No abstract

O objetivo deste artigo foi introduzir debate a respeito da presente e, possivelmente, da futura relevância crescente do gato doméstico, no que se refere à saúde pública, com ênfase para a raiva (animal/urbana). A literatura científica que trata do papel específico do gato em relação às zoonoses ainda é reduzida. Essa espécie está se tornando o mais popular animal de companhia no mundo ocidental urbano, particularmente devido ao estilo de vida adotado pelas pessoas, com reduzido espaço residencial e pouco tempo disponível para se dedicarem aos animais de companhia, o que prejudica especialmente o cão, animal, até então, preferencial. A predominância do gato ainda não é observada no Brasil, contudo, se, em breve, ela for aqui reproduzida ter-se-á que rever as estratégias adotadas, particularmente nas campanhas de vacinação antirrábica. E as características etológicas do felino doméstico deverão ser consideradas para se estabelecer estratégias mais adequadas para que se vacine o número de animais recomendado.

Nonhuman animals in captivity can experience environmental privation that results in their exhibiting abnormal behaviors. Environmental enrichment techniques can help improve their welfare. This study investigated the behavior of 8 zoo-housed oncilla cats (Leopardus tigrinus) in response to 2 odors (catnip and cinnamon) introduced individually into the animals' enclosures for 3 consecutive days. Proportion of scans spent engaging in stereotypical pacing were compared before, during, and after treatments. The addition of cinnamon reduced the proportion of pacing during and after enrichment (Wilcoxon: Z = 3.16, p < .001; Z = 3.16, p < .001, respectively), indicating a prolonged effect of the enrichment on the animals' behavior. Catnip appears to have elicited no significant difference in the stereotypic pacing before, during, or after the enrichment (Friedman: X(2) = 2.69; p = .260). The results highlight the potential use of cinnamon as a method of environmental enrichment for small captive-housed cats.

The domestic cat Felis silvestris catus is considered a potential threat to the native fauna of regions it populates, particularly when it has free access to these areas. Although this problem is known in Brazil, little is known regarding the effects of this species on natural areas. This study aimed to obtain information concerning the diet of domestic cats by identifying the main items found in fecal samples from domestic cats. In addition, the effects of seasonality on the diet were examined, as it has been hypothesized that seasonal variation of food items has little influence of the diet of the domestic cat. These semi‐domiciled cats are thought to face a constant and continuous supply food offered by their owners throughout the year. Feces were collected in a remnant fragment of an Atlantic Forest located south of the municipality of Ilha Comprida — SP, Brazil. These samples provided important information regarding the dietary ecology and predation behavior of this species in endangered forest areas. The results of the scat content analyses demonstrated that domestic cats inserted in this biome presented a generalist and opportunist diet with little seasonal variation, even when receiving food from their owners. The most frequently consumed groups of prey were insects (20.8%) followed by mammals (13.9%) and birds (4.0%). Although the cat is not the only factor that impacts the species of the region, management programs need to be established in conjunction with the local community with the aim of minimizing the pressure exerted by these animals on the native fauna.