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Vonk J, Bouma EMC. Attachment as the Catalyst for the Attribution of Complex Cognition and Emotion to Companion Cats. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2123. [PMID: 39061585 PMCID: PMC11274030 DOI: 10.3390/ani14142123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2024] [Revised: 07/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Companion cat caregivers ascribe complex emotions and cognitions to their cats, and these attributions are greater with a stronger attachment to their animals. We compared attributions of emotional and cognitive complexity to cats in cat caregivers and non-caregivers. We measured attitudes toward animals, belief in animal minds, caregivers' strength of attachment, and attachment style with a particular companion cat in 448 university students, of whom 251 had owned a cat. We asked the extent to which respondents thought that cats were capable of expressing primary and secondary emotions and cognitive capabilities. Caregivers significantly differed from non-caregivers only in the attribution of primary emotions. Belief in animal minds predicted the attribution of secondary emotions and cognition. For caregivers only, avoidant attachment style was negatively associated with the attribution of primary emotions, whereas attachment strength was positively associated with the attribution of secondary emotions and cognition. These abilities may have greater discriminatory power as most respondents ascribe primary emotions to cats, perhaps for anthropomorphic reasons. Housing conditions (indoor and outdoor) were not associated with attributions, suggesting that bonds are more important than time spent together within the home in predicting the attribution of emotional and cognitive complexity in cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Vonk
- Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, MI 48363, USA
| | - Esther M C Bouma
- Department of Social Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 72, 9700 AB Groningen, The Netherlands
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2
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López-Cepero J, Ferrer M, Mori M, Español A. Companion animal bereavement: Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Pet Bereavement Questionnaire. DEATH STUDIES 2024:1-7. [PMID: 38950563 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2024.2363477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
This work provides psychometric data on the validity and reliability of the Spanish adaptation of the Pet Bereavement Questionnaire (PBQ), as well as information on the intensity of bereavement in the Spanish population. The study evaluated 333 Spanish participants of legal age (M = 31.5; SD = 11.6), mostly women (76.3%). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) tested the adequacy of three different structures present in literature, finding better fit indexes for a model that kept the original three-factor structure (grief, guilt, and anger) but rearranged 2 of the 16 items. Around 70% of participants reported signs of intense bereavement on the grief scale, with higher means among women. The results confirm adequate psychometric qualities of the PBQ, offering healthcare professionals a tool to evaluate bereavement intensity after the loss of a companion animal in Spanish samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier López-Cepero
- Departamento de Personalidad, Evaluación y Tratamiento Psicológicos, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Marta Ferrer
- Departamento de Psicología, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain
| | - Marina Mori
- Departamento de Personalidad, Evaluación y Tratamiento Psicológicos, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Alicia Español
- Departamento de Psicología Experimental, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
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3
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Atero N, Córdova-Bührle F, Salgado-Caxito M, Benavides JA, Fernández M, Diethelm-Varela B, Ramos R, Sapiente Aguirre C, Trujillo F, Dürr S, Mardones FO. An assessment of the owned canine and feline demographics in Chile: registration, sterilization, and unsupervised roaming indicators. Prev Vet Med 2024; 226:106185. [PMID: 38507889 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2024.106185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
The global rise in companion animal populations, particularly dogs and cats, is driven by emotional and social benefits for owners, and their population management is becoming critically important to avoid a plethora of adverse effects on themselves, humans, and wildlife. We estimated the size and density of the owned canine and feline population in Chile and evaluated the status of microchipping, registration, sterilization rates, and the proportion of owned animals that roam unsupervised. A cross-sectional household survey in 36 districts was conducted and standard inferential statistics was employed to analyze differences between cats and dogs, sexes within each species, and between rural and urban areas. Additionally, two negative binomial models with mixed effects were developed to predict the number of dogs and cats per households. Two methods were used to compare population size estimates at the country level, multiplying: (1) the estimated mean number of companion animals per household by the estimated number of households at the country level, and (2) the estimated human:dog and human:cat ratios by the total human population. The study involved 6333 respondents, of which 76% (74% urban; 83% rural) owned companion animals (dogs and/or cats). Individuals in rural multi-person households increase the probability of owning dogs and/or cats. Additionally, women exhibit a greater inclination towards cat and dog ownership compared to men, while those over 30 years old demonstrate lower rates of companion animal ownership in contrast to the 18-30 age group for both species. The overall human:dog and human:cat ratios estimated were 2.7:1, and 6.2:1, respectively. The estimated total number of owned dogs and cats in Chile ranged from 9.6 to 10.7 million, depending on the methodological approach, while national median density of companion animals was 12 dogs per km2 (ranging from 0.02 to 7232) and 5 cats per km2 (ranging from 0.01 to 3242). This nationwide study showed one of the highest percentages of households with companion animals in Latin America and relatively low registration and sterilization rates, highlighting the need to strength long-term public policies to control populations of companion animals and promote responsibility in pet ownership.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolhole Atero
- Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisca Córdova-Bührle
- Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Dirección de Transferencia y Desarrollo, Vicerrectoría de Investigación, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Julio A Benavides
- UMR MIVEGEC, IRD, CNRS, Université Montpellier, Montpellier, France; Centro de Investigación para la Sustentabilidad y Doctorado en Medicina de la Conservación, Facultad Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Miriam Fernández
- Estación Costera de Investigaciones Marinas (ECIM), Las Cruces, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Núcleo Milenio para la Ecología y la Conservación de los Ecosistemas de Arrecifes Mesofóticos Templados (NUTME), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Av. Bernardo O'Higgins 340, Santiago, Chile
| | - Benjamín Diethelm-Varela
- Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820244, Chile
| | - Romina Ramos
- Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Claudia Sapiente Aguirre
- Programa Nacional de Tenencia Responsable de Animales de Compañía (PTRAC), Subsecretaría de Desarrollo Regional y Administrativo (SUBDERE), Ministerio del Interior y Seguridad Pública de Chile; Departamento de Planificación y Gestión, de la División de Administración y Finanzas, Subsecretaría de Desarrollo Regional y Administrativo (SUBDERE), Ministerio del Interior y Seguridad Pública de Chile, Chile
| | - Florencia Trujillo
- Programa Nacional de Tenencia Responsable de Animales de Compañía (PTRAC), Subsecretaría de Desarrollo Regional y Administrativo (SUBDERE), Ministerio del Interior y Seguridad Pública de Chile
| | - Salome Dürr
- Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Fernando O Mardones
- Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Departamento de Enfermedades Infecciosas e Inmunología Pediátrica, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820244, Chile.
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4
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Oblak ML, Lu HY, Ram AS, McKenna C. Comparative aspects of targeted sentinel lymph node mapping in veterinary and human medicine: opportunities for future research. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 11:1342456. [PMID: 38633313 PMCID: PMC11021648 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1342456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
There is a significant overlap in the genetic, metabolic and epigenetic alterations between human and companion animal cancers, including those of the oral cavity, breast, bladder, skin, lungs and pancreas. In many cancer types, the identification and removal of affected lymph nodes are essential for accurate cancer management, including treatment and prognosis. Historically, lymphadenectomy and subsequent radical resection based on regional anatomy, palpation and lymph node aspirates were considered sufficient; however, modern approaches with sentinel lymph node mapping (SLN) mapping have increased the accuracy of surgical decision-making. Preoperative and intraoperative SLN mapping techniques in veterinary patients parallel those used in human medicine. While many of these techniques are highly successful, the main challenges with current methodologies are their sensitivity and specificity for the presence of cancer, which can be overcome via precision medicine and targeted SLN mapping agents. Given the large population of dogs and cats with cancer, the crossover of knowledge between species can help to deepen our understanding of many of these cancers and can be useful in evaluating new drugs and/or therapies. In this review, we discuss SLN mapping techniques in veterinary medicine and the concept of precision medicine as it relates to targeted SLN mapping imaging agents. The large number of companion animals affected by cancer is an underutilized resource to bridge the translational gap and we aim to provide a reference for the use of dogs and cats as a comparative model for human SLN mapping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L. Oblak
- Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Hui Yu Lu
- Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Ann S. Ram
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Charly McKenna
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
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5
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Kuo CH, Kessler S. Intergenerational Transmission of Human Parenting Styles to Human-Dog Relationships. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1038. [PMID: 38612277 PMCID: PMC11010965 DOI: 10.3390/ani14071038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Parenting style and intergenerational transmission have been extensively studied in parent-child relationships. As dogs are increasingly recognized as integral members of the family system, there is a growing interest in understanding how parenting behaviors directed towards dogs can also influence a dog's behaviors. However, the reasons why people adopt certain parenting behaviors towards dogs remain relatively unknown. This study delved into the intergenerational transmission of parenting styles from one's upbringing to caregiving for dogs. Using a mixed methods approach with 391 dog caregivers and 10 interviews, this study employed multivariate linear regression and thematic analysis. Permissive parenting exhibited an intergenerational effect, with those experiencing it being more likely to replicate the style with their dogs. Orientation towards dogs emerged as a crucial mediator, with protectionistic attitudes reducing the likelihood of replicating authoritarian parenting. Humanistic and protectionistic orientation increased the likelihood of compensatory permissive behaviors. Insights from interviews underscored the impact of perceived childhood experiences on adopting specific parenting behaviors. Ultimately, this study provides valuable insights that can contribute to the promotion of appropriate caregiving behaviors toward dogs. By drawing on our understanding of child-parent relationships, addressing the underlying elements of human-dog dynamics may lead to positive outcomes both for dogs and their caregivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih Hsin Kuo
- College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
- Division of Psychology, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK;
| | - Sharon Kessler
- Division of Psychology, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK;
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6
