feline Upper Respiratory Tract Infections and Associated Risk Factors

Feline upper respiratory tract infections (URI) are of concern, especially in animal shelters. This scoping review identifies epidemiological literature on URI as caused by feline herpesvirus (FHV), feline calicivirus (FCV), Chlamydia felis, Mycoplasma felis and Bordetella bronchiseptica. Four databases were searched, studies were screened, and data were extracted on a standardised template. We described patterns in spatial locations of the studies, the range of pathogens and diagnostic tests, cohort characteristics and the findings of risk factor analyses. A total of 90 articles were selected for final data extraction. There was diversity in sampling methods, precluding quantitative meta-analysis of prevalence reports. FHV was most frequently studied (n = 57/90). The most popular sampling site was conjunctival swabbing (n = 43). Most studies (n = 57) used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to confirm diagnosis. Approximately one-third (n = 32/90) of the studies included sheltered felines. This review explores the current state of knowledge on the epidemiology and risk factors of feline URI. Assessing the impact of risk factors has the potential to alleviate the severity of disease, especially in shelters; however, the results were not easily pooled as the studies used inconsistent approaches. We present recommendations for ongoing epidemiological research on feline URI to provide a more structured framework and define research questions for future systematic reviews.

Epidemiological insights into the burden of feline upper respiratory tract infections in Queensland RSPCA shelters

INTRODUCTION

Feline upper respiratory tract infection (FURTI) is a severe problem in animal shelters where there is high turnover of populations and compromised immunity. This retrospective cohort study explores associations of potential animal-based and environmental-based factors with the risk of FURTI, where a previously modelled infection classification is used as the outcome of interest. The study type is a retrospective cohort and the measures of association include Odds Ratios and conditional predictions.

OBJECTIVES

To gain epidemiological insights into variation in FURTI using retrospective data from one of Australia's leading animal shelters.

METHODS

We stratified FURTI by admission and environmental variables. Predicted infection status, obtained using a machine-learning classifier trained on clinical text (accuracy 0.95 [CI 0.92, 0.97]), was used as the outcome of interest. Prior assumptions were represented by a causal framework or a direct acyclic graph (DAG), which informed creation of multiple Bernoulli models with an observational and prior component.

RESULTS

We analysed 43,431 feline entries over 8 years. Males were 1.24 (95% CI 1.19 to 1.31) times more likely than females to be classified as positive, while already desexed animals were only 0.68 (95% CI 0.60 to 0.72) as likely to be classified as positive compared to those not desexed on entry. Cats (>4 months) were twice as likely (95% CI 1.91 to 2.09) as kittens (0-4 months) to be classified positive. Animals entering the shelter as seized by the inspectorate (n = 415) were more likely to be classified positive compared to animals from other sources. Predicted infection probability increased in winter and showed a linear pattern with how full the shelter was.

CONCLUSION

This study estimates the association between animal and environmental variables of interest and FURTI classification status, thus better interpreting the distribution of disease as predicted by a previously uninterpretable model. This analysis gives much needed insight into the types of changes in an animal's environment that can impact final animal outcomes.

Potential Factors Influencing Complete Functional Recovery in Traumatized Unowned Cats with Orthopedic Lesions-A Cohort Study

The management of unowned cats is an emerging problem, with public institutions and citizens' concerns regarding their care and arrangement. Little is known regarding the outcome of traumatic orthopedic injuries in these patients. Indeed, complete functional recovery (CFR) should be the goal of treatment for return to their original location or adoption. The aim was to identify clinical factors influencing CFR in traumatized unowned cats with orthopedic lesions. This category of cats referred by the veterinary public service over three years was enrolled. Various clinical variables were retrospectively collected from the medical records and evaluated by nominal logistic analysis. Forty-eight unowned cats were enrolled, with a median estimated age of 24 (1-180) months and a body weight of 3 (0.7-5) kg. Thirty-four (71%) patients reached CFR. Estimated age, body weight, time from trauma to therapeutic intervention, spine involvement, presence of comorbidities, hospitalization time, and the radiographic score results were significantly associated with CFR. A longer time to therapeutic intervention seemed to be associated with a better outcome. Probably, cats severely traumatized did not live long enough to be evaluated and treated. Lighter cats experienced more severe consequences following blunt trauma. Younger and lighter cats bore a higher risk of panleukopenia-related death.

A Prospective Study of Growth Rate, Disease Incidence, and Mortality in Kittens Less than 9 Weeks of Age in Shelter and Foster Care

A prospective study was designed to (a) investigate the rate of daily weight gain among kittens less than 9 weeks old presented to an animal shelter, (b) identify factors (e.g., sex, clinical signs of disease, diet, and medical treatment) that affect daily weight gain, and (c) investigate the mortality of study kittens. The study of 203 kittens was conducted at a managed admission, no-kill animal shelter in upstate New York, USA, from April 2014 through October 2014. Body weight was measured daily from day of intake to adoption or 12 weeks of age. Fecal score, clinical signs of disease, food type, and medical treatments were recorded daily. Lethargy and being female were significantly associated with lower daily weight gain. Despite the challenges of shelter and foster care, the average daily weight gain for study kitten was higher than that reported in other settings such as catteries and laboratories. Five study kittens (2.5%) died or were euthanized. Daily monitoring systems provide opportunities for interventions, increased live outcomes, and improved welfare for kittens in shelter and foster care.

Effects of species-relevant auditory stimuli on stress in cats exposed to novel environment

Environmental changes like vet visit could cause stress in cats. Studies have attempted to develop stress management strategies targeting sensory systems. Even though species-appropriate music which includes cat affiliative sound (e.g., cats' purring and suckling sound) has been shown to relieve stress in cats. Little is known whether the cat sound alone works in stress management. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of species-relevant auditory stimuli on stress in cats exposed to a novel environment. During the 28-day experiment periods, 20 cats received four types of sound treatments which included silence (T1), purr of cats (T2), eating sound in cats (T3), and the mixed sound of T2 and T3 (T4) in a novel environment in random orders with intervals of 1 week between treatments. Cats' behaviors were recorded during each 10-min test. Results showed that T4 reduced visual scanning (P = 0.017) without significantly affecting other behaviors, compared with other treatments. Together, the two types of cat-specific sounds did not exert pronounced effects of relieving stress on cats exposed to a novel environment.

A Pandora's box in feline medicine: presenting signs and surgical outcomes in 58 previously hoarded cats with chronic otitis media-interna

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the present study was to report clinical findings, surgical complications and outcomes for previously hoarded cats treated surgically for otitis media-interna (OMI) and to investigate the risk factors for complications and poor outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted of 58 cats from an institutional hoarding environment that underwent ventral bulla osteotomy (VBO).

