Evaluating undesired scratching in domestic cats: a multifactorial approach to understand risk factors.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Despite being a natural feline behavior, scratching can become undesirable from a human perspective when directed at household items. This complex behavior can stem from various motivations, ranging from individual cat characteristics to environmental factors. This study investigates the factors influencing the increased level of undesirable scratching behavior in domestic cats, considering both cat-related and environmental aspects.

Methods

Data from 1,211 cats were collected for this study. An online questionnaire comprising three sections was utilized. The first section gathered caregiver demographics, while the subsequent section examined aspects of cats' daily routines, social interactions, environments, behaviours, and temperaments. The final section asses

SUBMITTER: Demirbas YS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11251885 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature