The effect of animal shelter sound on cat behaviour and welfare

Abstract

This study assessed how sound affected fear- and maintenance-related behaviour in singly housed cats (Felis silvestris catus) in an animal shelter. Two daily 30-min observation sessions (morning and evening) were made for 98 cats from admittance for ten days or until the cat was removed. Cat behaviour and presence of sound (classified by the source) were recorded by instantaneous and onezero sampling with 15-s intervals. Each 30-min observation session was classified as 'quiet' or 'noisy' if the one-zero score for presence of sound was above or below the median of sessions at that time of day. To ensure that cats had at least two complete days of comparable observations, statistical analysis was restricted to the 70 cats (30 females, 40 males) present for two or more weekdays. Cats varied widely in the amount of fear and maintenance behaviour they performed. Males showed less fear and maintenance behaviour than females. Morning sessions consistently had much more sound than evenings, and cats showed more fear behaviour and less maintenance behaviour in the mornings. Cats showed more fear behaviour in noisy morning sessions than quiet ones, with no comparable difference in maintenance behaviour. Where sessions included a pronounced transition in sound, fear-related behaviour was more common after a transition from quiet to noisy and less common after a transition from noisy to quiet. The results show that shelter cats vary greatly in their responses and suggest that sound in shelter environments can substantially affect their behaviour. Lowering sound levels in shelters may help improve cat welfare.

One Health: Circadian Medicine Benefits Both Non-human Animals and Humans Alike

“…Notably, cats and dogs exhibit evident stress responses to loud noises in general (Gruner, 1989; Haverbeke et al, 2008; Eagan, 2020) and during veterinary visits (Stellato et al, 2019; Furgala et al, 2022). They are prone to noise phobia (Blackwell et al, 2013; Storengen and Lingaas, 2015; Gates et al, 2019) and exhibit fear-related behaviors.…”

2022 ISFM/AAFP Cat Friendly Veterinary Environment Guidelines

“…< Sounds in both animal shelter and veterinary clinic settings, cats have been found to demonstrate more fear behaviours when the environment is noisy when compared with a quiet environment. 35,36 Consideration of noise levels is thus relevant to the veterinary experience, as cats find sounds that we accept as normal challenging. Therefore, a quiet physical environment with sound barriers in walls and ceiling tiles can be beneficial, and cats should be kept away from noisy equipment, such as centrifuges and washing machines.…”

“…Increased noise levels that may be detrimental to patients have been recorded in veterinary intensive care wards, 49 and high levels of background noise may elicit physiological stress responses during examination. 35 Telephone ringers should be muted or turned to the lowest setting and team members need to communicate in soft, quiet tones and minimise conversation; case discussions can occur elsewhere. All doors in and out of the area, as well as cage doors, should be squeak-free and close quietly, with door silencers installed.…”

The Impact of Environmental Enrichment on the Cortisol Level of Shelter Cats

“…In a shelter for homeless animals, cats are exposed to many stressors. The stressors might be a large number of animals in a small area, increased infectious pressure [1,2], noise [3], veterinary treatment, or a small amount of environmental resources for a large number of cats [4]. Enriching cats' living environment in shelters is essential in improving their well-being and preventing, limiting, and eliminating undesirable behaviors and behavioral problems [5].…”