RESULTS

Inappetence was uncommon at presentation (9/58, 16%) compared with pruritus/alopecia (50%), nasopharyngeal signs (45%), otitis externa (OE) (79%) and otitis interna (OI) (ataxia ± head tilt/head excursions) in 40%. Purulent aural discharge occurred in 36% and polyps in 26%. The tympanic bulla wall was moderately or severely thickened radiographically in 38/108 (35%) ears. Cultures were positive for Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus in 26/48 (54%) cats. Of the 58 cats, 40 (69%) had complications after the first VBO and 19/30 (63%) after the second. Of 101 complications, 56 (55%), from 27/88 (31%) surgeries, were considered serious, including life-threatening perioperative complications in seven, OI in eight, prolonged anorexia in six and worsening of pruritus/alopecia in nine cases. Three cats developed xerostomia (dry mouth) after the second VBO. Pruritus/alopecia, nasopharyngeal signs, OE and purulent aural discharge resolved in a statistically significant proportion of cats but persisted in some. Full resolution of OI was uncommon. OI preoperatively, and surgery performed by a generalist (vs specialist) surgeon, were risk factors for OE at recheck (OI: odds ratio [OR] 4.35; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21-15.70; P = 0.02; surgery: OR 3.64; 95% CI 1.03-12.87; P = 0.045). No other prognostic indicators were identified. No variables tested were significantly associated with risk of serious complications or euthanasia.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Surgical management of chronic OMI was successful in most cases but was not benign and not always beneficial. The analysis was unable to identify clinically helpful outcome predictors. Optimal management of chronic feline OMI remains a challenge, particularly for animal shelters. Less invasive approaches and chronic medical management require further investigation.

A Survey on Vaccination and Disease Occurrence in Municipal and Non-Profit Animal Shelters in Portugal

Few studies are available describing animal shelters in Portugal. The aim was to characterize prophylactic measures and disease occurrence in shelters with a questionnaire. The response rates of 67 shelters (42 municipal shelters, 25 associations) were compared by the Fisher's exact test. More veterinarians answered for municipal shelters (98%) than for associations (40%; p < 0.001). Over 80% of the respondents indicated using individual medical records and routine prophylaxis. Excessive length of stay for dogs was reported by 54% of associations and 33% of municipal shelters. Management tools should be promoted to improve the situation. Puppy vaccinations were similar and a final vaccination at 16 weeks was indicated by >33% of shelters. Annual revaccination of dogs was reported more frequently by associations (88%) than municipal shelters (55%; p = 0.02). The three most reported diseases were parvovirus and mange in dogs, upper respiratory disease and panleukopenia in cats, and dermatophytosis in both species. Similar response rates for diagnostic options were obtained by both shelter types, except for distemper. Testing for feline retroviruses was indicated by most shelters (>69%), but only a few (<24%) confirmed positive test results. Clinical diagnoses should be complemented by testing. Additional information on disease occurrence should be obtained by objective monitoring.

Fecal Calprotectin Concentrations in Cats with Chronic Enteropathies

Diagnosis of feline chronic inflammatory enteropathies (CIE) and the differentiation from small cell intestinal lymphoma (SCL) can be challenging. Intestinally expressed calprotectin (S100A8/A9 protein complex) appears to be part of the complex pathogenesis of feline chronic enteropathies (FCE). Fecal calprotectin is a non-invasive biomarker for intestinal inflammation in humans and dogs but has not yet been evaluated in cats. We hypothesized that fecal calprotectin (fCal) concentrations are increased in FCE, correlate with clinical and/or histologic disease severity, and distinguish cases of CIE from SCL. This case-control study included fecal samples and patient data from cats with CIE (n = 34), SCL (n = 17), other gastrointestinal (GI) diseases (n = 16), and cats with no clinical signs of GI disease (n = 32). fCal concentrations were measured using the immunoturbidimetric fCal turbo assay (Bühlmann Laboratories). Compared to healthy cats, fCal concentrations were significantly increased in CIE, SCL, and other diseases (all p < 0.0001), but were not different between these three groups (all p > 0.05), or between cats with extra-GI diseases and healthy controls. These findings suggest that fCal may have utility as a clinical biomarker for FCE but not for intestinal disease differentiation. It further supports the role of calprotectin in the pathogenesis of the spectrum of FCE, which includes CIE and SCL.

Sensor-supported measurement of adaptability of dogs (Canis familiaris) to a shelter environment: Nocturnal activity and behavior

Every shelter dog is faced with the challenge to adapt to a kennel environment. To monitor the welfare of individual shelter dogs, evaluating behavioural and physiological parameters, potentially useful as indicators for adaptability of individual dogs is crucial. Nocturnal activity, i.e. resting patterns, has already been identified as a candidate indicator of adaptability and can be easily measured remotely with the help of sensors. We investigated the usefulness of a 3-axial accelerometer (Actigraph®) to monitor nocturnal activity in shelter dogs every night during the full first two weeks in-shelter starting directly at shelter intake, as a measure of welfare. Additionally, urinary cortisol/creatinine ratio (UCCR), body weight and behaviour data were collected to evaluate stress responses. A control group of pet dogs in homes, matched to the shelter dog group, was also monitored. Shelter dogs had higher nocturnal activity and UCCRs than pet dogs, especially during the first days in the shelter. Nocturnal activity, both accelerometer measures and activity behaviour, and UCCRs decreased over nights in the shelter. Smaller dogs had higher nocturnal activity and UCCRs than larger dogs and showed less autogrooming during the first nights. Dogs with no previous kennel experience had higher nocturnal activity and UCCRs, and showed less body shaking, than dogs with previous kennel experience. Overall, sheltered dogs also showed less body shaking during the first night. The number of dogs showing paw lifting decreased over days. Age class and sex effected only few activity behaviours. Shelter dogs significantly lost body weight after 12 days in the shelter compared to the moment of intake. Shelter dogs had disrupted nocturnal resting patterns and UCCRs compared to pet dogs and seem to partly adapt to the shelter environment after two weeks. Sensor-supported identification of nocturnal activity can be a useful additional tool for welfare assessments in animal shelters.

Trends in Animal Shelter Management, Adoption, and Animal Death in Taiwan from 2012 to 2020

This current study investigated the trends in public animal shelter intakes and outcomes and the workload of shelter veterinarians in Taiwan from 2012 to 2020 and reports spatial, temporal, and socioeconomic factors associated with these trends. Information about the public animal shelter management of dogs and cats from all counties of Taiwan between 2012 and 2020 was acquired from the National Animal Shelter Management System of the Council of Agriculture Executive Yuan in Taiwan. Ridge regression followed by multivariable linear regression was conducted to examine the risk factors for animal intakes, outcomes, the number of adopted animals, and the estimated veterinary workload in public animal shelters. The intakes and outcomes of shelter animals significantly decreased over time. Euthanasia, which was performed in the shelters, was positively associated with shelter animal intakes and outcomes as it resulted in animal outcomes and thus facilitated the flow of animals in the shelters. Adoption and trap-neuter-vaccination-return, in replacement of euthanasia, became the main reasons for animal outcomes, and with every increase in human fertility rate, the monthly number of adopted animals over the number of animals entering shelters increased by 1.10% (95% CI: 0.21 to 2.00). The veterinary workload in the shelters of two counties exceeded what is regulated by law (i.e., 100 animals per veterinarian) in 2018 and increased to six counties in 2020. This current study reported important trends in the management of public animal shelters in Taiwan, the increasing workload of shelter veterinarians, and factors associated with these trends. It built the epidemiological foundation for future research on methods of improving shelter management and work conditions for shelter staff.