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Colitti K, Mitchell M, Langford F. Sheep fatigue during transport: Lost in translation? Anim Welf 2024; 33:e13. [PMID: 38510418 PMCID: PMC10951664 DOI: 10.1017/awf.2024.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Although sheep are commonly transported long distances, and sheep welfare during transport is a topic of research and policy discussion, the subject of their fatigue during transport has been under-researched. The current qualitative study, focused on the EU and UK, aimed to critically analyse stakeholder views on issues relating to sheep fatigue, including behavioural indications of fatigue, the interplay between fatigue and other factors, and the practicalities of identifying fatigue in commercial transport conditions. Insight into stakeholder perceptions of these issues could contribute to the body of knowledge regarding sheep fatigue during transport, potentially playing a part in future efforts to improve fatigue understanding and detection. Eighteen experts from different stakeholder groups were interviewed. Reflexive thematic analysis of interview data yielded four themes and three sub-themes. The first theme, "Let's anthropomorphise it a little bit", underscores the pervasiveness of anthropomorphism and suggests using it in a conscious and deliberate way to drive stakeholder engagement and policy change. The second theme, "We think that they're like we are and they're not", cautions against wholesale transfer of human experiences to animals. The third theme, 'See the whole animal', advocates using Qualitative Behaviour Analysis (QBA), proven reliable in other contexts, to deepen and enrich our current understanding of fatigue. The fourth theme, 'Fatigue "never comes up"', highlights the fact that fatigue is rarely if ever discussed in the context of sheep transport. These themes suggest several avenues for future research, including developing QBA-based assessments for fatigue to improve welfare during transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katia Colitti
- The University of Edinburgh, Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies, Roslin, Midlothian, UK
| | | | - Fritha Langford
- Newcastle University, School of Natural and Environmental Science, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
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7
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Fantechi T, Califano G, Caracciolo F, Contini C. Puppy power: How neophobia, attitude towards sustainability, and animal empathy affect the demand for insect-based pet food. Food Res Int 2024; 177:113879. [PMID: 38225138 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2023.113879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Despite growing commercial interest in novel foods, there are few studies that analyse consumer willingness to purchase them as pet food. This study aimed to test whether consumers are willing to accept the use of foods with insect-based ingredients, which are found to be poorly accepted for human consumption, to feed their pets. In our case study, we analysed the willingness of 400 Italian dog and/or cat caregivers to pay for pet foods containing insect proteins, as measured by the Multiple Price List methodology. We also explored the role of food neophobia, attention to environmental sustainability, and empathy toward one's pet. The results of the study pointed out that the usual determinants of acceptance in the consumption of novel foods, such as food neophobia and attention to environmental sustainability, play an important role even when the purchase is for the household pet, and that empathy as an expression of the pet caregiver's personal relationship with their pet becomes an additional factor. Insect-based pet foods proved to be attractive for purchase only when consumers are well informed about the product's properties in terms of sustainability and healthiness for their pets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommaso Fantechi
- University of Florence, Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), Italy.
| | | | | | - Caterina Contini
- University of Florence, Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), Italy.
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8
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Croney C, Udell M, Delgado M, Ekenstedt K, Shoveller AK. CATastrophic myths part 1: Common misconceptions about the social behavior of domestic cats and implications for their health, welfare, and management. Vet J 2023; 300-302:106028. [PMID: 37683761 PMCID: PMC10841747 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2023.106028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Cats are among the most popular pets worldwide, but there are still major gaps in the public's general understanding of their social behaviors and related needs, including for socialization. In addition to these knowledge gaps, people often have negative or ambivalent attitudes about cats, which can directly impact their welfare outcomes. Insufficient attention to the behavioral ecology and development of cat sociality, along with failure to account for their highly variable individual preferences and tolerance for social behaviors can lead them to experience distress that undermines both their welfare and the human-animal bond. As Part 1 of a two-part series addressing common myths about cats, the purpose of this first paper is to review and debunk common misperceptions about the social needs and behaviors of cats, including misunderstandings about their social lives and abilities to bond with humans. We also identify where opportunities exist to improve socialization of cats and to advance research in related areas that might better support their behavior and welfare needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candace Croney
- Center for Animal Welfare Science, Purdue University, 625 Harrison St., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
| | - Monique Udell
- Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences, Oregon State University, 2921 SW Campus Way, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | | | - Kari Ekenstedt
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, 625 Harrison St., West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Anna Kate Shoveller
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
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9
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Bian Z, Fan Z, Xiao T, Yan J, Ren R, Xu S, Deng B, Zhang L. Effects of species-relevant auditory stimuli on stress in cats exposed to novel environment. J APPL ANIM WELF SCI 2023:1-10. [PMID: 37726876 DOI: 10.1080/10888705.2023.2259803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaowei Bian
- Laboratory of Companion Animal Science, Department of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhicong Fan
