How competent are cat owners in caring for their cats?

Qué tan competentes son los dueños de gatos en el cuidado de sus gatos?

Objective. This study was conducted to determine the perceptions of cat owners in Türkiye regarding the welfare conditions of their cats and their attitudes and knowledge levels during the care of their cats. Materials and methods. The research material consists of data obtained from questionnaires conducted with 494 cat owners. Results. Among cat owners, 98.6% kept cat food in closed boxes and 93.5% took precautions to prevent their cats from accessing household chemicals. In this study, according to the answers given by the participants to the questionnaire questions, statistically significant differences were found between the options in terms of their answers to all other questions, except for the answers given by the cat owners to the questions of whether they use nets for their cats on the windows and/or balconies of their houses and the frequency of changing the litter of their cats (p<0.01). Conclusions. It was determined that the majority of cat owners were generally correct and adequate in terms of their attitudes and knowledge levels during the care of their cats. However, it has been determined that cat owners do not have sufficient and correct information and preferences about using nets for their cats for protective purposes in the windows and balconies of their houses, giving their cats additional foods such as sausage, salami, sausage.

1. Ainsworth MS. Attachments beyond infancy. Am Psychol. 1989; 44(4):709–716 http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//0003-066x.44.4.709
2. Dreschel NA, Granger DA. Physiological and behavioral reactivity to stress in thunderstorm-phobic dogs and their caregivers. Appl. Anim. Behav Sci. 2005; 95(3-4):153–168. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2005.04.009
3. Sanchez MM, McCormack KM, Howell BR. Social buffering of stress responses in nonhuman primates: Maternal regulation of the development of emotional regulatory brain circuits. Soc Neurosci. 2015; 10(5):512–526. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17470919.2015.1087426
4. Odendaal JSJ. Science-based assessment of animal welfare: Companion animals. Rev Sci Tech. 2005; 24(2):493-502. http://dx.doi.org/10.20506/rst.24.2.1586
5. Stammbach KB, Turner DC. Understanding the human-cat relationship: Human social support or attachment. Anthrozoos. 1999; 12(3):162–168. http://dx.doi.org/10.2752/089279399787000237
6. Hafen M, Rush BR, Reisbig AM, McDaniel KZ. The role of family therapists in veterinary medicine: Opportunities for clinical services, education, and research. J Marital Fam Ther. 2007; 33(2):165–176. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2007.00014.x
7. Windle G. What is resilience? A review and concept analysis. Rev Clin Gerontol. 2011; 21(2):152–169. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0959259810000420
8. Crowell-Davis SL. Motivation for pet ownership and its relevance to behavior problems. Compendium. 2008; 135(3):423-428. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0015616
9. Baran MS. Kedi ve köpeklerin beslenmesi. İstanbul Üniv. Vet Fak Derg. 2007; 33(3):89-99. http://dx.doi.org/10.16988/iuvfd.18147
10. Erten Ö, Esen F, Şeker İ, Yüksel BF. Kedi sahiplerinin kedilerinin beden dilini anlama seviyelerinin belirlenmesi: Elazığ İli örneği. Erciyes Üniv Vet Fak Derg. 2022; 19(1):18-23. http://dx.doi.org/10.32707/ercivet.1085226
11. Colliard L, Ancel J, Benet J, Paragon B, Blanchard G. Risk factors for obesity in dogs in France. J Nutr. 2006; 136(7):1951–1955. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jn/136.7.1951S
12. German A. The growing problem of obesity in dogs and cats. J Nutr. 2006; 136(7):1940–1946. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jn/136.7.1940S
13. Kushner R, Blatner D, Jewell D, Rudloff K. The PPET study: people and pets exercising together. Obesity (silver spring). 2006;14(10):1762–1770. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/oby.2006.203
14. Downes M, Canty MJ, More SJ. Demography of the pet dog and cat population on the island of Ireland and human factors influencing pet ownership. Prev Vet Med. 2009; 92(1-2):140–149. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2009.07.005
15. Craig JM. Additives in pet food: are they safe? J Small Anim Pract. 2021; 62(8):624-635. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jsap.13375
16. Worth AJ, Ainsworth SJ, Brocklehurst PJ, Collet MG. Nitrite poisoning in cats and dogs fed a commercial pet food. New Zealand Vet J. 1997; 45(5):193-195. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00480169.1997.36025
