Development of a Cat Behaviour Issues Assessment Scale (CABIAS) Assessing Problem Behaviours in Cats
Problem behaviours in cats, such as urine marking, scratching, fear, and problems of cohabitation between cats, can present a potential welfare problem for those affected cats and have a negative impact on the human–animal bond. The aim of this study was to develop a Cat Behaviour Issues Assessment...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/18/2992 |
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| author | Kevin McPeake Andrew Sparkes Charlotte Billy Sarah Endersby Jean François Collin Xavier De Jaeger |
| author_facet | Kevin McPeake Andrew Sparkes Charlotte Billy Sarah Endersby Jean François Collin Xavier De Jaeger |
| author_sort | Kevin McPeake |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Problem behaviours in cats, such as urine marking, scratching, fear, and problems of cohabitation between cats, can present a potential welfare problem for those affected cats and have a negative impact on the human–animal bond. The aim of this study was to develop a Cat Behaviour Issues Assessment Scale (CABIAS) for caregivers to assess these common problem behaviours in cats, and to investigate aspects of the validity and reliability of the CABIAS. The CABIAS uses an index score as a scoring system combining aspects of the frequency and intensity of the problem behaviour. An electronic survey was developed, and 384 households, each with two participants able to observe the cat’s behaviour, were recruited for the study. The participants were asked to record their cat’s behaviour independently at weekly intervals over a 6-week period. A FELIWAY Optimum diffuser (containing a commercial feline pheromone complex) was provided to half of the participants, to be used during part of the study. The participants were subdivided into four groups according to whether a problem behaviour was present (or not) and whether the pheromone diffuser was provided (or not). The results demonstrated that the index scores for each problem behaviour had very high inter-rater reliability. There was a high correlation between the index scores and the impact the problem behaviours had on the caregivers. In those cats with a declared problem behaviour where the product was used, a reduction in index scores was observed over the duration of the study. The CABIAS was shown to exhibit satisfactory validity, reliability, and sensitivity to change in the current study, suggesting that it may be valuable as a tool for assessing and monitoring scratching, inter-cat cohabitation, urine marking, and fear in cats. The CABIAS could be used by veterinarians and behaviourists to assess these problem behaviours in individual cats and monitor responses to treatment. The CABIAS could also be considered as a research tool to assess the efficacy of interventions aimed at improving these problems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:06:35Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:06:35Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-847365c38d934b51a0df5b08fc21e58e2023-11-19T09:16:27ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-09-011318299210.3390/ani13182992Development of a Cat Behaviour Issues Assessment Scale (CABIAS) Assessing Problem Behaviours in CatsKevin McPeake0Andrew Sparkes1Charlotte Billy2Sarah Endersby3Jean François Collin4Xavier De Jaeger5The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UKSimply Feline Veterinary Consultancy, Shaftesbury SP7 8FY, UKCeva Santé Animale, 10 Av. de la Ballastière, 33500 Libourne, FranceCeva Santé Animale, 10 Av. de la Ballastière, 33500 Libourne, FranceCeva Santé Animale, 10 Av. de la Ballastière, 33500 Libourne, FranceCeva Santé Animale, 10 Av. de la Ballastière, 33500 Libourne, FranceProblem behaviours in cats, such as urine marking, scratching, fear, and problems of cohabitation between cats, can present a potential welfare problem for those affected cats and have a negative impact on the human–animal bond. The aim of this study was to develop a Cat Behaviour Issues Assessment Scale (CABIAS) for caregivers to assess these common problem behaviours in cats, and to investigate aspects of the validity and reliability of the CABIAS. The CABIAS uses an index score as a scoring system combining aspects of the frequency and intensity of the problem behaviour. An electronic survey was developed, and 384 households, each with two participants able to observe the cat’s behaviour, were recruited for the study. The participants were asked to record their cat’s behaviour independently at weekly intervals over a 6-week period. A FELIWAY Optimum diffuser (containing a commercial feline pheromone complex) was provided to half of the participants, to be used during part of the study. The participants were subdivided into four groups according to whether a problem behaviour was present (or not) and whether the pheromone diffuser was provided (or not). The results demonstrated that the index scores for each problem behaviour had very high inter-rater reliability. There was a high correlation between the index scores and the impact the problem behaviours had on the caregivers. In those cats with a declared problem behaviour where the product was used, a reduction in index scores was observed over the duration of the study. The CABIAS was shown to exhibit satisfactory validity, reliability, and sensitivity to change in the current study, suggesting that it may be valuable as a tool for assessing and monitoring scratching, inter-cat cohabitation, urine marking, and fear in cats. The CABIAS could be used by veterinarians and behaviourists to assess these problem behaviours in individual cats and monitor responses to treatment. The CABIAS could also be considered as a research tool to assess the efficacy of interventions aimed at improving these problems.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/18/2992pheromonecatfelinescaleFELIWAYscratching |
| spellingShingle | Kevin McPeake Andrew Sparkes Charlotte Billy Sarah Endersby Jean François Collin Xavier De Jaeger Development of a Cat Behaviour Issues Assessment Scale (CABIAS) Assessing Problem Behaviours in Cats Animals pheromone cat feline scale FELIWAY scratching |
| title | Development of a Cat Behaviour Issues Assessment Scale (CABIAS) Assessing Problem Behaviours in Cats |
| title_full | Development of a Cat Behaviour Issues Assessment Scale (CABIAS) Assessing Problem Behaviours in Cats |
| title_fullStr | Development of a Cat Behaviour Issues Assessment Scale (CABIAS) Assessing Problem Behaviours in Cats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of a Cat Behaviour Issues Assessment Scale (CABIAS) Assessing Problem Behaviours in Cats |
| title_short | Development of a Cat Behaviour Issues Assessment Scale (CABIAS) Assessing Problem Behaviours in Cats |
| title_sort | development of a cat behaviour issues assessment scale cabias assessing problem behaviours in cats |
| topic | pheromone cat feline scale FELIWAY scratching |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/18/2992 |
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