Accelerometers contribution to the knowledge of domestic cats’ (Felis catus) behavior: A comprehensive review

Abstract

Even though cats inhabit a large number of our homes, their activity patterns, biological rhythm and behavior are still under-described and, therefore, poorly understood. This lack of knowledge is partly explained by the limited number of tools available for observing cats with limited effort and minimal disturbances to their routines. To this day, we still lack a faithful description of what constitutes a “normal behavior” of a domestic cat. Bio-loggers have been proven to help researchers decipher the individual and group behaviors of wild animals, and are starting to emerge as a tool for monitoring pets' health as well. These tools have been used not only to analyze cats’ activity patterns but also examine their detailed activities, such as eating and walking. Bio-logging coupled with data analysis and Artificial Intelligence tools give hopeful perspectives on more complex activities such as grooming, jumping, social interaction, etc. In this review, our aim is to offer an overview of the contribution of bio-logging devices to the current knowledge and understanding regarding the cat's behavior, and their detailed activities. We specifically focus on the knowledge brought to the understanding of cats’ biological rhythm and behavior by accelerometry. This review will provide insight into the major advances facilitated by this tool, its limitations, as well as the possible future development in this field of study.