Using a gradient boosted model for case ascertainment from free-text veterinary records

Case ascertainment for prevalence and incidence studies from veterinary clinical data poses a major challenge because medical notes are not consistently structured or complete. Using natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning, this study aimed to obtain accurate case recognition for feline upper respiratory tract infections (primarily caused by viruses such as feline herpes virus (FHV-1) and feline calici virus (FCV), and bacteria such as Chlamydophila felis, Mycoplasma felis and Bordetella bronchiseptica using retrospective electronic veterinary records from the Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Queensland (RSPCA Qld). Data cleaning and NLP on eight years of free-text veterinary records from RSPCA Queensland was carried out to derive text-based predictors. The NLP steps included sorting records by length of stay, vectorising, tokenising and spell checking against a bespoke veterinary database. A gradient boosted model (GBM) was trained to predict the probability of each animal having a diagnosis of upper respiratory infection. A manually annotated dataset was used for training the algorithm to learn dominant patterns between predictors (frequencies of n-grams) and responses (manual binary case classification). The GBM's performance was tested against an out of sample validation dataset, and model agnostics were used to interrogate the model's learning process. The GBM used patient-level frequencies of 1250 unique n-grams as predictor variables and was able to predict the probability of cases in the validation dataset with an accuracy of 0.95 (95% CI 0.92, 0.97) and F1 score of 0.96. Predictors that exerted the highest influence on the model included frequencies of "doxycycline", "flu", "sneezing", "doxybrom" and "ocular". The trained GBM was deployed on the full dataset spanning eight years, comprising 60,258 clinical entries. The prevalence in the full dataset was predicted to be 23.59%, which is in line with domain expertise from practicing veterinarians at the shelter. Case ascertainment is a crucial step for further epidemiological study of cat flu. Ultimately, this tool can be extended to other clinical procedures, conditions, and diseases such as intensive care treatment due to snake bites and tick paralysis, physical injuries such as orthopaedic fractures or chest injuries and labour-intensive infectious diseases like parvovirus, canine cough, and ringworm, all of which require prolonged quarantine and care.

A review of evidence-based management of infectious ocular surface disease in shelter-housed domestic cats

Infectious ocular surface disease (IOSD) is a common problem in shelter-housed domestic cats and has a widespread negative impact on animal welfare. While the common etiological agents are well-described, addressing IOSD in large groups of animals presents a management challenge to the clinician and logistical challenges to shelter employees. Treatments, diagnostics, and prevention strategies that are effective in privately owned or experimental animals may be impractical or ineffective in the shelter environment. This review article focuses on the relative prevalence of etiological agents in feline IOSD, practical diagnostic testing protocols, prevention strategies, and treatment of IOSD in shelter-housed cats. Discrepancies between experimental laboratory-based studies and clinical trials assessing therapeutics for treatment of feline herpes virus are highlighted. Further high-quality clinical trials are necessary to determine optimal preventative and therapeutic protocols for IOSD in shelter-housed cats.

Hair cortisol levels in cats with and without behavioural problems

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to analyse hair cortisol levels in cats whose owners had reported behavioural problems and undesirable behaviour. In addition, feline hair cortisol levels were compared between sexes, for indoor and outdoor cats and also for cats living in single or multi-cat households.

METHODS

In total, 55 cats participated in the study, including 31 females and 24 males from various households. The cats belonged to 25 different owners who answered a questionnaire survey. The biological material used for the research were 2-3 cm fragments of hair removed at the level of the skin with scissors by the owners from the cats' lumbosacral area. The cortisol concentration in the samples was determined with the DRG Salivary Cortisol HS ELISA. Statistical analysis of the results was performed with Statistica 13.3.

RESULTS

A tendency toward lower cortisol levels was found in outdoor cats vs indoor cats (U = 251.5, P = 0.066). It was also found that the cats exhibiting behavioural problems (eg, house soiling [eliminating outside the litter box]) or aggressive behaviour towards household members had statistically significantly higher hair cortisol levels (U = 162.0 [P = 0.027] and U = 9.0 [P = 0.040], respectively).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

High levels of stress in cats can affect their interactions with other cats and with humans. The incidence of undesirable behaviour was observed more frequently in indoor cats. Significantly higher cortisol levels were found in cats that eliminated outside the litter box or that showed aggression towards their owners.

When and Why Cats Are Returned to Shelters

There is considerable research on why cats are initially relinquished to shelters, but much less attention has been given to returns, despite the significant implications for shelter capacity and cat welfare. Furthermore, the structure of many databases fails to account for cats who are returned beyond 30 days, despite this making up a substantial portion of returns. In the current study, we examined common risk factors and reasons for return in a population of 2642 shelter cats. We found that cats who were older at the time of adoption or had a bite history had an increased risk of return, whereas cats that were in foster care prior to adoption had a decreased risk of return. We divided the returns by the time to return (<30 days: short term, >30 days: long term) to examine whether time to return had an impact. Approximately half the cats were returned in the short term. Cats were more likely to be returned for reasons, such as behavior, unwanted, and other pet in the short term and personal reasons, cost, euthanasia, and stray in the long-term return. Strategies to reduce returns should consider different solutions for short and long returns to maximize effectiveness.

Shelter Worker's Experiences and Perceptions of Capacity for Care (C4C)

Capacity for Care (C4C) is a shelter management strategy which utilizes managed intake to optimize in-shelter populations based on housing capacity and available resources. The purpose of this study was to 1) understand staff experiences using managed intake, 2) explore staff perceptions of how the C4C model has been regarded by other staff at their facility, and 3) explore the response of community members who are attempting to relinquish their cats, as perceived by the staff who are communicating with cat owners and scheduling relinquishment. Participants recruited from shelters who practiced C4C participated in a semi-structured interview and completed a written survey to share their experiences and perceptions of C4C. Based on the perceptions of the participants, evidence suggests the waitlist may decrease the admission of owned cats to the shelter as a result of advising cat owners about alternatives to relinquishment. The findings suggest that more research is needed to understand the potential impacts of managed intake, as an element of C4C, on the welfare of cats in the community who are waiting to be admitted to a shelter.

The impact of deferred intake as part of Capacity for Care (C4C) on shelter cat outcomes

Capacity for Care (C4C) is a shelter management strategy that is capable of improving the welfare of cats in a shelter's care. Managing shelter intake using intake waitlists and scheduled intake appointments is a key feature of C4C. The purpose of this study was to describe the population of owned cats whose owners contacted the Guelph Humane Society (GHS) to explore the option of relinquishing, and to report outcomes for this population. Data were collected retrospectively from shelter records created by the GHS from July 2017 to June 2018. This study further examined associations between cat outcome and rehoming options under consideration by owners at the initial point of contact with the shelter, cat source, and reason for relinquishment. A greater proportion of cats with veterinary issues reported as the primary reason for potential surrender were kept by their owners compared with being relinquished (p<0.01), rehomed (p<0.01), and having an unknown outcome (p<0.01). A greater proportion of cats whose owners had medical issues were surrendered, compared with being retained in their homes.The large number of cats whose outcomes were unknown suggests a need for future research in order to further understand the outcomes that are occurring for cats whose admission to a shelter are deferred.

