Cat-Owner Relationship and Cat Behaviour: Effects of the COVID-19 Confinement and Implications for Feline Management.

ABSTRACT: The restrictive measures implemented to stem the spread of COVID-19 abruptly changed the lives of many cats and their owners. This study explored whether the lockdown in Italy affected the cat-owner relationship, as well as cat behaviour and welfare. A survey that included questions on owner and cat's demographics, living environment, cat behaviour and a modified version of the Cat/Dog Relationship Scale (C/DORS) was distributed online during the lockdown and was completed by 548 cat owners, mainly women (81.6%). With regard to the C/DORS subscales, both emotional closeness and cat-owner interactions increased during confinement, as opposed to a reduction in perceived costs. The effect of the type of job, family role and owner's age on the C/DORS scores suggests that the relationship impro

SUBMITTER: Riggio G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9324668 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature