Environmental enrichment choices of shelter cats

Ellis, Jacklyn J.; Stryhn, Henrik; Spears, Jonathan; Cockram, M. S.

doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2017.03.023

Cited by 25 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Although the efforts of facilities to improve the quality of life of cats in shelters have increased significantly in recent years, as the overall interest in welfare issues has increased, it is necessary for experts to come up with new knowledge that would be applicable in practice. Efforts to date have succeeded in enforcing certain measures based on a deeper understanding of the biology and behaviour of cats-for instance, practical improvements such as sound insulation of housing units from dog sounds and other stressful sounds, access to windows and natural light sources, sufficient number of hiding places and elevated locations or placement of housing units above floor level, giving cats a greater sense of security [105,284,285]. The current research also focuses on procedures and methods of management and enrichment of the environment (e.g., playing specific music to cats to relieve stress [286], various forms of olfactory [287,288], cognitive [289,290], visual [291], food [292], pheromone enrichment [293] or social enrichment in the form of human interaction [103]).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Vojtkovská

Voslářová

Večerek

2020

Animals

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At any moment, there are millions of cats housed in foster care facilities for abandoned and stray animals for various reasons worldwide. Care, management and regulation among these facilities differ. Moreover, shelters can never substitute the full comfort of a good home for the animal, and the welfare of cats in shelters is a subject of discussion in many respects. Cats are animals sensitive to changes; for most of them, placement in a shelter is a stressful experience because of changes in routine, environment and the presence of other animals. Stress is reflected in changes in behaviour, causes fluctuations in physiological values and disrupts the immune system, which is a predisposition to the development or reactivation of disease. Evaluation of the presence and intensity of negative impacts is possible through the use of evaluation tools based on indicators that help set the environment and management of keeping so as to disrupt the quality of life as little as possible. Although a comprehensive and valid welfare tool that would evaluate animal-based and at the same time resource-based (or management-based) indicators of cats in shelters is not currently available, it is possible to use partial evaluation of individual welfare indicators to assess welfare. This review aims to provide the readers with an insight into current options of assessment of the welfare of cats in shelters with an emphasis on behavioural, physiological and health indicators with an application in both practical and scientific contexts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Vojtkovská

Voslářová

Večerek

2020

Animals

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“…Fostering is a highly effective method for preparing cats for rehoming, and while in foster care, health problems can also be treated [ 17 , 57 , 58 ]. Foster care can provide greater environmental enrichment, with consequent beneficial effects on social behavior and health [ 59 , 60 ]. Utilization of temporary foster care markedly improved odds of live release for dogs, and resulted in a 70% reduction in the prevalence of major or minor health or behavior concerns compared to the prevalence in the same dogs before they were fostered [ 61 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cat rescue groups typically foster cats in volunteers’ homes, and their aim is to aid in the rehabilitation and rehoming of cats [ 57 , 64 ]. Rescue groups help to reduce the numbers of cats in shelters and expose cats available for rehoming to a larger network of potential adopters beyond the shelter [ 58 , 59 ]. In Queensland, over the study period, there was a growing number of cat rescue groups, but they were often at capacity, as they also receive cats from other sources (e.g., council pounds, owner surrender, etc.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes Associated with Improved Outcomes for Cats Entering RSPCA Queensland Shelters from 2011 to 2016

Kerr

Rand

Morton

et al. 2018

Animals

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Simple SummaryThe aim of this study was to identify changes that contributed to the markedly improved live release of cats in Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) Queensland shelters by comparing data from 2011 and 2016. Admission numbers were similar in these two years. The number and percentage euthanized decreased substantially from 58% in 2011 to 15% in 2016. The greatest contributor to this were marked increases in cats rehomed (i.e., adopted). The number of cats adopted doubled from 2011 to 2016, with over half the increase contributed by increased shelter adoptions, and the remainder achieved by increased off-site adoptions, largely through agreements with Petbarn stores. Improved outcomes were facilitated by nearly doubling the number of cats temporarily in foster care. Cats euthanized for behavioral reasons decreased by 85%, including a marked decrease in the number of euthanasias because the cat was deemed feral. Euthanasia of young kittens dramatically decreased. The number of cats reclaimed by their owner was similar in the two years and was only a small contributor to the numbers of cats released live. To achieve further improvements, programs that decrease intake for both stray and owned cats would be beneficial.AbstractThis retrospective study of cat admissions to RSPCA Queensland shelters describes changes associated with improved outcomes ending in live release in 2016 compared to 2011. There were 13,911 cat admissions in 2011 and 13,220 in 2016, with approximately 50% in both years admitted as strays from the general public or council contracts. In contrast, owner surrenders halved from 30% to 15% of admissions. Percentages of admissions ending in euthanasia decreased from 58% to 15%. Only 5% of cat admissions were reclaimed in each of these years, but the percentage rehomed increased from 34% to 74%, of which 61% of the increase was contributed by in-shelter adoptions and 39% from non-shelter sites, predominately retail partnerships. The percentage temporarily fostered until rehoming doubled. In 2011, euthanasias were most common for medical (32% of all euthanasias), behavioral (36%) and age/shelter number (30%) reasons, whereas in 2016, 69% of euthanasias were for medical reasons. The number of young kittens euthanized decreased from 1116 in 2011 to 22 in 2016. The number of cats classified as feral and euthanized decreased from 1178 to 132, in association with increased time for assessment of behavior and increased use of behavior modification programs and foster care. We attribute the improved cat outcomes to strategies that increased adoptions and reduced euthanasia of young kittens and poorly socialized cats, including foster programs. To achieve further decreases in euthanasia, strategies to decrease intake would be highly beneficial, such as those targeted to reduce stray cat admissions.

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“…18 Meeting core needs The core needs of domestic cats kept in confinement have been expressed in various ways, in reference to Brambell's 'five freedoms,' which provide for very basic physiological requirements. 34 More recently, the specific environmental needs for cat housing have been described in terms of 'five pillars': 31,35 < A safe place to rest; < Multiple resources; < Ability to express play and predatory behavior; < Positive and consistent human contact; < Appropriate olfactory stimulation.…”

Section: Housing Design To Accommodate Cats' Needsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The core needs of domestic cats kept in confinement have been expressed in various ways, in reference to Brambell’s ‘five freedoms,’ which provide for very basic physiological requirements. 34 More recently, the specific environmental needs for cat housing have been described in terms of ‘five pillars’: 31,35…”

Section: Housing Design To Accommodate Cats’ Needsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shelter housing for cats: Principles of design for health, welfare and rehoming

Wagner

Hurley

Stavisky

2018

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery

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This review, the first in a two-part series, discusses practical aspects of housing and shelter design for the health, welfare and adoption of shelter cats. Evidence base: There is a relatively small body of empirical evidence to inform shelter design recommendations. The recommendations in this article are based on a careful review of the available evidence, some of which has come from allied fields such as the care of experimental animals. Where evidence is not yet available, recommendations have been based on field experience and collective expert opinion.

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Environmental enrichment choices of shelter cats

Cited by 25 publications

References 19 publications

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

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

Changes Associated with Improved Outcomes for Cats Entering RSPCA Queensland Shelters from 2011 to 2016

Shelter housing for cats: Principles of design for health, welfare and rehoming

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