- Laboratory of Companion Animal Science, Department of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tingting Xiao
- Laboratory of Companion Animal Science, Department of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiayi Yan
- Laboratory of Companion Animal Science, Department of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruiti Ren
- Laboratory of Companion Animal Science, Department of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Suijun Xu
- Laboratory of Companion Animal Science, Department of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Baichuan Deng
- Laboratory of Companion Animal Science, Department of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lingna Zhang
- Laboratory of Companion Animal Science, Department of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
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10
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Šterk K, Brložnik M. An anthropologist's voice in a veterinarian's noise: gearing up for new cultural realities. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1202606. [PMID: 37601748 PMCID: PMC10436338 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1202606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past three decades, the veterinary profession has faced a cultural shift towards postspeciesism that requires a reassessment of the foundations of the existing distinctions between human and non-human animals proclaimed by the speciesism paradigm, which represents institutionalized discrimination against species and recognizes only the subjectivity of humans. Based on ethnographic observations in anthropological fieldwork and using speciesism/postspeciesism distinction, we aimed to explain the main causes of small animal practitioners' work-related stress and apply humanistic knowledge to recommend ways to alleviate the negative effects of the work environment. The explanatory model of disease, illness, and sickness, the example of the concept of family, and the circumstances of the feminization of the veterinary profession are discussed to illustrate the divergence between speciesist naturalistic veterinary knowledge and the postspeciesist cultural framework and its consequences. By failing to accommodate the changing values towards animals and by failing to challenge the anthropocentric hierarchy of values, the speciesist rationale of the veterinary profession contributes to many of the problems faced by practicing veterinarians. The incorporation of a modern moral-philosophical mindset towards animals may not even be possible because veterinary science is subject to a paradigm that is irreversibly tied to institutional discrimination against species and defies reflection on veterinary science itself. However, the veterinary profession has a privileged position in establishing an alternative ontological thinking and an alternative conception of "animal life." Anthropological knowledge was applied to anticipate further intervention of social and cultural sciences in the problems of small animal practitioners. Rather than further diversifying and increasing expectations towards veterinarians by expecting them to acquire additional skills, we propose another practitioner who can support, mediate, and enhance veterinary performance - the cultural anthropologist. With their deep knowledge of cultural differences and social dynamics, they can collaborate with veterinarians to act as a liaison between cultures, paradigms, and species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karmen Šterk
- Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Maja Brložnik
- Veterinary Faculty, Small Animal Clinic, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Bergmann KC, Raab J, Graessel A, Zwingers T, Becker S, Kugler S, Zuberbier T, Roth-Walter F, Kramer MF, Jensen-Jarolim E. The holo beta-lactoglobulin lozenge reduces symptoms in cat allergy-Evaluation in an allergen exposure chamber and by titrated nasal allergen challenge. Clin Transl Allergy 2023; 13:e12274. [PMID: 37488734 PMCID: PMC10314279 DOI: 10.1002/clt2.12274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The allergists´ tool box in cat allergy management is limited. Clinical studies have shown that holo beta-lactoglobulin (holoBLG) can restore micronutritional deficits in atopic immune cells and alleviate allergic symptoms in a completely allergen-nonspecific manner. With this study, we aimed to provide proof of principle in cat allergy. METHODS A novel challenge protocol for cat allergy in a standardized ECARF allergen exposure chamber (AEC) was developed. In an open pilot study (NCT05455749), patients with clinically relevant cat allergy were provoked with cat allergen for 120 min in the AEC before and after a 3-month intervention phase (holoBLG lozenge 2x daily). Nasal, conjunctival, bronchial, and pruritus symptoms were scored every 10 min- constituting the total symptom score (TSS). Peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) was measured every 30 min. In addition, a titrated nasal provocation test (NPT) was performed before and after the intervention. Primary endpoint was change in TSS at the end of final exposure compared to baseline. Secondary endpoints included changes in PNIF, NPT, and occurrence of late reactions up to 24 h after exposure. RESULTS 35 patients (mean age: 40 years) completed the study. Compared to baseline, holoBLG supplementation resulted in significant improvement in median TSS of 50% (p < 0.001), as well as in median nasal flow by 20 L/min (p = 0.0035). 20% of patients reported late reactions after baseline exposure, but 0% after the final exposure. CONCLUSIONS Cat allergic patients profited from targeted micronutrition with the holoBLG lozenge. As previously seen in other allergies, holoBLG supplementation also induced immune resilience in cat allergies, resulting in significant symptom amelioration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl-Christian Bergmann
- Institute of Allergology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Allergology and Immunology, Berlin, Germany
- ECARF-European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Anke Graessel
- Bencard Allergie GmbH, Munich, Germany
- Allergy Therapeutics (UK) plc, Worthing, UK
| | | | - Sylvia Becker
- ECARF-European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Kugler
- ECARF-European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation, Berlin, Germany
| | - Torsten Zuberbier
- Institute of Allergology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Allergology and Immunology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Franziska Roth-Walter
- The Interuniversity Messerli Research Institute of the Medical University Vienna, Medical University Vienna and University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center of Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthias F Kramer
