The Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare
Education have undertaken a research project funded by the Animal Welfare
Foundation (AWF), to identify welfare issues for a number of species, including
cats.
Animal welfare experts found a consensus in determining
priority welfare issues for cats in the UK and identified that the key welfare
issues for our domestic cats include
- behaviour issues, often experienced by cats confined to the home
- social behaviour problems
- disease as a result of old age
- not seeking veterinary care at an appropriate time
- poor pain management
- issues arising from specific breeding traits
- neglect and hoarding
- stray cats.
The
publication highlights important areas where further research is needed, or
where awareness needs to be increased, so that there is a better understanding
of the potential welfare issues that can arise and what can be done to address
the welfare issues.
Common
welfare issues relating to behaviour can potentially be addressed by providing
enrichment, such as scratching posts, toys, hiding places – an environment that
supports normal cat behaviour. Social behaviour issues in cats can arise from
having insufficient resources (e.g. litter trays, feed bowls) for the number of
cats in a home. Cats do not like to share and need their own space and
resources to live together happily.
Read the publication
for further information: https://edin.ac/2oNr2RA
Rioja-Lang, F., Bacon, H., Connor, M., Dwyer, CM. (2019) Determining priority welfare issues for cats in
the United Kingdom using expert consensus. Veterinary Record
Open 6: e000365. doi:
10.1136/vetreco-2019-000365
If you are
interested in cat behaviour we also recommend checking out our free online course
in the behaviour and welfare of dogs and cats:
The Truth About Cats and
Dogs (free 5 week online course)
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