Environmental Aspects of Domestic Cat Care and Management: Implications for Cat Welfare
Domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) are the most commonly kept companion animals in the US with large populations of owned (86 million), free-roaming (70 million), research (13,000), and shelter (2-3 million) cats. Vast numbers of cats are maintained in homes and other facilities each year and ar...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2016-01-01
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| Series: | The Scientific World Journal |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/6296315 |
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| author | Judith L. Stella Candace C. Croney |
| author_facet | Judith L. Stella Candace C. Croney |
| author_sort | Judith L. Stella |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) are the most commonly kept companion animals in the US with large populations of owned (86 million), free-roaming (70 million), research (13,000), and shelter (2-3 million) cats. Vast numbers of cats are maintained in homes and other facilities each year and are reliant on humans for all of their care. Understanding cat behavior and providing the highest quality environments possible, including positive human-cat interactions, based on research could help improve the outcomes of biomedical research, shelter adoptions, and veterinary care, as well as overall cat welfare. Often, however, cats’ needs are inadequately met in homes and some aspects may also not be well met in research colonies and shelters, despite the fact that similar problems are likely to be encountered in all of these environments. This paper provides a brief overview of common welfare challenges associated with indoor housing of domestic cats. Essential considerations for cage confinement are reviewed, along with implications of poor cat coping, such as weakening of the human-animal bond and relinquishment to shelters. The important role that environmental management plays in cat behavior and welfare outcomes is explored along with the need for additional research in key areas. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-31676ecabf964e019cd9407108ac9750 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2356-6140 1537-744X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2016-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Scientific World Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-31676ecabf964e019cd9407108ac97502025-02-03T01:20:15ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal2356-61401537-744X2016-01-01201610.1155/2016/62963156296315Environmental Aspects of Domestic Cat Care and Management: Implications for Cat WelfareJudith L. Stella0Candace C. Croney1Center for Animal Welfare Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USACenter for Animal Welfare Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USADomestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) are the most commonly kept companion animals in the US with large populations of owned (86 million), free-roaming (70 million), research (13,000), and shelter (2-3 million) cats. Vast numbers of cats are maintained in homes and other facilities each year and are reliant on humans for all of their care. Understanding cat behavior and providing the highest quality environments possible, including positive human-cat interactions, based on research could help improve the outcomes of biomedical research, shelter adoptions, and veterinary care, as well as overall cat welfare. Often, however, cats’ needs are inadequately met in homes and some aspects may also not be well met in research colonies and shelters, despite the fact that similar problems are likely to be encountered in all of these environments. This paper provides a brief overview of common welfare challenges associated with indoor housing of domestic cats. Essential considerations for cage confinement are reviewed, along with implications of poor cat coping, such as weakening of the human-animal bond and relinquishment to shelters. The important role that environmental management plays in cat behavior and welfare outcomes is explored along with the need for additional research in key areas.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/6296315 |
| spellingShingle | Judith L. Stella Candace C. Croney Environmental Aspects of Domestic Cat Care and Management: Implications for Cat Welfare The Scientific World Journal |
| title | Environmental Aspects of Domestic Cat Care and Management: Implications for Cat Welfare |
| title_full | Environmental Aspects of Domestic Cat Care and Management: Implications for Cat Welfare |
| title_fullStr | Environmental Aspects of Domestic Cat Care and Management: Implications for Cat Welfare |
| title_full_unstemmed | Environmental Aspects of Domestic Cat Care and Management: Implications for Cat Welfare |
| title_short | Environmental Aspects of Domestic Cat Care and Management: Implications for Cat Welfare |
| title_sort | environmental aspects of domestic cat care and management implications for cat welfare |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/6296315 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT judithlstella environmentalaspectsofdomesticcatcareandmanagementimplicationsforcatwelfare AT candaceccroney environmentalaspectsofdomesticcatcareandmanagementimplicationsforcatwelfare |