- Bencard Allergie GmbH, Munich, Germany
- Allergy Therapeutics (UK) plc, Worthing, UK
| | - Erika Jensen-Jarolim
- The Interuniversity Messerli Research Institute of the Medical University Vienna, Medical University Vienna and University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center of Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Biomedical International R+D GmbH, Vienna, Austria
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12
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Nagasawa T, Kimura Y, Masuda K, Uchiyama H. Effects of Interactions with Cats in Domestic Environment on the Psychological and Physiological State of Their Owners: Associations among Cortisol, Oxytocin, Heart Rate Variability, and Emotions. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2116. [PMID: 37443915 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Interactions with animals, including cats, is believed to influence human health. However, studies that investigate the psychological and physiological effects of interacting with cats in their household environment are limited. In this remote study, 32 cat owners in Japan participated from June to October 2021. They completed two tasks, each on separate days in their homes: one simulating daily cat communication (Interaction condition) and another with no interactions (Rest condition). We quantified emotions (arousal level and pleasure level) before and after each condition using the Two-Dimensional Mood Scale Short-term as well as salivary cortisol and oxytocin levels of owners using enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay. Autonomic nervous activity (sympathetic and parasympathetic) was also quantified by heart rate variability analysis. The free interaction with cats decreased emotional arousal and parasympathetic activity, and lead to increased heart rates in owners. There was a positive correlation between heart rate and cortisol concentration, and between cortisol and oxytocin concentration. Furthermore, the frequency of petting the cats was negatively correlated with the rate of change in the parasympathetic activity. In contrast, the parasympathetic nerves in the owners were activated under the Rest condition. Hence, the mechanism of health-enhancing effects of cat ownership includes an arousing effect, in contrast to the previously proposed stress-reduction effect. This result can aid in future developments in cat-human relationship studies. However, a detailed study with a larger sample size is needed to draw definite conclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takumi Nagasawa
- Department of Human and Animal-Plant Relationships, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Funako 1737, Atsugi 243-0034, Japan
| | - Yuichi Kimura
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Funako 1737, Atsugi 243-0034, Japan
| | - Koji Masuda
- Department of Human and Animal-Plant Relationships, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Funako 1737, Atsugi 243-0034, Japan
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Funako 1737, Atsugi 243-0034, Japan
| | - Hidehiko Uchiyama
- Department of Human and Animal-Plant Relationships, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Funako 1737, Atsugi 243-0034, Japan
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Funako 1737, Atsugi 243-0034, Japan
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13
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Barrios F, Suárez G, Udell MAR, Damián JP. Characterization of the Domestic Cat Population of Uruguay: Breeds, Coat Colors, Hair Length, Lifestyle, Sex and Spay/Neuter Status According to Guardian Report. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1963. [PMID: 37370473 DOI: 10.3390/ani13121963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to characterize the domestic cat population of Uruguay in relation to breed, coat color, hair length, lifestyle (indoor vs. outdoor), age, sex, and spay/neuter status according to a survey completed by their owners or guardians. An online survey, distributed to residents of Uruguay, was completed in full by 2561 cat guardians. Descriptive statistics and Chi-squared tests were performed. The population of cats with guardians in Uruguay is characterized by the following data: higher frequency of female cats (53%), most of the cats were between two and six years old (49%), most of them were neutered (84%, mainly those older than one year of age), most of them have outdoor access (87%), a very low percentage (6%) are purebred (Siamese being the most frequent: 86%), and within the non-pure breeds, short hair cats were the most frequent (79%). This study, in addition to expanding the information on the characteristics of cats with guardians from other countries and continents, is the first study in Latin America to describe some key demographic aspects such as cat breeds, coat color, hair length, lifestyles, and frequency by age, sex, and spay/neuter status (spayed/neutered or not) at the country level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florencia Barrios
- Departamento de Clínicas y Hospital Veterinario, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 13000, Uruguay
| | - Gonzalo Suárez
- Departamento de Clínicas y Hospital Veterinario, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 13000, Uruguay
| | - Monique A R Udell
- Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Juan Pablo Damián
- Departamento de Biociencias Veterinarias, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 13000, Uruguay
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14
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Debes C, Wowra J, Manzoor S, Ruple A. Predicting health outcomes in dogs using insurance claims data. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9122. [PMID: 37277409 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36023-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In this paper we propose a machine learning-based approach to predict a multitude of insurance claim categories related to canine diseases. We introduce several machine learning approaches that are evaluated on a pet insurance dataset consisting of 785,565 dogs from the US and Canada whose insurance claims have been recorded over 17 years. 270,203 dogs with a long insurance tenure were used to train a model while the inference is applicable to all dogs in the dataset. Through this analysis we demonstrate that with this richness of data, supported by the right feature engineering, and machine learning approaches, 45 disease categories can be predicted with high accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Audrey Ruple
