Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-qlrfm Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-08T09:48:40.309Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The burden of domestication: a representative study of welfare in privately owned cats in Denmark

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

P Sand⊘e*
Affiliation:
University of Copenhagen, Department of Large Animal Sciences, Gr⊘nnegårdsvej 8, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark University of Copenhagen, Department of Food and Resource Economics, Rolighedsvej 25, 1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
AP N⊘rspang
Affiliation:
University of Copenhagen, Department of Large Animal Sciences, Gr⊘nnegårdsvej 8, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
B Forkman
Affiliation:
University of Copenhagen, Department of Large Animal Sciences, Gr⊘nnegårdsvej 8, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
CR Bj⊘rnvad
Affiliation:
University of Copenhagen, Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Sciences, Dyrlægevej 16, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
SV Kondrup
Affiliation:
University of Copenhagen, Department of Food and Resource Economics, Rolighedsvej 25, 1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
TB Lund
Affiliation:
University of Copenhagen, Department of Food and Resource Economics, Rolighedsvej 25, 1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: pes@sund.ku.dk

Abstract

The way in which domestic cats are kept and bred has changed dramatically over the last two centuries. Notably, a significant number of cats are kept indoors, most of them are neutered and many are selectively bred. This likely has consequences for their welfare. A few studies link housing, neuter status and breeding in cats to risks of welfare problems. However, the study presented here is the first to quantify the risks and document the prevalence of risk factors. It builds on results from a questionnaire sent to a representative sample of the Danish population. Using the responses from cat owners who keep cats in the home (n = 378), the paper aims to investigate how indoor confinement, neutering and selective breeding affect health, behaviour and other factors relating to cat welfare. The paper reports that confined cats had significantly more behavioural problems than free-roaming cats; that a smaller proportion of the free-roaming cats suffered from the behavioural problems investigated; and that entire cats had significantly more behavioural problems than neutered cats. Finally, significantly more purebred cats than domestic shorthair cats were found to have diseases. Being confined, being intact and being purebred are therefore significant risk factors for behavioural or health problems associated with reduced welfare in privately owned cats.

