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Toys, activities, and behavior problems in cats
A D V A N C E S
inappropriate defecation, inter-household cat aggression, and intercat aggression to outdoor cats).
TOYS, ACTIVITIES, AND BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS IN CATS Background From 10 to 28% of cats surrendered to an animal shelter are relinquished because of behavior problems, particularly house spoiling, inter-pet problems, and aggression toward humans. If kept indoors a portion of the time, cats are less likely to be relinquished than cats that are kept outdoors. Keeping pet cats indoors increases life spans, minimizes predation on birds, and decreases shelter relinquishment. Today, 35% of U.S. owners keep their cats indoors all the time, and 56% keep their cats inside at least part of the day. Disease risks have been evaluated for indoor cats, but evaluation of the behavioral wellness of indoor cats has not. An important element in the assessment of behavior wellness of indoor cats is what is provided as enrichment. Enrichment is defined as environmental changes that benefit the inhabitants. This can be accomplished through provision of physiological needs (food, water, and shelter), behavioral needs (species-specfic and individual-specific), environmental complexity, and opportunities to fulfill exercise requirements. Ideally, enrichment would simulate the natural activities of the animal, allow the animal to make choices, and be based on typical animal activities in the natural environment and its speciesspecific requirements. Although many enrichment techniques have been evaluated in captive wild animals, the relationship of enrichment and behavior has not been fully evaluated in the pet domestic cat.
Objectives To survey cat owners regarding provision of environmental enrichments and behavior in their indoor cats.
Procedure The survey involved 277 owners who presented their domestic cat for anything except a behavior problem. Data collected included the frequency and duration of their daily interactions with their indoor cats, the provision of toys and activities by the cat owners, and the prevalence of 6 selected behavior problems (aggression to owner, aggression to visitors, periuria,
Results The average number of toys and activities reported by owners per cat was 7, and the most common toys/activities were furry mice (64%), catnip toys (62%), and balls with bells (62%). A total of 78% of the owners reported that they leave the cat’s toy(s) available all the time. All owners reported playing with their cat, whereas most owners (64%) played with their cat more than 2 times per day and reported play durations of 5 (33%) or 10 minutes (25%). Owners who reported play time of 5 minutes or more reported significantly fewer behavioral problems than those with play periods of 1 minute. A total of 61% of the owners reported that their cat engaged in 1 or more of the 6 selected behavior problem(s), but only 54% of the owners who reported behavior problems in their cats said that they had talked to their veterinarian about the problem. The 2 most frequently reported behavior problems were aggression to the owners (36%) and periuria (24%). Female cats were 50% less likely to be reported to have behavior problems than males.
Author Conclusion Many cat owners do not know what toys and activities are available for enrichment of feline environments and do not know that advice and assistance is available for behavior issues from veterinarians.
Inclusions Three figure, 3 tables, 46 references.
Editor Annotation Multiple studies have shown the value of environment enrichment in the treatment and prevention of behavior problems (e.g., intercat aggression and inappropriate urination) and medical disorders (e.g., feline lower urinary tract disease). This study is another confirmation of the value of enriching the environment for indoor cats. As reported in previous studies, this survey found that the owners whose cats exhibited behavior problems were not likely to tell their veterinarian about their concerns. If owners do not feel comfortable coming to their pet’s veterinarian regarding negative behaviors, there is a risk that an easily corrected behavior
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problem will become a chronic, intractable behavior disorder. This can be overcome by the use of a short, one-page questionnaire in the waiting room to encourage the client to discuss their cat’s behavior with the clinician. (LR) Strickler BL Shull EA. An owner survey of toys, activities, and behavior problems in indoor cats. J Vet Behav 2014;9:207-214.
inappropriate defecation, inter-household cat aggression, and intercat aggression to outdoor cats).
TOYS, ACTIVITIES, AND BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS IN CATS Background From 10 to 28% of cats surrendered to an animal shelter are relinquished because of behavior problems, particularly house spoiling, inter-pet problems, and aggression toward humans. If kept indoors a portion of the time, cats are less likely to be relinquished than cats that are kept outdoors. Keeping pet cats indoors increases life spans, minimizes predation on birds, and decreases shelter relinquishment. Today, 35% of U.S. owners keep their cats indoors all the time, and 56% keep their cats inside at least part of the day. Disease risks have been evaluated for indoor cats, but evaluation of the behavioral wellness of indoor cats has not. An important element in the assessment of behavior wellness of indoor cats is what is provided as enrichment. Enrichment is defined as environmental changes that benefit the inhabitants. This can be accomplished through provision of physiological needs (food, water, and shelter), behavioral needs (species-specfic and individual-specific), environmental complexity, and opportunities to fulfill exercise requirements. Ideally, enrichment would simulate the natural activities of the animal, allow the animal to make choices, and be based on typical animal activities in the natural environment and its speciesspecific requirements. Although many enrichment techniques have been evaluated in captive wild animals, the relationship of enrichment and behavior has not been fully evaluated in the pet domestic cat.
Objectives To survey cat owners regarding provision of environmental enrichments and behavior in their indoor cats.
Procedure The survey involved 277 owners who presented their domestic cat for anything except a behavior problem. Data collected included the frequency and duration of their daily interactions with their indoor cats, the provision of toys and activities by the cat owners, and the prevalence of 6 selected behavior problems (aggression to owner, aggression to visitors, periuria,
Results The average number of toys and activities reported by owners per cat was 7, and the most common toys/activities were furry mice (64%), catnip toys (62%), and balls with bells (62%). A total of 78% of the owners reported that they leave the cat’s toy(s) available all the time. All owners reported playing with their cat, whereas most owners (64%) played with their cat more than 2 times per day and reported play durations of 5 (33%) or 10 minutes (25%). Owners who reported play time of 5 minutes or more reported significantly fewer behavioral problems than those with play periods of 1 minute. A total of 61% of the owners reported that their cat engaged in 1 or more of the 6 selected behavior problem(s), but only 54% of the owners who reported behavior problems in their cats said that they had talked to their veterinarian about the problem. The 2 most frequently reported behavior problems were aggression to the owners (36%) and periuria (24%). Female cats were 50% less likely to be reported to have behavior problems than males.
Author Conclusion Many cat owners do not know what toys and activities are available for enrichment of feline environments and do not know that advice and assistance is available for behavior issues from veterinarians.
Inclusions Three figure, 3 tables, 46 references.
Editor Annotation Multiple studies have shown the value of environment enrichment in the treatment and prevention of behavior problems (e.g., intercat aggression and inappropriate urination) and medical disorders (e.g., feline lower urinary tract disease). This study is another confirmation of the value of enriching the environment for indoor cats. As reported in previous studies, this survey found that the owners whose cats exhibited behavior problems were not likely to tell their veterinarian about their concerns. If owners do not feel comfortable coming to their pet’s veterinarian regarding negative behaviors, there is a risk that an easily corrected behavior
PAGE 3
problem will become a chronic, intractable behavior disorder. This can be overcome by the use of a short, one-page questionnaire in the waiting room to encourage the client to discuss their cat’s behavior with the clinician. (LR) Strickler BL Shull EA. An owner survey of toys, activities, and behavior problems in indoor cats. J Vet Behav 2014;9:207-214.