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, USA
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15
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de Mouzon C, Leboucher G. Multimodal Communication in the Human-Cat Relationship: A Pilot Study. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13091528. [PMID: 37174564 PMCID: PMC10177025 DOI: 10.3390/ani13091528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Across all species, communication implies that an emitter sends signals to a receiver, through one or more channels. Cats can integrate visual and auditory signals sent by humans and modulate their behaviour according to the valence of the emotion perceived. However, the specific patterns and channels governing cat-to-human communication are poorly understood. This study addresses whether, in an extraspecific interaction, cats are sensitive to the communication channel used by their human interlocutor. We examined three types of interactions-vocal, visual, and bimodal-by coding video clips of 12 cats living in cat cafés. In a fourth (control) condition, the human interlocutor refrained from emitting any communication signal. We found that the modality of communication had a significant effect on the latency in the time taken for cats to approach the human experimenter. Cats interacted significantly faster to visual and bimodal communication compared to the "no communication" pattern, as well as to vocal communication. In addition, communication modality had a significant effect on tail-wagging behaviour. Cats displayed significantly more tail wagging when the experimenter engaged in no communication (control condition) compared to visual and bimodal communication modes, indicating that they were less comfortable in this control condition. Cats also displayed more tail wagging in response to vocal communication compared to the bimodal communication. Overall, our data suggest that cats display a marked preference for both visual and bimodal cues addressed by non-familiar humans compared to vocal cues only. Results arising from the present study may serve as a basis for practical recommendations to navigate the codes of human-cat interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte de Mouzon
- Laboratoire Ethologie Cognition Développement, Université Paris Nanterre, 92000 Nanterre, France
- EthoCat-Cat Behaviour Research and Consulting Institute, 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Gérard Leboucher
- Laboratoire Ethologie Cognition Développement, Université Paris Nanterre, 92000 Nanterre, France
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16
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Salgado-Caxito M, Benavides JA, Atero N, Córdova-Bürhle F, Ramos R, Fernandez M, Sapiente-Aguirre C, Mardones FO. Preventive healthcare among dogs and cats in Chile is positively associated with emotional owner-companion animal bond and socioeconomic factors. Prev Vet Med 2023; 213:105882. [PMID: 36867925 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2023.105882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
Global companion animal population has been increasing as well as the number of dogs and cats being considered as a family member. However, it is unclear whether this close relationship could be associated with higher preventive healthcare in companion animals. Using data from 7,048 questionnaires of dogs and 3,271 of cats from the First National Study on Responsible Companion Animal Ownership, we estimated the proportion of preventive healthcare in companion animals of Chile. We also conducted a general linear mixed-effect regression model to identify socioeconomic factors and indicators of the emotional owners-companion animal bond that could influence owners' practices related to vaccination, parasite control, and veterinary visits. Based on the owner's answers, Chile has a satisfactory overall rates of parasite control (71%) and annual veterinary visits (65%) but a low vaccination coverage of both dogs (39%) and cats (25%). 'Purebred', 'live in urban areas', 'acquired by monetary compensation', and 'dog species' were associated with a higher probability of preventive healthcare in companion animals. Conversely, this probability was lower among senior animals compared to adults, males, and those owned by the Silent Generation or Baby Boomers (i.e., owners born before 1964). 'Sleeping inside', 'acquired for an emotional reason' (e.g., companionship), and 'considered a family member' were positively associated with at least one of assessed preventive measures. Our findings suggest that emotional owner-companion animal bonds could positively impact the frequency and quality of preventive healthcare in dogs and cats. However, owners who totally disagreed that a companion animal is a "family member" were also associated with a higher likelihood of vaccination uptake and veterinary visits for their animals. This highlights that owner's compliance with veterinary preventive healthcare is multifactorial. Chile has a high prevalence of infectious diseases circulating among dogs and cats and increasingly close contacts between owners and companion animals due to emotional bonds. Thus, our study calls for One Health approaches to reduce the risks of cross-species disease transmission. Specifically, increasing vaccination coverage of companion animals in Chile is the most urgent preventive measure needed, especially among cats, males, and older animals. Expand preventive healthcare among dogs and cats will promote public and animal health, including local wildlife that is susceptible to infectious diseases circulating in companion animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marília Salgado-Caxito
- Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Julio A Benavides
- MIVEGEC, IRD, CNRS, Université Montpellier, Montpellier, France; Centro de Investigación para la Sustentabilidad y Doctorado en Medicina de la Conservación, Facultad Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nicolhole Atero
- Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisca Córdova-Bürhle
- Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Romina Ramos
- Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Miriam Fernandez
- Estación Costera de Investigaciones Marinas (ECIM) de Las Cruces y Millennium Nucleus for the Ecology and Conservation of Temperate Mesophotic Reef Ecosystem (NUTME), Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Claudia Sapiente-Aguirre
- Programa Nacional de Tenencia Responsable de Animales de Compañía (PTRAC), Subsecretaría de Desarrollo Regional y Administrativo (SUBDERE), Ministerio del Interior y Seguridad Pública de Chile, Chile
| | - Fernando O Mardones
- Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820244, Chile.
