Behavioural and faecal glucocorticoid metabolite responses of single caging in six cats over 30 days

Abstract

ObjectivesThe aim was to characterize the behaviour and faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) responses of six cats (Felis catus) to single caging for 30 days.DesignIn this observational study, changes in outcome measures were monitored with habituation to caging. Continuous focal observations of the activity, location in the cage, and posture were conducted from video recordings for one 24-hour period/week/cat. Cat-Stress-Scores were recorded daily. All faecal samples were collected for analysis of FGM.ResultsThe percentage time spent eating increased, while percentage time spent grooming decreased, from week 1 to week 2. Cat-Stress-Score declined significantly from week 1 to week 2. FGM concentrations were significantly greater in week 1 than in week 5. A posthabituation time budget of the behaviour of the cats in the single cages showed that inactivity dominated the time budget and the cats were located on the shelf almost half of the time.ConclusionsResults suggests that a shelf was a resource of value to the cats, and that its inclusion in enclosure design is important. Quantitative and qualitative behavioural data indicated that there was an initial stress response to caging that stabilised after the first week, while FGM concentration took longer to stabilise.

Intrinsic factors, adrenal gland morphology, and disease burden in captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) in South Africa

“…The relationship between stress and gastritis is, however, likely multifactorial since although the highest ACMR were from cheetahs with gastritis, some affected animals had very low ACMR and a few non‐affected cheetahs had high ACMR. This individual variability in stress responses is known to occur in cheetahs [Wielebnowski et al, ; Terio et al, , ; Wells et al, ; Ludwig et al, ; Koester et al, ] as well as in domestic cats [Galuppi et al, ; Ellis et al, ], jaguars [Conforti et al, ], and tigers [Bhattacharjee et al, ]. Other factors, such as diet, also affect the development of gastritis [Lane et al, ].…”

Methods of Assessment of the Welfare of Shelter Cats: A Review

“…In similar studies, the same results were obtained by Ramos et al [165,201], who used faeces as a matrix to analyse the level of cortisol. The level of glucocorticoid metabolites in faeces in cats decreased with increasing time spent in the shelter [202].…”

“…Chronic stress, on the other hand, can be detected using non-invasively obtained samples-urine [139], faeces (determination of glucocorticoid metabolites) [164] and fur [194]. [190,192,195] [15,193,195] prior training of cats on sampling procedure is necessary; a relatively big amount of sample is needed for analysis, which can be a problem to obtain (saliva production is reduced during the stress exposure) sample is easily contaminated by the intake of food and water or by blood from the oral cavity [50,182,191,[196][197][198] urine chronic; concentration: 15% to 18% of the total amount of cortisol in the blood, peak concentrations: 9 ± 3 h after stressor exposure non-invasive; detection of long-term stress is possible; easy sample collection in single housing; sample collection does not requires skills in group housing, the sample is difficult to associate with an individual as cats share toilets diurnal patterns, temperature, activity levels may confound results; sample is often contaminated by blood [101,110,115,139,199,200] faeces chronic; concentration: 80% of the total amount of cortisol in the blood, peak concentrations: 24 ± 4 h after stressor exposure non-invasive; detection of long-term stress is possible; easy sample collection in single housing; sample collection does not requires skills in group housing, the sample is difficult to associate with an individual as cats share toilets diurnal patterns, temperature, activity levels may confound results [164,195,[199][200][201][202] fur chronic non-invasive; easy sample collection (does not requires skills); stability of the sample over time; does not require special transport and storage conditions; ability to determine the time period in which stress occurred in the animal inability of detecting changes in cortisol levels during short periods of time (hours/days) cortisol levels may vary depending on some factors-still in research [194,[2...…”

The association between infrared thermal imagery of core eye temperature, personality, age and housing in cats

“…Observations occurred in the cat's home pens in the morning after subjects had been fed and routine cleaning was complete. After cleaning finished, fifteen minutes were allowed for the cats to settle into their pens (Ellis et al, 2014). Data was collected on days where the sanctuaries were closed to the public, to avoid the confounding effects of multiple people in close proximity to the pens.…”