A survey of Italian cat owners’ attitudes towards cat vaccination through a web-based questionnaire

Abstract

Background: Vaccination plays an important role in feline healthcare as it is the most effective measure for prevention against feline infectious diseases. Therefore, it is important to know owners’ opinion towards cats’ vaccination and current veterinary practices in order to advice owners on the use of the correct vaccination protocol. This study aimed to identify factors motivating cat owners’ decisions related to vaccination in Italy. A questionnaire was disseminated online (mainly via social networks) to collect data regarding Italian cat owners’ demographics, information about cats, factors regarding vaccination of cats, and veterinary-owner relationship. Results: The majority (90.7%; n=1,131) of cats were vaccinated and 80% (n=998) had been vaccinated within the last three years. Cats 2-4 years old and origin from a breeder or cat shops had a high significant positive impact on the vaccination within the last three years status of cats. Vaccination before the three year period was significantly associated with the importance of cat’s indoor lifestyle, cats ≥ 5 years old and low annual household. The importance for cost vaccination, low annual household income and jobs of owner not related to healthcare had a significant impact on the unvaccination status of cats. In addition, 85.8% of owners present their cat regularly to veterinary clinics. Veterinarians play a significant role in owners’ decision and they are considered the most useful source of information about vaccination by 97.3% of owners. Conclusions: These results could help veterinarians to acquire a greater compliance from owners and better adapt vaccination protocols.

Thinking outside the lab: Can studies of pet rats inform pet and laboratory rat welfare?

“…This is especially the case in the field of companion animal studies; in the past five and a half years, a search on Web of Science (Titles "pet" + "survey"; "rat" + "survey"; Jan 2015-July 2021) identified more than thirty studies of companion animal health and welfare using survey methodologies. Veterinary issues concerning cats and dogs, such as vaccination rates and attitudes towards vaccination amongst owners 6,7 , and the prevalence and prevention of parasitic infections [8][9][10] , have demonstrated the value of survey techniques as an important first step towards improving the health and welfare of owned animals. By following owner report surveys with experimental studies and sampling (e.g.…”