Profiling Italian cat and dog owners’ perceptions of pet food quality traits
Abstract Background Over recent years, pet owners have started to demonstrate increased sensitivity toward their companion animals, which includes an increase in the attention paid towards their nutrition, seen as a way of safeguarding their pets’ welfare. The aim of this study was to identify how p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Veterinary Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12917-020-02357-9 |
| _version_ | 1819228508299198464 |
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| author | Marica Vinassa Diana Vergnano Emanuela Valle Marzia Giribaldi Joana Nery Liviana Prola Domenico Bergero Achille Schiavone |
| author_facet | Marica Vinassa Diana Vergnano Emanuela Valle Marzia Giribaldi Joana Nery Liviana Prola Domenico Bergero Achille Schiavone |
| author_sort | Marica Vinassa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Over recent years, pet owners have started to demonstrate increased sensitivity toward their companion animals, which includes an increase in the attention paid towards their nutrition, seen as a way of safeguarding their pets’ welfare. The aim of this study was to identify how pet food quality traits are perceived as being the most important by dog and cat owners. To this end, a survey of dog and cat owners was conducted by means of a questionnaire distributed in pet stores and trade fairs throughout Italy. Results A total of 935 surveys were collected; 61.8% of which were compiled by female pet owners. The respondents were relatively homogeneously distributed between cat (30.8%), dog (39.4%), and cat and dog (29.8%) owners. A quarter of the owners (25.5%) reported to have asked their veterinarian for advice on which pet food to buy, and almost a third (30.4%) trusted the advice posted on the web sites of well-known brands. “Contains natural ingredients” was the characteristic that obtained the highest mean score (4.3 out of 5). Elderly owners (> 65 years) placed most importance on whether a product had a high price, and least on feed appearance, animal satisfaction, and stool quality. Young owners (< 35y) paid most attention to the stool quality, the percentage of protein in the feed, and the presence of recyclable packaging, and least attention to feed appearance, smell, and animal satisfaction. Feed appearance, smell, a higher cost, and certain label indications (protein content, presence of fresh meat, grain free) were mostly important among the buyers of wet pet food. Some specific differences also emerged between dog, cat, and dog and cat owners. Conclusions In this survey of Italian pet food buyers, the presence of “natural” ingredients was considered to be the most important indicator of pet food quality, whereas characterized by a high price was considered least important. The data obtained from this survey could be used to help pet food companies identify which pet food quality traits are perceived as important by dog and cat owners. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T10:58:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2c7980b4e55e43b2a0cd4af80702dd1f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1746-6148 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T10:58:24Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Veterinary Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-2c7980b4e55e43b2a0cd4af80702dd1f2022-12-21T17:49:41ZengBMCBMC Veterinary Research1746-61482020-05-0116111010.1186/s12917-020-02357-9Profiling Italian cat and dog owners’ perceptions of pet food quality traitsMarica Vinassa0Diana Vergnano1Emanuela Valle2Marzia Giribaldi3Joana Nery4Liviana Prola5Domenico Bergero6Achille Schiavone7Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of TurinDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of TurinDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of TurinResearch Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing, CREADepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of TurinDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of TurinDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of TurinDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of TurinAbstract Background Over recent years, pet owners have started to demonstrate increased sensitivity toward their companion animals, which includes an increase in the attention paid towards their nutrition, seen as a way of safeguarding their pets’ welfare. The aim of this study was to identify how pet food quality traits are perceived as being the most important by dog and cat owners. To this end, a survey of dog and cat owners was conducted by means of a questionnaire distributed in pet stores and trade fairs throughout Italy. Results A total of 935 surveys were collected; 61.8% of which were compiled by female pet owners. The respondents were relatively homogeneously distributed between cat (30.8%), dog (39.4%), and cat and dog (29.8%) owners. A quarter of the owners (25.5%) reported to have asked their veterinarian for advice on which pet food to buy, and almost a third (30.4%) trusted the advice posted on the web sites of well-known brands. “Contains natural ingredients” was the characteristic that obtained the highest mean score (4.3 out of 5). Elderly owners (> 65 years) placed most importance on whether a product had a high price, and least on feed appearance, animal satisfaction, and stool quality. Young owners (< 35y) paid most attention to the stool quality, the percentage of protein in the feed, and the presence of recyclable packaging, and least attention to feed appearance, smell, and animal satisfaction. Feed appearance, smell, a higher cost, and certain label indications (protein content, presence of fresh meat, grain free) were mostly important among the buyers of wet pet food. Some specific differences also emerged between dog, cat, and dog and cat owners. Conclusions In this survey of Italian pet food buyers, the presence of “natural” ingredients was considered to be the most important indicator of pet food quality, whereas characterized by a high price was considered least important. The data obtained from this survey could be used to help pet food companies identify which pet food quality traits are perceived as important by dog and cat owners.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12917-020-02357-9Pet foodQuality indicatorsSurveyPerception of pet food |
| spellingShingle | Marica Vinassa Diana Vergnano Emanuela Valle Marzia Giribaldi Joana Nery Liviana Prola Domenico Bergero Achille Schiavone Profiling Italian cat and dog owners’ perceptions of pet food quality traits BMC Veterinary Research Pet food Quality indicators Survey Perception of pet food |
| title | Profiling Italian cat and dog owners’ perceptions of pet food quality traits |
| title_full | Profiling Italian cat and dog owners’ perceptions of pet food quality traits |
| title_fullStr | Profiling Italian cat and dog owners’ perceptions of pet food quality traits |
| title_full_unstemmed | Profiling Italian cat and dog owners’ perceptions of pet food quality traits |
| title_short | Profiling Italian cat and dog owners’ perceptions of pet food quality traits |
| title_sort | profiling italian cat and dog owners perceptions of pet food quality traits |
| topic | Pet food Quality indicators Survey Perception of pet food |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12917-020-02357-9 |
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