Effect of interactions with humans on behaviour, mucosal immunity and upper respiratory disease of shelter cats rated as contented on arrival

Abstract

Sustained positive affect may decrease vulnerability to upper respiratory infections in cats admitted to a shelter. Incidence of upper respiratory infections was examined in cats rated as Content upon admission to an animal shelter when provided with or without treatment to sustain contentment. Ninety-six cats rated as Content upon admission were provided with either human interaction, including petting, playing, and grooming, in four 10min sessions/d for 10 days or were exposed to a control treatment of a human standing in front of the cage with eyes averted for the same period. Changes in emotional state and mucosal immune responses were measured daily in treated and control groups. Infectious status was determined upon admission and on days 4 and 10 using combined conjunctival and oropharyngeal swab specimens tested by quantitative real-time PCR for feline herpes virus type 1, feline calicivirus, Mycoplasma felis, Chlamydophila felis, and Bordetella bronchiseptica. The onset of upper respiratory disease (URD) was determined by veterinary staff based on clinical signs, including ocular or nasal discharge. Treated cats were more likely to remain Content (Incident Rate Ratio [IRR]:1.13, Confidence Interval: 0.98-1.30, P <0.0001) and less likely to be rated as Anxious or Frustrated than Control cats over a 10 day period (IRR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.42-0.88, P =0.007). Feline secretory IgA (S-IgA) quantified in faeces by ELISA techniques, was greater for Treated than Control cats (1451 Vs 846μg/g). Within the Treatment group, S-IgA was greater for cats that sustained Contentment throughout the study period compared to cats that became Anxious or Frustrated (1846 Vs 1394μg/g). An increasing proportion of Control than Treated cats shed pathogens over time (Control 22%, 36%, 61%; Treated 35%, 26%, 32% on d 1, 4 and 10, respectively; P =0.006). Control cats were more likely to develop URD than Treated cats (HR 2.9, CI: 1.30-6.67, P =0.01). Cats that responded positively to Treatment had a lower incidence of URD than negative responders (P =0.02). We conclude that the provision of human interaction treatments to shelter cats can facilitate sustained contentment, enhance secretion of S-IgA, and reduce incidence of URD.

Effect of cognitive enrichment on behavior, mucosal immunity and upper respiratory disease of shelter cats rated as frustrated on arrival

“…Once frustration subsided in both groups, control cats showed a high rate of apathy whilst treated cats became content suggesting that frustration left untreated may be a factor for onset of apathy. Further, apathetic behaviors were not observed in our previous studies of anxious (Gourkow et al 2014b) and content cats (Gourkow et al Phillips, 2015), also suggesting that frustration may be a specific risk factor for apathy in shelter cats. In farm animals, apathy, including loss of interest in the environment, inhibition of feeding, grooming and locomotion may be indicative of sickness (Broom, 2006).…”

“…In between these bouts of frustration behavior, cats appeared calm and were resting or engaged in normal activities such as eating and grooming. In response to a Human Approach Test, Frustrated cats responded similarly to Contented cats (Gourkow and Phillips, 2015), in contrast to the cats rated as Anxious, which in 81% of cases responded with defensive retreat and 19% of cases responded with aggression (Gourkow et al, 2014b). Thus, depending on the sampling schedule, frustration behaviors can easily be missed.…”

Effect of a Pheromone on Stress‐Associated Reactivation of Feline Herpesvirus‐1 in Experimentally Inoculated Kittens

“…Reactivation of FHV‐1 then can recur, resulting in clinical signs, and FHV‐1 shedding increases . Stressful events may precipitate FHV‐1 reactivation in some instances . In a shelter study, cats with the highest stress scores during the first week in the shelter were more likely to develop upper respiratory infection (URI) .…”

“…Several strategies with variable outcomes have been employed in an attempt to mitigate FHV‐1 reactivation in cats . Lessening stress is a strategy that may decrease signs of URI and viral shedding in shelter cats . In shelters, stress reduction methods have included gentle stroking and speaking to the cat, grooming, playing, and use of hiding enrichment and minimally invasive daily kennel cleaning …”

Cage size, movement in and out of housing during daily care, and other environmental and population health risk factors for feline upper respiratory disease in nine North American animal shelters

“…Even at those shelters that have the wherewithal for treatment, caring for sick animals consumes scarce shelter resources. With reported incidence as high as 30% [2,3], these costs may be substantial. In this context, prevention of disease is critical; yet, in spite of significant investment in improved shelter facilities and extensive efforts at management [4], feline URI remains one of the most significant disease concerns for shelter managers [5].…”