Indoor and outdoor management for cats: inferences about the welfare and cat-caretaker relationship

Oliveira, Igor de Abreu; Viana‐Júnior, Arleu Barbosa; Azevedo, Cristiano Schetini de

doi:10.1016/j.jveb.2022.12.010

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 46 publications

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“…Focussing on specific interactions may also benefit the owner–cat relationship if cats are kept confined. A positive relationship between humans and cats can be facilitated by owners spending more time with their cat/s, including playing with them and grooming them (Oliveira et al., 2023). Much of the research on cat enrichment has been done in more restricted and confined environments, such as shelters, catteries and laboratories, rather than in the home environment (see Foreman‐Worsley & Farnworth, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘I want you to want me’: How owners value cats' choices has implications for cat containment

Ovenden,

Bassett,

Sumner

2024

People and Nature

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Globally, cats are a common companion animal. Allowing companion cats to roam away from home can have negative impacts on native wildlife and cat welfare. A more contained cat lifestyle can limit the detrimental impacts of roaming; however, this continues to be an uncommon choice for cat owners in many countries. Communication strategies that focus on welfare benefits for cats have successfully motivated some owners to prevent their cats from roaming. However, little is known about other factors influencing owners' decisions about roaming, such as the owner–cat relationship and their cat's membership in the local community. We conducted five focus groups with 31 cat owners in Aotearoa New Zealand to understand these factors. Using thematic analysis, we identified three major themes that describe how owners view the impacts of cat containment on their relationship with their cat/s. First, finding a balance between enabling and restricting choices to ensure the cat's welfare is at the heart of the owner–cat relationship. Critically, the cat's choice to repeatedly return home reaffirms the owner–cat relationship. Second, striking the right balance in the provision of choice and ensuring welfare are contingent on the cat's characteristics. Owners providing their cat/s with the choice to leave home are perceived to be positively associated with enabling their freedom, independence and curiosity. Third, owners perceived cats to belong in many spaces occupied by humans outside of their property, despite most participants living near populations of significant threatened species. The choice to allow a cat to roam from home impacts cat welfare, the owner–cat relationship and membership in the local cat, human and wildlife community. Efforts to facilitate the shift to a contained cat lifestyle need to help owners provide choices for their cats that will meet their welfare needs and foster the owner–cat relationship. Locally relevant strategies that consider the owners' views as members of their community will likely be more successful. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘I want you to want me’: How owners value cats' choices has implications for cat containment

Ovenden,

Bassett,

Sumner

2024

People and Nature

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Fear, exposure and stressors: What ranges of responses can tell us

Overall

2023

Journal of Veterinary Behavior

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The impact of owner personality traits and cat lifestyle decisions on cat-related guilt

Kogan,

Currin-McCulloch,

Packman

et al. 2024

Human-Animal Interactions

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Introduction: The current study aimed to expand current knowledge on cat-related guilt beyond work cat conflict and guilt about cat parenting to determine the influence of owner’s personality traits, choices regarding their cat’s lifestyle, and cat-related guilt factors. Additionally, we sought to assess potential predictors of anxiety and depression to determine the contributions of cat-related guilt, owner personality traits, and social compensatory behaviors, while controlling for owner demographics. Methods: An online, anonymous, cross-sectional survey was disseminated between October 18 and 28, 2023. Survey respondents (n = 531) were adults who resided in the United States and were the primary caretakers of a cat they had owned for at least 6 months. Descriptive statistics captured cat owner demographics. Multiple linear regression was used to predict guilt about cat parenting, work cat conflict, anxiety, and depression. Results: Significant predictors of guilt about cat parenting included guilt factors, time away, indoor, and attention. Significant predictors of work cat conflict included gender and cat guilt factors, time away, and attention. Work cat conflict and personality traits (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism) significantly predicted depression scores. Lastly, anxiety scores were significantly predicted by work cat conflict, neuroticism, and social compensatory behaviors. Discussion: Findings from this study extend understanding of cat owner’s guilt and illuminate how their personality traits, compensatory behaviors, and lifestyle choices for their pets influence how they perceive and internalize feelings about their cat parenting practices. The nuanced nature of parenting guilt receives limited social recognition, leaving owners isolated in their disenfranchised guilt which significantly influences feelings of anxiety and depression. Our findings underscore the imperative for research and public education about beneficial ways to integrate social contact and enrichment activities to foster both human and animal wellbeing.

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Indoor and outdoor management for cats: inferences about the welfare and cat-caretaker relationship

Cited by 5 publications

References 46 publications

‘I want you to want me’: How owners value cats' choices has implications for cat containment

‘I want you to want me’: How owners value cats' choices has implications for cat containment

Fear, exposure and stressors: What ranges of responses can tell us

The impact of owner personality traits and cat lifestyle decisions on cat-related guilt

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