The morbidity and the spectrum of applied drugs in shelter cats in the Czech Republic

Maintaining appropriate living conditions and good health of the animals should be one of the main priorities of cat shelters. The aim of this study was to assess the morbidity of shelter cats on the basis of analysis of the shelter health records in terms of the nature and quantity of medicaments and other supportive products administered in two no-kill shelters in the Czech Republic. The subject of the study were the health records of 1,884 cats, which were admitted to the selected shelters from 1.1.2013 to 31.12.2021 and their stay in the shelter was terminated in the monitored period. More than half of all cats whose records were analyzed had at least one health record made during their stay in the shelter. The overall length of stay of cats in the shelter (regardless of the outcome) in which one or more health records were found was significantly longer compared to the length of stay of cats without any health records. The highest number of health records was found in kittens <6 months old. Antibiotics, antiparasitics, and complementary/protective substances were the most used among all administered drugs. Broad-spectrum antibiotics have been administered to cats most often. In terms of classification of antibiotics according to the active substance, the most used antibiotics were penicillins, tetracyclines, and fluoroquinolones. Antibiotics were mostly used to treat diseases related to the upper and lower respiratory tract and their symptoms and gastrointestinal problems. The findings of the study contribute to understanding health problems and approaches to treating the shelter cats.

2022 ISFM/AAFP Cat Friendly Veterinary Environment Guidelines

PRACTICAL RELEVANCE

The '2022 ISFM/AAFP Cat Friendly Veterinary Environment Guidelines' (hereafter the 'Cat Friendly Veterinary Environment Guidelines') describe how the veterinary clinic environment can be manipulated to minimise feline patient distress. Many components of a veterinary clinic visit or stay may result in negative experiences for cats. However, much can be done to improve a cat's experience by making the veterinary clinic more cat friendly. Exposure to other cats and other species can be reduced, and adjustments made with consideration of the feline senses and species-specific behaviour. Caregivers can prepare cats for a clinic visit with appropriate advice. Waiting rooms, examination rooms, hospital wards and other clinic areas can be designed and altered to reduce stress and hence encourage positive emotions. Changes need not be structural or expensive in order to be effective and make a difference to the cats and, in turn, to cat caregivers and the veterinary team. Moreover, by improving the all-round experience at the veterinary clinic, there are positive effects on preventive healthcare, identification of and recovery from illness, and compliance with treatment.

CLINICAL CHALLENGES

Good feline healthcare necessitates visiting the veterinary clinic, which, simply by being outside of a cat's territory and familiar surroundings, may lead to negative experiences. Such experiences can trigger negative (protective) emotions and associated physiological stress, which can result in misleading clinical findings, patient distress, prolonged recovery from illness, further difficulties with handling at subsequent visits and potential veterinary personnel injury. There may be a mistaken belief that veterinary clinics must undergo significant renovation or building work to become cat friendly, and that, if species cannot be separated, then clinics cannot improve their care of cats. These Guidelines aim to dispel any such misconceptions and provide detailed practical advice.

EVIDENCE BASE

These Guidelines have been created by a Task Force of experts convened by the International Society of Feline Medicine and American Association of Feline Practitioners, based on an extensive literature review and, where evidence is lacking, the authors' experience. Endorsements: These Guidelines have been endorsed by a number of groups and organisations, as detailed on page 1161 and at icatcare.org/cat-friendly-guidelines and catvets.com/environment.

Beyond “Doing Better”: Ordinal Rating Scales to Monitor Behavioural Indicators of Well-Being in Cats

Safeguarding the well-being of cats is essential to the mission of any responsible animal shelter. Environmental enrichment and behaviour modification are often key to this goal. Measuring response to these interventions is essential to ensure strategies are successful. There are often many staff and volunteers involved in these efforts, and a lack of standardised language can make monitoring progress difficult. Ordinal rating scales of key behaviours can be a useful way to summarise observations and ensure that common language is used. However, it is crucial that these scales have good interobserver agreement and reliability, so operational definitions and training systems are important. This paper presents a method for evaluating four different expressions of cat welfare on a 0–5 scale: modified Fear, Anxiety, and Stress score; Response to Petting score; Participation in Play score; and Food Intake Summary score. All scales showed almost perfect average interobserver agreement (linear weighted κ) and excellent average interobserver reliability (interclass correlation coefficient). These scales may prove useful to other shelters, or any other environment where evaluating response to interventions is important to the welfare of cats, such as research facilities or home environments. The exceptional interobserver agreement and reliability of this study compared with some others highlights the importance of standardised training programs.

First study on stress evaluation and reduction in hospitalized cats after neutering surgery

Background and Aim

In Thailand, domestic cats are the most common companion animal, and many are admitted to veterinary clinics for neutering surgery; however, such environment can induce stress. This is the first study to evaluate stress in hospitalized cats after neutering surgery using cat stress score (CSS) and salivary cortisol levels, including the impact of providing a hiding box (B) and/or administering a pheromone product to reduce stress.

Materials and Methods

The study design was based on a randomized controlled clinical trial. A total of 80 domestic cats undergoing routine neutering surgery were assessed for their behavioral demeanor scoring system (DSS) as friendly (DSS1) and aggressive (DSS2) based on a DSS. During admission, the cats were randomly allocated to single standard cages with one of the following treatments: (B), feline facial pheromone (P), a combination of hiding box and the pheromone (BP), or no additional enrichment (C). Cat stress score, food intake, and hide-seeking behavior were recorded. The cortisol enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit was used to assess the salivary cortisol level.

Results

On the 1st day of admission, aggressive cats had a significantly higher CSS (4.16 ± 0.29) than friendly cats (3.27 ± 0.16). Both demeanor cat groups showed statistically significant reductions in stress levels earlier than the control group after providing the enrichments. Saliva cortisol measurements ranged from 0.24 to 0.66 ng/mL. No statistical differences in cortisol levels were observed between the 1st day and other days of admission. In contrast, no differences in food intake and hide-seeking behavior were seen within each group during the same period.

Conclusion

Results suggested that stress and stress responses in cats depended on behavioral demeanor. The provision of enrichment, including hiding box and feline facial pheromone in singly housed caging reduced stress, especially in aggressive cats. However, salivary cortisol analysis, food intake, and hide-seeking behavior were ineffective for assessing stress in cats after neutering surgery.

Perception of stress in cats by German cat owners and influencing factors regarding veterinary care

OBJECTIVES

Visiting the veterinarian is generally perceived as a stressful situation for cats. Previous studies have shown that the perception of stress may influence cats' healthcare. In order to minimise stress in cats during the veterinary consultation, feline-friendly handling has gained importance and is increasingly being used. The aim of this study was to find out whether cats experience stress during a visit to the veterinarian (and, if so, to what extent), and which factors influence the perception of stress and whether feline-friendly handling techniques have an impact.

METHODS

An online survey was conducted among German cat owners. In total, 889 questionnaires were evaluated. The results were analysed with binary logistic regression and a χ² test. A principal component analysis was used to detect the main influencing factors on the perception of stress.

RESULTS

Most of the cats (88.7%, n = 732/825) were perceived as stressed during a veterinary consultation, while only about half of the owners (50.8%, n = 419/824) stated that they felt stressed themselves. The cat owners (n = 819) who perceived visiting the veterinarian as a stressful situation also described their cat as stressed significantly more often compared with owners who did not feel stressed (χ² = 101.113, P <0.001). The probability that owners experienced stress themselves was significantly increased if they perceived their cat to be stressed too (odds ratio 0.073, 95% confidence interval 0.016-0.328). One factor that influenced whether an owner was stressed was the stress behaviour of their cat (P <0.001). Furthermore a feline-friendly demeanour by the veterinarian led to less stress in the owners (P <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The owner's stress influences the perception of their cat's stress. By adhering to feline-friendly handling guidelines, veterinarians can reduce owner stress associated with veterinary visits, thereby promoting optimal veterinary care and health for their feline patients.

