Survey of cat owners on features of, and preventative measures for, feline scratching of inappropriate objects: a pilot study. Issue 10 (October 2018)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Survey of cat owners on features of, and preventative measures for, feline scratching of inappropriate objects: a pilot study. Issue 10 (October 2018)
- Main Title:
- Survey of cat owners on features of, and preventative measures for, feline scratching of inappropriate objects: a pilot study
- Authors:
- Moesta, Alexandra
Keys, Deborah
Crowell-Davis, Sharon - Abstract:
- Objectives: The objective of this study was to collect preliminary data on relevant features and preventative measures of feline inappropriate scratching. Preliminary data could then be used to inform future randomized controlled studies. Methods: A paper questionnaire was distributed to 140 cat-owning clients of a small animal practice. The response rate was 82.9%. Questions related to features of inappropriate and designated items scratched, frequency of the behavior and how owners attempted to modify the behavior. The frequency of scratching was ranked and analyzed with repeated-measures models for differences between features of items. The effectiveness of techniques to modify scratching was analyzed with Student's t -tests comparing frequencies of scratching between cats of survey participants who did and did not use specific techniques. Results: Scratching of inappropriate items was reported for 83.9% of cats. Most cats (81.5%) scratched chairs or other furniture and 64.1% scratched carpet. The frequency of scratching inappropriate items was significantly influenced by type and material of the items scratched, with furniture and carpet, and fabric and carpet, respectively, being scratched most often. Most cats (76.1%) had a designated scratching item. The frequency of scratching designated items was significantly influenced by type, with cats using scratching posts and other items more often than scratch pads. Owners used a variety of punishment- and reward-basedObjectives: The objective of this study was to collect preliminary data on relevant features and preventative measures of feline inappropriate scratching. Preliminary data could then be used to inform future randomized controlled studies. Methods: A paper questionnaire was distributed to 140 cat-owning clients of a small animal practice. The response rate was 82.9%. Questions related to features of inappropriate and designated items scratched, frequency of the behavior and how owners attempted to modify the behavior. The frequency of scratching was ranked and analyzed with repeated-measures models for differences between features of items. The effectiveness of techniques to modify scratching was analyzed with Student's t -tests comparing frequencies of scratching between cats of survey participants who did and did not use specific techniques. Results: Scratching of inappropriate items was reported for 83.9% of cats. Most cats (81.5%) scratched chairs or other furniture and 64.1% scratched carpet. The frequency of scratching inappropriate items was significantly influenced by type and material of the items scratched, with furniture and carpet, and fabric and carpet, respectively, being scratched most often. Most cats (76.1%) had a designated scratching item. The frequency of scratching designated items was significantly influenced by type, with cats using scratching posts and other items more often than scratch pads. Owners used a variety of punishment- and reward-based techniques to stop inappropriate scratching and encourage scratching of designated items; only one technique was found to have a significant effect, with the frequency of scratching designated items being significantly lower in cats that were placed near the item. Conclusions and relevance: Furniture covered with fabric was an object frequently scratched. Fabric should be further investigated as a potential material to encourage desired scratching behavior. Scratch pads appeared less desired than scratching posts. Punishment was a common strategy to deter scratching but did not appear to influence the frequency of scratching. … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- Journal of feline medicine and surgery. Volume 20:Issue 10(2018)
- Journal:
- Journal of feline medicine and surgery
- Issue:
- Volume 20:Issue 10(2018)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 20, Issue 10 (2018)
- Year:
- 2018
- Volume:
- 20
- Issue:
- 10
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2018-0020-0010-0000
- Page Start:
- 891
- Page End:
- 899
- Publication Date:
- 2018-10
- Subjects:
- Cats -- Diseases -- Periodicals
Cats -- Surgery -- Periodicals
636.8089 - Journal URLs:
- http://jfm.sagepub.com/ ↗
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/1098612X ↗
http://www.uk.sagepub.com/home.nav ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1177/1098612X17733185 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 1098-612X
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - 4983.933000
British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 8523.xml