Factors associated with play behavior in human-cat dyads

Henning, Julia; Nielsen, Torben; Fernández, Eduardo J.; Hazel, Susan J.

doi:10.1016/j.jveb.2022.05.007

Cited by 7 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Most cats were reported to be housed exclusively indoors (67%), between 3-5 years of age (28.8%), within a single cat home (38.9%), and had been living with their current guardian for 2-5 years at the time of the survey (42%). For further information on demographics of this study see Henning et al (2022b).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The survey development, validated measures, data management and study population have been described in more detail in Henning et al (2022b). A short summary is included here as well as details relevant to the areas of the questionnaire analysed within this paper.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Participants were asked to rate whether their cat exhibited certain problem behaviours on a 5-point Likert scale from 'never' to 'most of the time.' Only participants who completed every question of the cat QOL and CORS validated measures, and completed at least 98% of the survey overall, were included in final analysis (Henning et al 2022b). The survey was open for participation between the 22 nd of June and the 17 th of July 2021.…”

Section: Surveymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Human-animal interactions, such as play, are likely to impact the dynamic and quality of relationships between cat and guardian. Considering play may be integral to forming and maintaining social skills and communication intra-specifically in animals (Guyot et al 1980, Bekoff & Allen 2011Vanderschuren & Trezza 2013;Palagi et al 2016), play may also be capable of assisting in establishing and maintaining healthy cat-guardian relationships (Henning et al 2022b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While previous studies show promise for some association between play and welfare in cats, there is still much to be understood about whether play is an adequate indicator of welfare, whether play can be used to promote welfare and how much or what kind of play is best suited to achieving these aims. A previous study by Henning et al (2022b) investigated the factors associated with how much play occurs within human-cat dyads. Here, the present study follows on from this paper and aims to identify and assess whether play itself, its quantity or quality or its role in catguardian relationships, is associated with welfare outcomes in cats.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Cats just want to have fun: Associations between play and welfare in domestic cats

Henning¹,

Nielsen²,

Fernández³

et al. 2023

Anim. welf.

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Play is often considered an indicator and promotor of animal welfare and may facilitate closer cat-human relationships. However, few studies have empirically investigated these associations. The current study aimed to investigate play-related factors associated with four welfare outcome measures in cats (Felis catus) including: cat quality of life; cat-guardian relationship quality; problem behaviour prevalence; and behavioural changes. An online survey was developed using demographic information, questions related to play and resources, free text sections and the following validated measures: cat quality of life (QOL), the cat owner relationship scale, and the adult playfulness trait scale. Responses were completed by 1,591 cat guardians from 55 countries. Higher cat playfulness scores and a greater number of games played were significantly associated with higher cat QOL scores while longer amounts of daily play, greater number of games, both cat and guardian initiating play and higher guardian playfulness scores were all significantly associated with higher cat-guardian relationship scores. Exclusively indoor housing was significantly associated with both higher cat QOL and higher cat-guardian relationships scores compared to cats with outdoor access. Behavioural changes associated with distress in cats were reported when play was absent. Play may be an important factor in assessing and maintaining cat welfare. Further research into the mechanisms of how play impacts welfare and cat-guardian relationships is needed.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Surveymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Cats just want to have fun: Associations between play and welfare in domestic cats

Henning¹,

Nielsen²,

Fernández³

et al. 2023

Anim. welf.

Self Cite

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Fetching felines: a survey of cat owners on the diversity of cat (Felis catus) fetching behaviour

Forman,

Renner,

Leavens

2023

Sci Rep

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Domesticated animals are famous for the ease with which they can accommodate to diverse human environments and roles, but less well-studied is the ease with which domestic animals can manipulate their human caregivers to their own ends. For example, domestic animals may start and end their play behaviour with humans at times of their choice. Here we present the results of a survey of 924 cat owners who report fetching behaviour in 1154 cats. The overwhelming majority (94.4%) of these owners report that fetching emerged in the absence of explicit training. Fetching was primarily first noticed when the cats were less than one year old (n = 701) or 1–7 years old (n = 415). Cats initiated and terminated fetching bouts more often than did their owners. Thus, cats who fetch demonstrate independent and co-ordinated agency in the onset and maintenance of fetching behaviour with their human partners. Additional findings highlight the diversity of objects fetched and the diversity in household demographics. Our thematic analysis reveals owners’ perspectives on (a) the process of a fetching session, (b) the initial acquisition of fetching, and (c) the circumstantial factors that influence fetching patterns. In summary, cats who fetch largely determine when they engage in fetching sessions and actively influence the play behaviour of their owners.

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Comparative Analysis of Tickling and Conspecific Play in Tame Mice and Golden Hamsters

Dagher,

DeAngelo,

Sato

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Social play behavior is a fundamental aspect of animal interaction, shaping social bonds and enhancing cognitive capacity. While studies on human-animal play interactions have primarily focused on a few selected species, research on rodents beyond rats remains scarce. We, therefore, addressed the dynamics of social play in tame mice, selectively bred to approach human hands, and golden hamsters, comparing their responses during interactions with humans and conspecifics. Tame mice exhibited heightened playfulness with humans, marked by increased vocalizations and chasing behavior, in addition to increased interactions with tame conspecifics compared to unselected control mice. Hamsters demonstrated a stronger inclination towards conspecific interactions. Notably, vocalization patterns varied between heterospecific and conspecific engagement in both species, suggesting context-dependent communication. These findings offer insights into the evolutionary basis influencing social play across species with differing social structures. Understanding these mechanisms enriches our comprehension of the diverse pathways through which animals form social bonds.

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Factors associated with play behavior in human-cat dyads

Cited by 7 publications

References 36 publications

Cats just want to have fun: Associations between play and welfare in domestic cats

Cats just want to have fun: Associations between play and welfare in domestic cats

Fetching felines: a survey of cat owners on the diversity of cat (Felis catus) fetching behaviour

Comparative Analysis of Tickling and Conspecific Play in Tame Mice and Golden Hamsters

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