In the study “Social interaction, food, scent or toys? A formal assessment of domestic pet and shelter cat (Felis catus) preferences,” researchers delved into feline preferences by setting up a “free choice” scenario. Individual cats from both homes and shelters were allowed to partake in their choice of readily available, alluring options across four categories: human social interaction, food, toys, and scents. The categories were each composed of an array of options. In the end, top performers from each category were compared for to reveal each cat’s preferred stimuli of choice.
Study results speak to cat sociability, as all three types of human interaction tested for (petting, interactive play, and human vocalizations) beat out the other options. Take that, “anti-social” cat label! Felines as a whole showed keen interest in all activities centered around human social interactions, often forgoing food to rake in quality time. These findings point to the importance of considering human social interactions for enhancing feline welfare.
Findings also prove insightful for application for Fear Free veterinary care, as human social activities can help further the positives and happy distractions provided during care. Interactive play, petting, and calming vocalizations are potentials to explore for accustoming a cat to the veterinary environment and to physical handling and procedures. Another finding was the influence the type of interaction played on level of feline interest. Cats were more likely to engage in play than engage with human vocalizations.
The results also allude to potential harm of removing an integral component to a cat’s most sought out resource: humans. In particular, unnecessarily removing the cat from a beloved caregiver can potentially compromise a calmer care experience. The study also noted the importance of attending to individual preference, as not all cats seek out human contact first. This advances the idea that a blanket approach doesn’t fit all cats.
The appetitive allure of tasty treats also showed promising value for feline motivation. Alongside human social activities, treats beat out toys and scent stimuli. When it came to taste, cats preferred tuna treats over soft meat treats, making the case for exploring tuna tasting treat options for a Fear Free treat toolbox.
The type of toys used also affected feline engagement. In particular, toys that moved independently were more likely to be played with over stationary toys. Such movement toys may prove useful for gaining a playful cat’s interest and willing movement during Fear Free exams. Lastly, catnip was the most attention-grabbing scent, winning out over gerbil scent and the scent of another cat. Catnip-scented items could be considered for inviting the cat to explore key areas such as the scale.