How did SARS-CoV-2 pandemic affect the cats' health in Hatay Province? A retrospective study

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic affected not only the physical and emotional health of human beings but also cats. Restrictions put into effect during the pandemic resulted in changes in the daily routine of pet cats and the number of new pet owners. The current study aimed to evaluate the diseases induced by stress in cats, such as gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, and urinary tract diseases. To this end, the study evaluated the pre-pandemic (n: 52) (March 2019-Feb 2020) and pandemic (n: 95) (March 2020-March 2021) diagnosis data of cats (n: 147) with gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, and urinary system diseases admitted to the Internal Medicine Department of Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Veterinary Health, Practice and Research Center between March 2019 and March 2021. There was no statistically significant difference between the sexes of the cats admitted to the clinic in both periods. There was a significant change in cat breeds during the pandemic, except for the mixed-breed and Ankara breeds. The age (mean ± SEM) of the cats admitted to the clinic was 30.14 ± 4.24 months before the pandemic and 30.45 ± 3.43 during the pandemic. Distributions of gastrointestinal diseases in the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods were determined as 35.7% and 64.3%, respectively. During the pandemic, the number of gastritis cases was lower than that in the pre-pandemic period, and the number of gastroenteritis cases was higher than that in the pre-pandemic period. Except for gastrointestinal diseases (P<0.05), a statistical difference between the periods was not found. The changes, especially influencing the daily routine of cats and causing stress, seem to have had significant effects on the gastrointestinal health of domestic cats.

Dealing With Stress in Cats: What Is New About the Olfactory Strategy?

Domestic cats are descended from solitary wild species and rely heavily on the olfaction system and chemical signals for daily activities. Cats kept as companion animals may experience stress due to a lack of predictability in their physical or social environment. The olfactory system is intimately connected to the brain regions controlling stress response, thus providing unique opportunities for olfactory strategies to modify stress and related behavioral problems in cats. However, the olfactory intervention of stress in cats has been mainly focused on several analog chemical signals and studies often provide inconsistent and non-replicable results. Supportive evidence in the literature for the potentially effective olfactory stimuli (e.g., cheek and mammary gland secretions, and plant attractants) in treating stress in cats was reviewed. Limitations with some of the work and critical considerations from studies with natural or negative results were discussed as well. Current findings sometimes constitute weak evidence of a reproducible effect of cat odor therapy for stress. The welfare application of an olfactory stimulus in stress alleviation requires a better understanding of its biological function in cats and the mechanisms at play, which may be achieved in future studies through methodological improvement (e.g., experiment pre-registration and appropriate control setting) and in-depth investigation with modern techniques that integrate multisource data. Contributions from individual and environmental differences should be considered for the stress response of a single cat and its sensitivity to olfactory manipulation. Olfactory strategies customized for specific contexts and individual cats can be more effective in improving the welfare of cats in various stressful conditions.

The impact of returning a pet to the shelter on future animal adoptions

Unsuccessful animal adoptions are stressful for many owners and may reduce their willingness to adopt again. The goal of this study was to determine the proportion of return owners who adopted post-return and investigate return characteristics that affected the likelihood of post-return adoption. We analyzed adoption records from a South Carolina animal shelter between 2015 and 2019 (n = 1999) using a logistic regression model including post-return adoption (binary) and return reason, species, animal sex and age. We found one in 10 individuals adopted from the shelter within 12 months of return, and post-return adoption was associated with return reason and species. Returns due to owner-related reasons, such as the owner’s health (OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.07, 0.57) or unrealistic expectations (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.19, 0.94) were associated with significantly lower odds of post-return adoption. Owners who returned due to the animal’s health exhibited four times greater odds of post-return adoption compared with behavioral returns (OR 4.20, 95% CI 2.37, 7.45). Our findings highlight the value of ensuring adopters’ expectations are aligned with the reality of ownership and minimizing adopter-animal behavioral incompatibility as unsuccessful animal adoptions can reduce the owner’s willingness to adopt again and may affect the adopter’s relationship with the shelter.

Impact of Classical Counterconditioning (Quiet Kennel Exercise) on Barking in Kenneled Dogs—A Pilot Study

Simple Summary

Barking is a major source of noise pollution in dog kennels and negatively impacts the welfare of anyone within earshot, especially the dogs in the kennels themselves. It is crucial to have solutions to help reduce barking quickly and humanely that are easy to understand and put into place that also do not require a lot of resources such as time, expertise, or money. This study looked at the use of an exercise (Quiet Kennel Exercise—QKE) that uses classical counterconditioning (Pavlov) to help change the way the dogs feel when a person enters the kennel area from unpleasant to pleasant. This should help to reduce barking, especially that which is caused by negative emotions such as fear and frustration. After the initial baseline period of 5 days, people passing through the kennel tossed treats to the dogs no matter what the dogs did for 10 days. Data was collected three times a day for the entire study period. Sound level readings (decibels), number of dogs present, and number of dogs barking were recorded. Results showed improvement in the loudest volume recorded after the exercise was in place, fewer dogs barking over time, and each dog barking less each time. The most improvement was noticed in the afternoon.

Abstract

Excessive barking is a major source of noise pollution in dog kennels and negatively impacts welfare. Because resources are often limited, minimizing barking in the simplest and most easily implementable way is imperative. This pilot study implemented a Quiet Kennel Exercise (QKE) that utilized classical counterconditioning to change the dogs’ negative emotional state (which can lead to barking) to a more positive emotional state. Therefore, barking motivation is reduced, so barking should decrease. This study aims to show proof of concept that decreasing barking through classical counterconditioning is effective. It was conducted in one ward of day-time boarding kennels at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Data was collected three times per day and included decibel readings, number of dogs present, and number of dogs barking during a 5-day initial baseline and 10-day intervention period. During baseline, people passing through the ward acted as they normally would. During intervention, passersby were asked to simply toss each dog a treat regardless of the dogs’ behaviors in the kennel. Descriptive results show improvement in maximum level of barking after QKE, fewer dogs barking over time, dogs barking less each time, and the most improvement noted in the afternoon.

Evaluation of hair and nail cortisol concentrations and associations with behavioral, physical, and environmental indicators of chronic stress in cats

Background

Chronic stress is implicated in behavioral and health issues in cats, but methods for recognition, evaluation, and measurement of stress are lacking. Cortisol concentration is typically used as an indicator of stress.

Objectives

To evaluate use of an enzyme immunoassay to quantitate hair and nail cortisol concentrations (HCC and NCC) in cats and evaluate associations between HCC and NCC and behavioral, physical, and environmental correlates of chronic stress in cats.

Animals

Forty‐eight adult, owned or community cats.

Methods

Cross‐sectional study. Nail clippings and hair were collected from cats. Medical history and cat daily lifestyle questionnaires were completed by owners or caretakers. A commercial laboratory performed cortisol extraction and quantification using a validated enzyme immunoassay kit. Correlational and regression analyses were used to evaluate associations between HCC and NCC and behavioral, environmental, and medical factors.