Type
Articles
Copyright
© 2017 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Allan, FJ, Pfeiffer, DU, Jones, BR, Esslemont, DHB and Wiseman, MS 2000 A cross-sectional study of risk factors for obesity in cats in New Zealand. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 46:183196. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-5877(00)00147-1CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Amat, M, de la Torre, JLR, Fatjó, J, Mariotti, VM, Van Wijk, S and Manteca, X 2009 Potential risk factors associated with feline behaviour problems. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 121:134139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2009.09.012CrossRefGoogle Scholar
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) 2012 US Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook, 2012 Edition. AVMA: Schaumburg, Illinois, USGoogle Scholar
Bain, M and Stelow, E 2014 Feline aggression toward family members: a guide for practitioners. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice 44: 581597. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2014.01.001CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bayer 2013 Bayer-AAFP study reveals half of America's 74 million cats are not receiving regular veterinary care. http://www.catvets.com/public/PDFs/PressReleases-Media/AVMA-BVCUS3PressRelease.pdfGoogle Scholar
Bernstein, PL 2007 The human-cat relationship. In: Rochlitz, I (ed) The Welfare of Cats pp 4789. Springer: Dordrecht, The Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-3227-1_3CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bjornvad, CR, Nielsen, DH, Armstrong, PJ, McEvoy, F, Hoelmkjaer, KM, Jensen, KS, Pedersen, GF and Kristensen, AT 2011 Evaluation of a nine-point body condition scoring sys-tem in physically inactive pet cats. American Journal of Veterinary Research 72: 433437. https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.72.4.433CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buffington, CAT 2002 External and internal influences on dis-ease risk in cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 220: 9941002. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2002.220.994CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buffington, CAT, Westropp, JL, Chew, DJ and Bolus, RR 2006 Risk factors associated with clinical signs of lower urinary tract disease in indoor-housed cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 228: 722725. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.228.5.722CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chu, K, Anderson, WM and Rieser, MY 2009 Population char-acteristics and neuter status of cats living in households in the United States. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 234: 10231030. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.234.8.1023CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Colliard, L, Paragon, B, Lemuet, B, Bénet, J and Blanchard, G 2009 Prevalence and risk factors of obesity in an urban popu-lation of healthy cats. Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery 11: 135140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfms.2008.07.002CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Courcier, EA, O’Higgins, R, Mellor, DJ and Yam, PS 2010 Prevalence and risk factors for feline obesity in a first opinion practice in Glasgow, Scotland. Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery 12: 746753. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfms.2010.05.011CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Crowell-Davis, SL, Curtis, TM and Knowles, RJ 2004 Social organ-ization in the cat: A modern understanding. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 6: 1928. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfms.2003.09.013CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Danmarks Statistisk 2000 Familiernes kæledyr. 40 pct. af fami-lierne holder kæledyr. Nyt fra Danmarks Statistik Nr 499. Danmarks Statisk: Copenhagen, Denmark. [Title translation: The families’ pets. Forty percent of the families keep pets]Google Scholar
European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF) 2014 Facts & Figures 2014. FEDIAF: Brussels, BelgiumGoogle Scholar
Fatjó, J, Ruiz-de-la-Torre, JL and Manteca, X 2006 The epi-demiology of behavioural problems in dogs and cats: A survey of veterinary practitioners. Animal Welfare 15: 179185Google Scholar
Finkler, H and Terkel, J 2010 Cortisol levels and aggression in neutered and intact free-roaming female cats living in urban social groups. Physiology & Behavior 99: 343347. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2009.11.014CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
F⊘devareministeriet 2013 Rapport fra arbejdsgruppen vedr⊘rende avl af dyr. F⊘devareministeriet: Copenhagen, Denmark. [Title trans-lation: Report from the working group on animal breeding]Google Scholar
Gazzano, A, Bianchi, L, Campa, S and Mariti, C 2015 The prevention of undesirable behaviors in cats: Effectiveness of vet-erinary behaviorists’ advice given to kitten owners. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research 10: 535542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2015.07.042CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Godiksen, MT, Granstr⊘m, S, Koch, J and Christiansen, M 2011 Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in young Maine Coon cats caused by the pA31P cMyBP-C mutation: the clinical significance of having the mutation. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 53: 111. https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-53-7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hart, BL and Barrett, RE 1973 Effects of castration on fighting, roaming, and urine spraying in adult male cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 163: 290292Google ScholarPubMed
Heidenberger, E 1997 Housing conditions and behavioural problems of indoor cats as assessed by their owners. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 52: 345364. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1591(96)01134-3CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Herron, ME and Buffington, CAT 2010 Environmental enrich-ment for indoor cats. Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practising Veterinarian 32Google Scholar