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17
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de Mouzon C, Gonthier M, Leboucher G. Discrimination of cat-directed speech from human-directed speech in a population of indoor companion cats (Felis catus). Anim Cogn 2023; 26:611-619. [PMID: 36280656 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-022-01674-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In contemporary western cultures, most humans talk to their pet companions. Speech register addressed to companion animals shares common features with speech addressed to young children, which are distinct from the typical adult-directed speech (ADS). The way dogs respond to dog-directed speech (DDS) has raised scientists' interest. In contrast, much less is known about how cats perceive and respond to cat-directed speech (CDS). The primary aim of this study was to evaluate whether cats are more responsive to CDS than ADS. Secondarily, we seek to examine if the cats' responses to human vocal stimuli would differ when it was elicited by their owner or by a stranger. We performed playback experiments and tested a cohort of 16 companion cats in a habituation-dishabituation paradigm, which allows for the measurement of subjects' reactions without extensive training. Here, we report new findings that cats can discriminate speech specifically addressed to them from speech addressed to adult humans, when sentences are uttered by their owners. When hearing sentences uttered by strangers, cats did not appear to discriminate between ADS and CDS. These findings bring a new dimension to the consideration of human-cat relationship, as they imply the development of a particular communication into human-cat dyads, that relies upon experience. We discuss these new findings in the light of recent literature investigating cats' sociocognitive abilities and human-cat attachment. Our results highlight the importance of one-to-one relationships for cats, reinforcing recent literature regarding the ability for cats and humans to form strong bonds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte de Mouzon
- Laboratoire Ethologie Cognition Développement (LECD), Université Paris Nanterre, 92000, Nanterre, France. .,EthoCat-Cat Behaviour Research and Consulting, 33000, Bordeaux, France.
| | - Marine Gonthier
- EthoCat-Cat Behaviour Research and Consulting, 33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Gérard Leboucher
- Laboratoire Ethologie Cognition Développement (LECD), Université Paris Nanterre, 92000, Nanterre, France
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18
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Silva I, Jólluskin G, Vilhena E, Byrne A. Adaptation of the Pet Bereavement Questionnaire for European Portuguese Speakers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 20:534. [PMID: 36612855 PMCID: PMC9819858 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The loss or death of a beloved pet creates a grief reaction comparable to that of the loss of a family member and may lead to the development of symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of persistent complicated grief disorder. Nevertheless, society does not always recognize it as a significant loss, which may contribute to bereaved owners feeling isolated and ashamed when coping with it, as well as not resorting to mental health professionals when necessary. The development of instruments to assess these reactions may contribute to improving the understanding of this suffering. This study aimed to adapt the Pet Bereavement Questionnaire for European Portuguese speakers. A non-probabilistic convenience sample of 169 adults who had a pet that died answered a battery of questionnaires, which included the Portuguese version of the Pet Bereavement Questionnaire. This version resulted from a consensus translation prepared by two translators and subsequently subjected to a cognitive debriefing. The Portuguese version of the instrument demonstrated good reliability (good internal consistency for the total questionnaire and for its subscales) and good external validity (negative correlation with well-being measures and positive correlation with psychopathology measures), as well as reasonable internal validity and sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Silva
- I3ID, Human and Social Sciences Faculty, Universidade Fernando Pessoa, 4249-004 Porto, Portugal
| | - Glória Jólluskin
- I3ID, Human and Social Sciences Faculty, Universidade Fernando Pessoa, 4249-004 Porto, Portugal
| | - Estela Vilhena
- 2Ai, School of Technology, Instituto Politécnico do Cávado e do Ave, 4750-810 Barcelos, Portugal
| | - Allison Byrne
- I3ID, Human and Social Sciences Faculty, Universidade Fernando Pessoa, 4249-004 Porto, Portugal
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19
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ICRP PUBLICATION 153 Approved by the Commission in September 2022. Ann ICRP 2022; 51:9-95. [PMID: 36942865 DOI: 10.1177/01466453221142702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Veterinary use of radiation in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of disease has expanded and diversified, as have the corresponding radiological protection concerns. Radiological exposure of personnel involved in veterinary procedures and, where applicable, members of the public providing assistance (e.g. owners or handlers) has always been included within the system of radiological protection. Veterinary practice is now addressed explicitly as the modern complexities associated with this practice warrant dedicated consideration, and there is a need to clarify and strengthen the application of radiological protection principles in this area. The Commission recommends that the system of radiological protection should be applied in veterinary practice principally for the protection of humans, but with explicit attention to the protection of exposed animals. Additionally, consideration should be given to the risk of potential contamination of the environment associated with applications of nuclear medicine in veterinary practice. This publication focuses primarily on justification and optimisation in veterinary practice, and sets the scene for more detailed guidance to follow in future Recommendations. It is intended for a wide-ranging audience, including radiological protection professionals, veterinary staff, students, education and training providers, and members of the public, as an introduction to radiological protection in veterinary practice.© 2022 ICRP. Published by SAGE.