17. Botha CJ, Penrith ML. Potential plant poisonings in dogs and cats in southern Africa. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association. 2009; 80(2):63–74. https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v80i2.173
18. Iwazaki E, Lee AH, Kruis AM, Phungviwatnikul T, Valentine H, Arend LS, et al. Effects of a high-protein, high-fiber diet rich in antioxidants and l-carnitine on body weight, body composition, metabolic status, and physical activity levels of cats after spay surgery. J Anim Sci. 2022; 100(4):104-110. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jas/skac104
19. Slater MA, Di Nardo A, Pediconi O, et al. Cat and dog ownership and management patterns in central Italy. Prev Vet Med. 2008; 85(3-4): 267–294. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2008.02.001
20. Downes MJ, Devitt C, Downes MT, More SJ. Understanding the context for pet cat and dog feeding and exercising behaviour among pet owners in Ireland: a qualitative study. Irish Vet J. 2017; 70(29):7-17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13620-017-0107-8
21. McLeod LJ, Evans D, Jones B, Paterson M, Zito S. Understanding the Relationship between Intention and Cat Containment Behaviour: A Case Study of Kitten and Cat Adopters from RSPCA Queensland. Animals. 2020; 10(7):1214. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani10071214
22. SPSS 22.0. Statistical package in social sciences for windows. Chicago, USA, 2022. https://www.ibm.com/spss.
23. Zupcic A, Surbek M, Kabalin AE, Dragovic J, Mencik S, Ostovic M. Missing cat features influencing their returning to owners. Vet Med. 2020; 65(9):394-400. http://dx.doi.org/10.17221/185/2019-VETMED
24. Demir P, Uğurlu Koç A. Pet hayvan (kedi-köpek) sahiplerinin veteriner kliniklerine ilişkin beklentileri. İstanbul Üniv Vet Fak Derg. 2014; 40(2): 168-75. http://dx.doi.org/10.16988/iuvfd.82049
25. Kubilay Sarıal GS, Bozkurt Z. "Animal Welfare Attitudes of Pet Owners: An Investigation in Central and Western Parts of Turkey". Kocatepe Vet J. 2020; 13(4):388-395. https://doi.org/10.30607/kvj.794748
26. Gómez, L. Introducción a la Nutrición de Caninos y Felinos. Journal of Agriculture and Animal Sci. 2014; 2(2):52–67. http://repository.lasallista.edu.co:8080/ojs/index.php/jals/article/view/609
27. Gazzotti, T.; Biagi, G.; Pagliuca, G.; Pinna, C.; Scardilli, M.; Grandi, M.; Zaghini, G. Occurrence of mycotoxins in extruded commercial dog food. Anim. Feed Sci. 2015; 202(1):81–89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2015.02.004
28. Lund E, Armstrong P, Kırk C, Klausner J. Prevalence and risk factors for obesity in adult cats from private US veterinary practices. Int J Appl Re Vet Med. 2005; 3(2):88–96. http://www.jarvm.com/articles/Vol3Iss2/LUND.pdf
29. Michel KE, Wılloughby KN, Abood SK, Fascettı AJ, Fleeman LM, Freeman LM, et al. Attitudes of pet owners toward pet foods and feeding management of cats and dogs. J Am Vet Med Ass. 2008; 233(11):1699-1703. http://dx.doi.org/10.2460/javma.233.11.1699
30. Baran M. Kedi ve Köpeklerin Beslenmesi. İst Üni Vet Fak Der. 2012; 33(3): 89-99. http://dx.doi:10.16988/iuvfd.18147
31. MacPhail C. Gastrointestinal obstruction. Cli Tec Sm Ani Prac.2002; 17(4): 178-183. https://doi.org/10.1053/svms.2002.36606
32. Tomlinson C. Toileting troubles part 1: factors influencing house soiling in cats and dogs. Com Anim. 2016; 21(6):351-357. http://dx.doi.org/10.12968/coan.2016.21.6.351
33. Sonntag Q., Overall K.L. Key determinants of dog and cat welfare: Behaviour, breeding and household lifestyle. Rev Sci Tech Int Epiz. 2014; 33(1):213–220. http://dx.doi.org/10.20506/rst.33.1.2270
34. Stella J, Croney C. Buffington T. Environmental factors that affect the behavior and welfare of domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) housed in cages. App Ani Beh Sci. 2014; 160(1):94-105. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2014.08.006
35. Stella J, Croney C. Environmental aspects of domestic cat care and management: Implications for cat welfare. Sci World J. 2016; Spp Iss: 531. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/6296315
36. Chu, K, Anderson, WM, Rieser, MY. Population characteristics and neuter status of cats living in households in the United States. J Am Vet Med Ass. 2009; 234(8):1023–1030. http://dx.doi.org/10.2460/javma.234.8.1023
37. Salgırlı Y, Hayvan Davranışları ve Refahı. Anadolu Üniversitesi Açıköğr Fak Yay. 2015; 1329(3):94-95. http://dx.doi.org/978-975-06-1006-6
38. Grigg EK, Kogan LR. Owners' Attitudes, Knowledge, and Care Practices: Exploring the Implications for Domestic Cat Behavior and Welfare in the Home. Animals. 2019; 9(11):978. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani9110978