Indoor and outdoor management for cats : inferences about the welfare and cat-caretaker relationship.

Abstract

The population of owned domestic cats is growing worldwide and research that contributes to a better understanding of the effects of management type (indoor x outdoor) on cats’ health and care practices is necessary. Care practices related to each management type may interfere with the cat-caretaker relationship, ultimately influencing cat welfare. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to identify the influence of management types on cat health and relationship with caretakers. A total of 114 owners from 2 Brazilian municipalities responded to an online questionnaire. Categorical principal component analysis, Fisher’s exact tests and X²-tests were used to investigate factors. Half of the respondents (50.88%) answered that they use indoor management. This type of management was associated with a greater variety and frequency of care practices (such as fur combing, claw cutting and toy offering), facilitating a more positive cat-caretaker relationship. Outdoor management (49.12%) was associated a low frequency and variety of care practices, not allowing such a positive cat-caretaker relationship. We conclude that caretakers who practice indoor management are more likely to have a positive relationship with their cats than those who practice outdoor management.