Results

Hair and nail cortisol concentrations were significantly associated (r_s = 0.70; P < .001), but HCCs varied widely within and among cats. Cats with litterbox issues had significantly increased HCC (P = .02) and NCC (P = .001) as compared to cats without litterbox issues. Cats with groomed coats had lower HCCs (P = .02) as compared to cats without groomed coats, whereas cats with dander and mats had higher NCCs (P = .01) as compared to cats without dander and mats.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

The quantification of NCCs might improve identification and evaluation of chronic stress in cats. The variability of HCCs in individual cats warrants caution using this measurement in chronic stress studies.

Changes in Health Indicators of Welfare in Group-Housed Shelter Cats

The aim of this study was to detect changes in health-oriented welfare indicators of shelter cats housed in a shelter by means of long-term monitoring of health indicators of welfare in a population of group-housed cats in a private, no-kill shelter in the Czech Republic. The cat population housed in a large group was monitored for 1 year. The data recording took place at 2-week intervals. A total of 220 cats were evaluated using a protocol containing eight health-oriented welfare indicators: body condition, third eye visibility, eye discharge, eye irritation, nose discharge, the presence of pathologically induced respiratory sounds, coat condition, and lameness and abnormal posture. The assessment was performed based on the observation by two trained evaluators. The cats' condition was rated on a 5-point scale for each indicator, where the optimal condition was represented by the score of 1 and a severe deterioration by the score of 5 for the given indicator, except for the body condition indicator, where the optimal condition was represented by the score of 3. A deterioration in the score in at least one of the indicators during the stay in the shelter was recorded in 52 (41.6%) of 125 cats that were assessed at least twice. The effect of the LOS, sex and age on the scores for each health indicator was examined via a linear mixed model analysis, as this method allows for handling of dependencies in the data of repeated measurements. The effect of predictors on the third eye visibility scores was not found. The age of cats predicted the coat condition and body condition scores. The LOS predicted scores of the abnormal posture and lameness indicator and scores of a composite index composed of indicators related to upper respiratory tract disease. The results suggest that despite the fact that some improvement of health was documented during the cats' stay in the shelter, there were a non-negligible number of animals experiencing a permanent or long-term deterioration in health. Efforts to minimize the undesirable factors contributing to the deterioration of well-being of cats during their stay in a shelter should be made.

Exploratory Study of Fecal Cortisol, Weight, and Behavior as Measures of Stress and Welfare in Shelter Cats During Assimilation Into Families of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Background: Cats are a common companion animal (CA) in US households, and many live in families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The prevalence of ASD is one in 54, and many children have behavior challenges as well as their diagnostic communication disorders. Objective: Benefits of CAs for children with ASD have been identified, but little is known about the welfare of CAs in these homes. This study explored the welfare of cats (N = 10) screened for ideal social and calm temperament using the Feline Temperament Profile (FTP) and adopted by families of children with ASD. Methods: Cat stress was measured using fecal cortisol, weight, and a behavior stress measure (cat stress score). Measures were taken at baseline in the shelter, 2-3 days after adoption, and at weeks 6, 12, and 18. Result: Outcome measures suggested the adopted cats' stress levels did not increase postadoption; however, the small sample size limited analytical power and generalizability. Conclusion: This study provides preliminary evidence for the success of cat adoption by families of children with ASD, when cats have been temperament screened and cat behavior educational information is provided. Further research is warranted to confirm these findings.

Predictors of the Use of Enrichment Items in Colony Housed Shelter Cats

Colony rooms provide cats with many opportunities to use enrichment, but animal shelters usually have finite resources to provision items. This study examined how cats select enrichment items when given a variety of options. Our goal was to identify whether certain enrichment might be particularly beneficial for different cats. Enrichment was categorized into three categories based on function (soft surfaces for resting, enclosed spaces for security, and vertical surfaces for vantage points). Demographic (sex, source of intake) and non-demographic (length of stay, floor space per cat, people present) features of the cats were entered into models as predictors. For all enrichment categories, the presence of people in the room significantly decreased item use, males used vertical surfaces more, all cats used vertical surfaces more the longer they were at the shelter, and cats that were seized or signed over from hoarding or cruelty cases used enclosed spaces more. Identifying patterns of enrichment use can allow shelters to more effectively distribute limited resources and maximize the welfare of individual cats during their stay at the shelter.

Intestinal Parasites and Fecal Cortisol Metabolites in Multi-Unowned-Cat Environments: The Impact of Housing Conditions

Simple Summary

Multi-unowned-cat environments can be highly stressful for cats, and infectious and parasite diseases spread quickly and are difficult to prevent. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of intestinal parasites and fecal cortisol metabolites (FCM) in cat feces collected from different multi-cat environments and assess the effect of housing conditions on intestinal parasites and FCM levels in order to develop more efficient control strategies. Cat fecal samples from rescue shelters, catteries and feline colonies were analyzed with coprological methods to detect intestinal parasite patency and determine FCM. Helminth infection was mainly detected in free-roaming cats. In confined cats, protozoa infections were more likely detected in shelter cats than in cattery cats. Exposure to dogs was associated with parasite infection and cats highly exposed to dogs with visual contact and audible barking showed higher intestinal protozoa prevalence than cats that were not exposed to dogs. FCM levels were correlated with enclosure size and protozoa infection. Reducing stress by improving housing in terms of enclosure size and avoiding exposure to dogs may have an impact on the occurrence of intestinal parasites, especially protozoa.

Abstract

Housing conditions were assessed in different unowned multi-cat management models in order to evaluate their impact on the occurrence of intestinal parasites and fecal cortisol metabolite (FCM) levels. Fresh stool fecal samples were collected from rescue shelters, catteries and feline colonies for coprological analyses in order to detect intestinal parasite patency and fecal cortisol metabolites. A questionnaire provided information about the facilities, management and housing conditions of cats, including information about dog exposure, enclosure size, environment enrichment and changes to group composition. Overall, intestinal parasite infection was detected in 58.2% of fecal samples collected. The occurrence of intestinal parasites detected in free-roaming cats was 82.2%, mainly due to helminth infection. The parasite infection rate was 57.3% in rescue shelters and 34.6% in catteries. In confined cats, protozoa infection was more likely detected in rescue shelters than in catteries (RR = 2.02 (1.30–3.14), p = 0.0012). Although the FCM values were very variable between cats, the enclosure size and parasite infection were correlated with the average FCM. A small enclosure size was correlated with high fecal cortisol metabolites (p = 0.016). Protozoa-positive samples showed higher FCM levels than negative samples (p = 0.0150). High dog exposure was statistically associated with protozoa infection (p = 0.0006). The results indicated that improving housing, especially in terms of floor space and avoiding dog exposure, reduces stress and can thus be applied to make control strategies in multi-unowned-cat environments more efficient, especially when cats are confined.

Feline conjunctival microbiota in a shelter: effects of time, upper respiratory disease and famciclovir administration

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the conjunctival microbiota of shelter-housed cats with time, upper respiratory disease (URD) and famciclovir administration.

METHODS

Cats were assigned to treatment groups on shelter entry. Healthy cats or cats with URD received ~30 mg/kg or ~90 mg/kg of famciclovir or placebo PO q12h for 7 days, or were untreated. Swabs were collected from ventral conjunctival fornices prior to (day 1) and immediately after (day 8) the treatment period. Microbiota analysis was conducted on 124 randomly selected swabs from healthy (56 swabs) or URD-affected (68 swabs) cats. Following DNA extraction and amplification of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene, sequences were assembled into operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Over-represented OTUs (as determined by linear discriminate analysis effect size), alpha and beta diversity, and median relative abundance of known feline ocular surface pathogens were assessed for the entire population and in 10 clinically relevant subpopulations of cats.

RESULTS

Bacteria from 33 phyla and 70 genera were identified. Considering all cats, median relative abundance of Mycoplasma increased from day 1 to day 8, while Proteobacteria decreased. Community membership and structure (beta diversity) differed between days 1 and 8 for all famciclovir-treated cats (regardless of health status or dose) and healthy or URD-affected cats (regardless of famciclovir dose). Differences in taxonomic diversity within a sample (alpha diversity) between day 1 and day 8 were not detected in any subpopulations.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Within 1 week of shelter entry, there were significant changes in community structure and membership of the feline conjunctival microbiota, with a shift towards over-representation of feline ocular surface pathogens. Although famciclovir may impact beta diversity of the feline conjunctival microbiota, absence of change in alpha diversity suggests minimal shift in individual cats.

Cross-sectional survey of cat handling practices in veterinary clinics throughout Canada and the United States

OBJECTIVE

To assess handling techniques commonly used during routine examinations and procedures used for calm, fearful, and aggressive cats by veterinarians and nonveterinarian staff at Canadian and US veterinary practices and to evaluate demographic factors associated with those handling techniques.

SAMPLE

310 veterinarians and 944 nonveterinarians who handle cats at Canadian and US veterinary practices.

PROCEDURES

An online questionnaire was developed to evaluate respondent demographics and use of common cat handling practices and techniques. A snowball sampling method was used to send a link to the questionnaire to members of Canadian and US veterinary-affiliated groups. Descriptive statistics were generated; logistic regression was used to identify demographic factors associated with the use of minimal and full-body restraint with scruffing during routine examination and procedures for fearful and aggressive cats.

RESULTS

Full-body restraint was used to handle cats of all demeanors, although its frequency of use was greatest for fearful and aggressive cats. Veterinarians and nonveterinarians who graduated from veterinary training programs before 2006 were less likely to use full-body restraint for cats of all demeanors, compared with nonveterinarians who did not graduate or graduated between 2006 and 2015. Other factors associated with decreased use of full-body restraint included working at an American Association of Feline Practitioners-certified practice and working at a Canadian practice.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Results suggested that full-body restraint is commonly used to handle cats. Further research is necessary to determine whether current handling recommendations are effective in decreasing stress for cats during veterinary visits.

Methods of Assessment of the Welfare of Shelter Cats: A Review

At any moment, there are millions of cats housed in foster care facilities for abandoned and stray animals for various reasons worldwide. Care, management and regulation among these facilities differ. Moreover, shelters can never substitute the full comfort of a good home for the animal, and the welfare of cats in shelters is a subject of discussion in many respects. Cats are animals sensitive to changes; for most of them, placement in a shelter is a stressful experience because of changes in routine, environment and the presence of other animals. Stress is reflected in changes in behaviour, causes fluctuations in physiological values and disrupts the immune system, which is a predisposition to the development or reactivation of disease. Evaluation of the presence and intensity of negative impacts is possible through the use of evaluation tools based on indicators that help set the environment and management of keeping so as to disrupt the quality of life as little as possible. Although a comprehensive and valid welfare tool that would evaluate animal-based and at the same time resource-based (or management-based) indicators of cats in shelters is not currently available, it is possible to use partial evaluation of individual welfare indicators to assess welfare. This review aims to provide the readers with an insight into current options of assessment of the welfare of cats in shelters with an emphasis on behavioural, physiological and health indicators with an application in both practical and scientific contexts.

A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of Famciclovir in Shelter Cats with Naturally Occurring Upper Respiratory Tract Disease

Simple Summary

Upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) impacts the health and welfare of shelter cats. Mitigation strategies include stress reduction and population-level approaches; effective treatment plans focus on reducing the clinical signs in cats affected by URTD. This study evaluated the use of famciclovir, an antiviral therapy, in reducing clinical signs in shelter cats with URTD when administered at a target dose range of 40–90 mg/kg twice daily for up to 21 days. Cats were randomized into either a famciclovir treatment group (n = 11) or placebo group (n = 11). Testing for viral pathogen identification was performed at enrollment in the study, and clinical scoring was completed daily to evaluate the severity of signs. With each day of treatment, cats in both groups were less likely to experience worsening clinical scores; however, cats in the famciclovir treatment group had a significantly lower risk of worsening clinical signs with each day compared to the placebo group. Feline herpesvirus, a common pathogen causing URTD, was identified in 11/21 cats. The results of this small study justify the need for further research to determine the utility of famciclovir as part of treatment protocols for improving clinical signs and overall impacts of URTD in shelter cats.

Abstract

Upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) is a clinically relevant infectious disease in shelter cats, with individual and population-level welfare implications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of famciclovir in reducing clinical signs of URTD in shelter cats during a therapeutic period of up to 21 days. Cats at two Northeastern United States animal shelters with URTD clinical signs were enrolled in a pragmatic, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Cats received either famciclovir (n = 11, target dose range 40–90 mg/kg) or placebo (n = 11), administered orally twice daily for up to 21 days with once-daily clinical scoring. At enrollment, conjunctival and oropharyngeal samples were collected for respiratory pathogen identification by RT-PCR. Zero-inflated Poisson regression was used to evaluate the treatment group effects and changes in clinical scoring over time. With each day of treatment, cats in both groups were less likely to experience worsening clinical scores; however, the risk of worsening scores with each day of treatment was significantly less in the famciclovir group compared to placebo (p = 0.006). Feline herpesvirus (FHV-1) DNA was detected in 11/21 cats. The findings justify further pragmatic studies to determine whether famciclovir treatment can contribute to a clinically relevant reduction in URTD morbidity in shelter cats.

Medical conditions and outcomes in 371 hoarded cats from 14 sources: a retrospective study (2011-2014)

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study were to: (1) describe the source, route of surrender and signalment of hoarded cats relinquished to the Toronto Humane Society (THS); (2) document the prevalence of medical conditions by group (place of origin); (3) compare medical conditions between institutional hoarding (IH) and non-institutional hoarding (NIH) environments; and (4) report length of stay (LOS) and outcomes in hoarded and non-hoarded cats.

METHODS

A retrospective, descriptive epidemiological study was performed using THS records from between July 2011 and June 2014. The prevalence of medical conditions was calculated for the different groups. Univariable logistic regression with a random intercept to account for autocorrelation among animals from the same group was used to examine the influence of IH and NIH environments on selected medical conditions. LOS and outcomes were calculated for hoarded and non-hoarded cats.

