ICAWC 2015 - Feline Groovy - Rachel Casey

Dr Rachel Casey BVMS PhD DipECAWVBM CCAB MRCVS

RCVS Recognised and European Specialist in Veterinary Behavioural Medicine Senior Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare

Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol

Feline Groovy: Environmental Enrichment for Cats

Enrichment for cats• What is enrichment?• Types of enrichment for

cats• Impacts on welfare in

rescue environments • Individual differences in

enrichment needs

What is ‘enrichment’?

Picture credit: Oregon Zoo

Types of enrichment

• Enabling performance of behaviours which create a positive emotional state

• ‘natural’ patterns of behaviour • learnt positive behaviours

Picture credit: Emily Blackwell

Types of enrichment • Enabling performance of behaviours which

reduce a negative emotional state

• ‘natural’ avoidance responses• learnt coping responses

Evaluating enrichment needs in rescue centres

• What is likely to cause stress to cats?

Investigate the effect of changing this aspect of the environment

Ethological ‘needs’

• Social behaviour• Limited complexity of

visual signaling

• Predatory behaviour• Motivation not linked to

satiety

Avoidance of visual contact with other cats

median daily stress scores

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no view

Scent environment

• Communication• Enable avoidance patterns

• Orientation• Enable predictability of

environment

Familiarity of scent• Familiar scent in novel

environment• Scent maintained in

shelter• 2 pieces of bedding

material • Synthetic pheromone?

• F3 ‘Feliway’

Adaptation to a new environment

• Anticipate what is happening when

• Develop some control over environment

• Reduced anxiety over time

Adaptation to a new environment

“Stress”

Time

Normal behavioural responses to perceived threat

• Escape • Hiding• Climbing• Defensive aggression• Freezing

Enabling hiding

Adaptation to a new environment

“Stress”

Time

‘Frustration’• Able to predict routine

and anxiety reduced

• Stimulate new activity• Increased complexity of

environment • Reduce predictability

• Novelty and routine• Enable ‘normal’

behaviours

Individual variability in adaptation

“Stress”

Time

In summary……..• Use of enrichment should be matched to

the requirements of individual cats• Stress after arrival requires interventions to

enable adaptation• Longer term interventions need to increase

interest in environment and reduce chance of frustration

Thanks for your attention!