Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Effect Of Housing And Handling Practices On The Welfare, Behaviour And Selection Of Domestic Cats (Felis Sylvestris Catus) By Adopters In An Animal Shelter, N. Gourkow, D. Fraser

Shelter Management and Adoption Procedures Collection

As adult cats can often be difficult to re-home, they may spend long periods in rescue shelters where barren housing and inconsistent handling can reduce their welfare. In this study, 165 adult cats in an animal shelter in Vancouver, Canada, were assigned to four treatments. The Basic Single treatment reflected typical conditions in that particular shelter, with cats handled in an inconsistent manner by various staff and housed singly in relatively barren cages. Three alternative treatments involved more consistent, positive handling by only the experimenter and research assistants, plus three housing conditions: Enriched Single (individual cages with opportunities to perch …