ABSTRACT
Veterinarians play an important role in establishing and sharing the welfare of companion animals by carrying out regular health checks and informing owners about the specific needs of the animal's environment and conditions of good husbandry. A survey among German cat owners revealed which role advice about cat behavior plays in daily practice and its influence on the cat owner's compliance. Some owners (29.6%, n = 263/889) reported behavioral problems in their cat. Not all owners considered their veterinarian as their contact of choice for behavioral advice, although veterinarians who met owners' expectations for advice on cat behavior are significantly more often described as feline-friendly (P < 0.000). Owners who expected an empathetic treatment of their cat will show a better compliance (P = 0.003). Owner compliance can be improved by providing accurate and effective veterinary advice about cat behavior and behavioral problems (P = 0.003). Thus, a sound foundation in cat behavior and knowledge of current treatment recommendations for feline behavioral problems can be worthwhile to ensure good husbandry for cats.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Visiting the veterinarian is generally perceived as a stressful situation for cats. Previous studies have shown that the perception of stress may influence cats' healthcare. In order to minimise stress in cats during the veterinary consultation, feline-friendly handling has gained importance and is increasingly being used. The aim of this study was to find out whether cats experience stress during a visit to the veterinarian (and, if so, to what extent), and which factors influence the perception of stress and whether feline-friendly handling techniques have an impact. METHODS: An online survey was conducted among German cat owners. In total, 889 questionnaires were evaluated. The results were analysed with binary logistic regression and a χ² test. A principal component analysis was used to detect the main influencing factors on the perception of stress. RESULTS: Most of the cats (88.7%, n = 732/825) were perceived as stressed during a veterinary consultation, while only about half of the owners (50.8%, n = 419/824) stated that they felt stressed themselves. The cat owners (n = 819) who perceived visiting the veterinarian as a stressful situation also described their cat as stressed significantly more often compared with owners who did not feel stressed (χ² = 101.113, P <0.001). The probability that owners experienced stress themselves was significantly increased if they perceived their cat to be stressed too (odds ratio 0.073, 95% confidence interval 0.016-0.328). One factor that influenced whether an owner was stressed was the stress behaviour of their cat (P <0.001). Furthermore a feline-friendly demeanour by the veterinarian led to less stress in the owners (P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The owner's stress influences the perception of their cat's stress. By adhering to feline-friendly handling guidelines, veterinarians can reduce owner stress associated with veterinary visits, thereby promoting optimal veterinary care and health for their feline patients.