RESULTS

Three hundred and seventy-one hoarded cats from 14 sources were included. The majority (n = 352/371) were surrendered voluntarily, many with the assistance of a community intermediary. Upper respiratory infection (URI) was the most common medical condition (38% of cats), followed by dermatological disease (30%). The prevalence of medical conditions varied substantially between groups. The odds of URI at intake (odds ratio [OR] 4.35, P = 0.044) and chronic URI (OR 23.70, P <0.0001) were significantly greater for IH compared with NIH. Adoption rates, euthanasia rates and LOS were similar for hoarded and non-hoarded cats.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The different prevalence of medical conditions in groups of hoarded cats indicates a continuum of harm and severity in animal hoarding. Hoarded cats can have LOS and live release rates comparable with non-hoarded cats. Cats from IH were significantly more likely to have chronic URI. This study highlights the need for a greater focus on IH, as well as the role of community intermediaries and the potential for a harm reduction approach to animal hoarding.

Subhypnotic dose of intravenous propofol stimulates appetite in cats with stress-induced anorexia

BACKGROUND

Stress-induced anorexia is common in cats. While medications are available to stimulate appetite, many require oral administration, have delayed onset-of-action or cause adverse side effects. The aim of this study was to determine whether cats diagnosed with stress-induced anorexia given a subhypnotic dose of intravenous propofol would have increased short-term appetite as compared to those given placebo.

METHODS

Anorexic shelter cats received either 1 mg/kg propofol or 1 mL saline placebo and then presented with various commercial cat foods. Grams of food consumed was measured at 15 and 30 min, and total grams compared between treatment and control groups using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. 12 cats were enrolled, with six cats randomly assigned to each group.

RESULTS

The median amount consumed by the treatment group was 31 g (range: 0-72), with the median for the four cats (67 per cent) who consumed food being 45 g (range: 26-72), or 49 per cent of their daily maintenance calorie requirement. The median amount consumed by control cats was 0 g (range: 0-5), with one cat consuming food. Total grams consumed was different between treatment and control groups (P=0.05).

CONCLUSION

A subhypnotic dose of intravenous propofol increased appetite in cats with stress-induced anorexia for a 30 min period.

Molecular Detection of Feline Leukemia Virus in Oral, Conjunctival, and Rectal Mucosae Provides Results Comparable to Detection in Blood

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection causes immunosuppression, degeneration of the hematopoietic system, and fatal neoplasms. FeLV transmission occurs mainly by close social contact of infected and susceptible cats. Developing procedures for the diagnosis of feline retroviruses is crucial to reduce negative impacts on cat health and increase the number of animals tested. Blood collection requires physical or chemical restraint and is usually a stressful procedure for cats. Our objective was to evaluate the use of samples obtained from oral, conjunctival, and rectal mucosae for the molecular diagnosis of FeLV. Whole blood and oral, conjunctival, and rectal swabs were collected from a total of 145 cats. All samples were subjected to the amplification of a fragment of the gag gene of proviral DNA. Compared to blood samples used in this study as a reference, the accuracies for each PCR were 91.72, 91.23, and 85.50% for samples obtained by oral, conjunctival, and rectal swabs, respectively. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 86.11 and 97.26% for the oral swabs, 90 and 92.59% for the conjunctival swabs, and 74.24 and 95.77% for the rectal swabs, respectively. The kappa values for oral, conjunctival, and rectal swabs were 0.834, 0.824, and 0.705, respectively. The diagnosis of these samples showed the presence of proviral DNA of FeLV in oral and conjunctival mucosae. In conclusion, mucosal samples for the molecular diagnosis of FeLV are an excellent alternative to venipuncture and can be safely used. It is faster, less laborious, less expensive, and well received by the animal.

Owners' Attitudes, Knowledge, and Care Practices: Exploring the Implications for Domestic Cat Behavior and Welfare in the Home

Simple Summary

Available research on the link between domestic cats’ environment and welfare has primarily been conducted on cats living in animal shelters or research facilities; a better understanding of the welfare of cats living in homes is needed. We used an anonymous online survey to investigate the attitudes of current U.S.-based cat owners towards cats as pets; owner knowledge about normal cat behavior and environmental needs; current trends in cat care; behavior problems reported for these cats; and the human-animal bond. We found that owners with a more accurate understanding of cat behavior, and stronger reported bond with their cats, reported fewer behavior problems. Conversely, owners’ agreement with certain misconceptions about cats, and high perceived costs of care, were correlated with the use of punishment (e.g., yelling, hitting, or spraying with water) in response to misbehavior. Our results suggest that many cats living in private homes may be receiving only minimal environmental enrichment, particularly in the case of interactive (e.g., playing with a friendly human, or exploring changing environments) vs. static (e.g., cat toys such as stuffed mice) enrichment. Collectively, these results support the premise that better education of cat owners could benefit the welfare of cats living in private homes.

Abstract

Available research on the link between domestic cats’ environment and welfare has primarily been conducted in animal shelters or research facilities; a better understanding of the welfare of cats living in homes is needed. This study measured the attitudes of current U.S.-based cat owners towards cats as pets; owner knowledge about normal cat behavior and environmental needs; current trends in cat care; cats’ behavior in the home; and the human-animal bond. The primary hypothesis was that owners with a more accurate understanding of cat behavior and a stronger reported bond with their cats would report fewer behavior problems. Data from an online, anonymous, cross-sectional survey of 547 cat owners supported the primary hypothesis: owner knowledge, along with two measures of the human-animal bond (owner-pet interactions, and perceptions of affordability of cat ownership), were significant predictors of the number of reported behavior problems. In addition to fewer reported behavior problems, greater owner knowledge about cats was correlated with less use of positive-punishment-based responses to misbehavior, and increased tolerance of potential behavior problems when present. Owners’ agreement with certain misconceptions about cats and perception of high costs of care were correlated with the use of positive punishment in response to misbehavior. Based on the survey results, many cats living in private homes may be receiving only minimal environmental enrichment. Collectively, these results suggest the need for better education of cat owners. Topics could include: understanding normal cat behavior and correcting misconceptions; enrichment needs (particularly of indoor-only cats) and the risk of behavior problems when cats’ needs are not met; welfare risks associated with declawing; and the importance of sufficient resources to minimize social and territorial conflict.

The effect of a hiding box on stress levels and body weight in Dutch shelter cats; a randomized controlled trial

While staying in an animal shelter, cats may suffer from chronic stress which impairs their health and welfare. Providing opportunities to hide can significantly reduce behavioural stress in cats, but confirmation with physical parameters is needed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of a hiding box on behavioural stress levels (scored by means of the Cat-Stress-Score) and a physical parameter, namely body weight, during the first 12 days in quarantine for cats newly arrived cats at a Dutch animal shelter. Twenty-three cats between 1 and 10 years of age were randomly divided between the experimental (N = 12) and control group (N = 11) with and without a hiding box. Stress levels were assessed on days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 12 according to the non-invasive Cat-Stress-Score (CSS). Body weights were measured on days 0, 7 and 12. Finally, adoption rates and length of stay (LOS) were determined. Major findings of the study are: (1) the mean Cat-Stress-Score decreased with time for all cats, but cats with a hiding box showed a significant faster decrease in the CSS, reaching a lower CSS-steady state seven days earlier than the control group; (2) nearly all cats in both groups lost significant body weight during the first two weeks; (3) hiding boxes did not significantly influence weight loss; (4) no differences were found in the adoption rates and the LOS between both groups. Hiding enrichment reduces behavioural stress in shelter cats during quarantine situations and can therefore be a relatively simple aid to shelter adaptation. It offers no prevention however against feline weight loss, which indicates a serious health risk for shelter cats.