Jongman, EC 2007 Adaptation of domestic cats to confinement. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research 6:193196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2007.09.003CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kass, PH, New, JC Jr, Scarlett, JM and Salman, MD 2001 Understanding animal companion surplus in the United States: Relinquishment of non-adoptables to animal shelters for euthana-sia. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 4: 237248. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327604JAWS0404_01CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Knol, BW and Egberink-Alink, ST 1989 Treatment of problem behaviour in dogs and cats by castration and progestagen admin-istration: A review. Veterinary Quarterly 11: 102107. https://doi.org/10.1080/01652176.1989.9694206CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kortegaard, HE, Ven⊘, T, Koch, J and Eriksen, T 2006 Kronisk gingvo-stomatitis hos kat. Dansk Veterinærtidsskrift 89: 1821. [Title translation: Chronic feline gingivitis stomatitis]Google Scholar
Levine, ED 2008 Feline fear and anxiety. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice 38: 10651079. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2008.04.010CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lipinski, MJ, Froenicke, L, Baysac, KC, Billings, NC, Leutenegger, CM, Levy, AM, Longeri, M, Niini, T, Ozpinar, H and Slater, MR 2008 The ascent of cat breeds: genetic evalu-ations of breeds and worldwide random-bred populations. Genomics 91: 1221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygeno.2007.10.009CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lund, EM, Armstrong, P, Kirk, CA and Klausner, J 2005 Prevalence and risk factors for obesity in adult cats from private US veterinary practices. International Journal of Applied Research in Veterinary Medicine 3: 8896Google Scholar
Neilson, J 2004a Feline house soiling: elimination and marking behaviors. Clinical Techniques in Small Animal Practice 19: 216224. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.ctsap.2004.10.003CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Neilson, J 2004b Thinking outside the box: Feline elimination. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 6: 511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfms.2003.09.008CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
O’Brien, SJ and Johnson, WE 2007 The Evolution of CATS. Scientific American 297: 6875. https://doi.org/10.1038/scientifica-merican0707-68CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Overley, B, Shofer, FS, Goldschmidt, MH, Sherer, D and Sorenmo, KU 2005 Association between ovarihysterectomy and feline mammary carcinoma. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 19: 560563. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2005.tb02727.xCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Palmer, C and Sand⊘e, P 2014 For their own good: captive cats and routine confinement. In: Gruen, L (ed) The Ethics of Captivity pp 135155. Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK and New York, USAGoogle Scholar
Patronek, GJ, Beck, AM and Glickman, LT 1997 Dynamics of dog and cat populations in a community. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 210: 637642Google ScholarPubMed
Rand, JS, Fleeman, LM, Farrow, HA, Appleton, DJ and Lederer, R 2004 Canine and feline diabetes mellitus: nature or nurture? The Journal of Nutrition 134: 2072S2080SCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Richmond, R 2013 Pet ownership in Australia. Australian Veterinary Journal 91Google ScholarPubMed
Robertson, I 1999 The influence of diet and other factors on owner-perceived obesity in privately owned cats from metropol-itan Perth, Western Australia. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 40:7585. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-5877(99)00024-0CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rochlitz, I 2005 A review of the housing requirements of domes-tic cats (Felis silvestris catus) kept in the home. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 93: 97109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appla-nim.2005.01.002CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rochlitz, I 2007 Housing and welfare. In: Rochlitz, I (ed) The Welfare of Cats pp 177203. Springer: Dordrecht, The Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-3227-1_7CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Salman, MD, Hutchison, J, Ruch-Gallie, R, Kogan, L, New, JC Jr, Kass, PH and Scarlett, JM 2000 Behavioral reasons for relinquishment of dogs and cats to 12 shelters. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 3: 93106. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327604JAWS0302_2CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sand⊘e, P, Bj⊘rnvad, CR, Forkman, B, N⊘rspang, AP and Lund, TB 2016b Danskere og katte - resultater fra en repræsentativ sp⊘rgeske-maunders⊘gelse. Dansk Veterinærtidsskrift 5: 1015. [Title translation: Danes and cats - results from a representative questionnaire survey]Google Scholar
Sand⊘e, P, Corr, S and Palmer, C 2016a Companion Animal Ethics. Universities Federation for Animal Welfare: Wiley Blackwell: Chichester, UKGoogle Scholar
Sand⊘e, P, Meyer, I, Fredholm, M and Proschowsky, HF 2014 Selektiv avl af racehunde og: katte: kan den ske på en velfærdsmæs-sigt forsvarlig måde? Dyrevelfærd i Danmark 2014. F⊘devarestyrelsen: Copenhagen, Denmark. [Title translation: Selective breeding of pedi-gree dogs and cats: can it be done in a responsible way?]Google Scholar
Scarlett, JM, Salman, MD, New, JG and Kass, PH 2002 The role of veterinary practitioners in reducing dog and cat relinquishments and euthanasias. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 22: 306311. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2002.220.306CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Slingerland, L, Fazilova, V, Plantinga, E, Kooistra, H and Beynen, A 2009 Indoor confinement and physical inactivity rather than the proportion of dry food are risk factors in the development of feline type 2 diabetes mellitus. The Veterinary Journal 179: 247253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.08.035CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sloth, C 1992 Practical management of obesity in dogs and cats. Journal of Small Animal Practice 33: 178182. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-5827.1992.tb01111.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sung, W and Crowell-Davis, SL 2006 Elimination behavior pat-terns of domestic cats (Felis catus) with and without elimination behavior problems. American Journal of Veterinary Research 67:15001504. https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.67.9.1500CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Supplementary material: PDF

Sandoe et al. supplementary material 1

Ved at udfylde dette

Download Sandoe et al. supplementary material 1(PDF)
PDF 111.1 KB
Supplementary material: PDF

Sandoe et al. supplementary material 2

By completing this survey

Download Sandoe et al. supplementary material 2(PDF)
PDF 120 KB