ANALYTICAL STUDY ON CAT- OWNER RELATIONSHIPS AND THE MOST COMMON BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS OF CATS (FELIS CATUS) IN EGYPT | ||||
| Journal of the Egyptian Veterinary Medical Association | ||||
| Volume 77, Issue 4, December 2017, Page 751-770 PDF (886.8 K) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Research Articles | ||||
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| Abstract | ||||
| The objective of this study was to analyze the cat-owner relationship owner characteristics including gender- age-social status and job also animal characteristics including (breedsage-sex-neuter state- size) and management factors( housing -animal social status- feeding schedule - vaccination and availability of litter box) and 2 - to record the most common behavioral problems of pet cats (felis catus ) in Egypt. Thirty-seven (37) cats and their owners was the subject of this study which was conducted during the period of November 2014 to September 2016 in pet clinic of Directorate of Veterinary Medicine at Giza Governorate. Four methods of collecting data were used (Questionnaire, owner interview, clinical examination and video tape analysis). Obtained results reviled that in Egypt 24.3% of cat owners were males while the majority 75.7% of cat owners were females.43.24% of cat owners age were <25 years, 32.43% of cat owners aged between 25- 40 years while 24.32% the owner aged between 41 - 60 years. Concerning the owner's life style 97.29% of the cat owners were families while 2.7% of cat owner were of couple type. With the owner jobs 35.13% of cat owner were student type, 35.13% of owner were of housewife type, 27% were employers and 2.7% were of a business man. Concerning the animals breed 78.37% of cats reared by Egyptian were of Persian type, 5.4% were of Siamese type and 16.21% were of mixed breed’s type. The majority of Persian cats 68.96% were male’s type while 31.03% were of females types, with Siamese type males represented 66.66% while females represented 33.33% while mixed breed males and females represent 50% for each of them. Concerning the cat management and animal care 94.6% of cats was kept indoor while 5.4% were kept outdoor. With the animals social status56.75% of cats was kept alone, 40.54% were reared with others cats and 2.7% were kept with others pets. 54.1% of cats were vaccinated and 45.9% were unvaccinated. With food types 24.32% of cats received dry food, 62.16% received soft food, while 13.5% received mixed food types. Most cats 91.89 % fed in an ad libitum basis, 5.4 % received food three times a day while 2.7% received food twice a day. Litter box was available for 67.56 % of the cats, while 32.43% of cats have no litter box. Abnormal behavior was recorded only for 24 cats. Four major abnormal behavioral traits were recorded (scratching furniture 45.83 %, aggression 25%, inappropriate elimination 25% and cannibalism of kitten 4.16 %). Four types of aggression were recorded (pain, fear, maternal and sexual aggression in percentage of 50% for the first and 16.66 % for the second and 16.66% for the third and 16.66% for the forth. Results recorded a positive correlation between the cat breeds and abnormal behavior pattern at P=<.005. For examples Persian cat recorded the highest percentage 72.7% for scratch furniture meanwhile mixed cats’ recorded18.18 % and Siamese cat recorded the least percentage 9% for the trait. For aggression Persian cat also recorded the highest percentage 66.66% compared with mixed breed which recorded 33.33% for the trait. For inappropriate elimination also Persian cat recorded the highest percentage 83.3% compared with the mixed breed which recorded 16.66% and this was attributed to the highest incidence of Persian cats specially males to renal stones and urine retention (i.e. Presence of genetic predisposition of Persian to this trait) Strategies of treatments comprises1-behavioralmodification(proper training and learning)2-environmental modification (environmental enrichments)3-drug therapy (sedative and hormone) and 4-surgical interference (castration and declawing). . | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Cats; cat- owner relationship- abnormal behavior- scratch furniture-aggression- inappropriate elimination- cannibalism | ||||
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