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20
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Nagasawa T, Kimura Y, Masuda K, Uchiyama H. Physiological Assessment of the Health and Welfare of Domestic Cats-An Exploration of Factors Affecting Urinary Cortisol and Oxytocin. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12233330. [PMID: 36496851 PMCID: PMC9738311 DOI: 10.3390/ani12233330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Physiological samples are beneficial in assessing the health and welfare of cats. However, most studies have been conducted in specialized environments, such as shelters or laboratories, and have not focused on cats living in domestic settings. In addition, most studies have assessed physiological stress states in cats based on cortisol, and none have quantified positive indicators, such as oxytocin. Here, we collected urine samples from 49 domestic cats and quantified urinary cortisol, oxytocin, and creatinine using ELISA. To identify factors influencing hormone levels, owners responded to questionnaires regarding their housing environment, individual cat information, and the frequency of daily interactions with their cats. Using principal component analysis, principal component scores for daily interactions were extracted. These results showed that the frequency of tactile and auditory signal-based communication by owners was positively correlated with the mean concentration of oxytocin in the urine. Additionally, this communication was more frequent in younger cats or cats that had experienced a shorter length of cohabitation with the owner. However, no factors associated with urinary cortisol concentration were identified. Our study indicates that interactions and relationships with the owner influence the physiological status of cats and suggests that oxytocin is a valuable parameter for assessing their health and welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takumi Nagasawa
- Department of Human and Animal-Plant Relationships, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Funako 1737, Atsugi 243-0034, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yuichi Kimura
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Funako 1737, Atsugi 243-0034, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Koji Masuda
- Department of Human and Animal-Plant Relationships, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Funako 1737, Atsugi 243-0034, Kanagawa, Japan
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Funako 1737, Atsugi 243-0034, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Hidehiko Uchiyama
- Department of Human and Animal-Plant Relationships, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Funako 1737, Atsugi 243-0034, Kanagawa, Japan
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Funako 1737, Atsugi 243-0034, Kanagawa, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-046-270-6263
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Luchesi SH, Machado DS, Trindade PHE, Mikulincer M, Otta E. Psychometric validation of the Brazilian Version of the Pet Attachment Questionnaire (PAQ): An examination of predictors of attachment styles among cat owners. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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22
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Cat-human bond: Satisfaction and behavioural complaints among Italian respondents. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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23
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Natoli E, Litchfield C, Pontier D. Coexistence between Humans and ‘Misunderstood’ Domestic Cats in the Anthropocene: Exploring Behavioural Plasticity as a Gatekeeper of Evolution. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12131717. [PMID: 35804616 PMCID: PMC9264925 DOI: 10.3390/ani12131717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Welfare and management decisions for unowned free-ranging cats in urban environments should no longer be based on knowledge about behavioural ecology of solitary cats living and breeding in more natural ‘wild’ environments. We provide evidence that urban free-ranging domestic cats in the Anthropocene have responded to rapidly changing environments, such as abundance of food and higher population densities of conspecifics by adapting their behaviour (behavioural plasticity—the ability of a genotype (individual) to express different behaviours according to its environment) and social organisation to living in complex social groups, especially those living in colonies. Urban free-ranging cats are now more social, as demonstrated by different breeding patterns, lower infanticide, more frequent affiliative interactions in general, and different spatial groupings. We argue that this knowledge should be disseminated widely, and inform future research and strategies used to manage free-ranging cats across environments. Understanding behavioural plasticity and other recently evolved traits of domestic cats may lead to management strategies that maximise health and welfare of cats, wildlife, and humans—otherwise domestic cat behaviour may be ‘misunderstood’. Importantly, interdisciplinary research using expertise from biological and social sciences, and engaging human communities, should evaluate these management strategies to ensure they maintain optimal welfare of free-ranging domestic cats while preserving biodiversity and protecting wildcats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Natoli
- Canile Sovrazonale, ASL Roma 3 (Local Health Unit Rome 3), 00148 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Carla Litchfield
- Conservation Psychology and Applied Animal Behaviour Research Group, Justice and Society (Discipline of Psychology), University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia;
| | - Dominique Pontier
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et de Biologie Évolutive, UMR CNRS5558, Université C. Bernard Lyon 1, 43 Bd du 11 nov. 1018, 69622 Villeurbanne, France;
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24
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Factors associated with play behavior in human-cat dyads. J Vet Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2022.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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