The effect of premature maternal separation on distress vocalizations and activity in kittens (Felis catus) during a brief nest separation.

ABSTRACT: It is unknown how premature maternal separation affects the responses of kittens to potentially stressful events. In the United States, thousands of kittens are orphaned each year due to death of the queen, neglect, or accidental separation by humans. Neonatal mammals emit distress calls and increase locomotion when socially isolated, suggesting that being separated from the nest is a stressful event. Increased vocalization and activity of isolated neonates may aid maternal retrieval or relocation of the nest. In the current study, we assessed the effects of early maternal separation on later vocalizations and activity of 49 kittens (28 orphaned, 21 mother-reared; 23 female, 26 male) from 11 litters (5 mothered, 6 orphaned) during an open field test when the kittens were one and three week

SUBMITTER: Lowell KJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7577203 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature