Abstract
Simple SummaryCOVID-19 caused unprecedented lifestyle changes, with unknown effects on pets’ quality of life. We studied the role of personality, the human–animal relationship, COVID-19-related factors, and demographics on feline and canine quality of life (QoL). We used the novel Milan Pet Quality of Life instrument (MPQL), derived from previous scales, which summarises four QoL domains: physical, psychological, social, and environmental. Our findings indicate that pets’ demographics, life experience, and personality could explain a large part of the physical QoL. Conversely, the owners’ demographics, COVID-19-related changes, and the owners’ personality mostly explained the pets’ psychological QoL. Predictably, outdoor access in the home environment and the country of residence mostly explained the pets’ environmental QoL. Finally, the pets’ social QoL was explained by all previous aspects: pets’ characteristics and personality, environment and COVID-19-related changes, and the pet–human relationship. We suggest that these results may be explained by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the owners’ psychological state and lifestyle, which in turn alter the way the owners interact with their pets and look after them. However, the owners’ personality and mood may also influence the way they interpret and report their pets’ behavior and emotional state. These findings highlight the importance of the One Health–One Welfare perspective.The COVID-19 pandemic caused lifestyle changes, with unknown effect on pets’ quality of life (QoL). Between May and July 2020, we distributed an online survey to investigate the role of several factors on feline and canine QoL, including lockdown-related factors. We used existing scales to measure human and pets’ personalities (Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory Personality Questionnaire, RST-PQ; RST-Dog; RST-Cat) and the human–animal relationship (Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale, LAPS) and the Milan Pet Quality of Life instrument (MPQL). Overall, 235 participants reported about 242 adult pets (Ncats = 78, Ndogs = 164). Factor analysis confirmed the structure and internal reliability of the existing scales (RST-PQ, RST-Dog, RST-Cat, LAPS) and suggested a four-factor structure for the MPQL (physical, psychological, social, environmental). The results indicate that the pets’ psysical QoL was largely explained by pet-related elements (pets’ demographics and life experience, and pets’ personality). Conversely, the pets’ psychological QoL was explained mostly by owner-related elements, such as the owners’ demographics, COVID-19-related changes, and the owners’ personality. Predictably, the pets’ environmental QoL is mostly explained by environmental factors, such as the outdoor access in the home environment and the country. Finally, the pets’ social QoL was explained by the larger combination of models: pets’ characteristics and personality, environment and COVID-19-related changes, and the pet–human relationship. These findings can be explained by two non-mutually exclusive mechanisms. The reported changes may be a by-product of the COVID-19 pandemic’s psychological and lifestyle effects on the owners, which in turn alter the way the owners interact with their pets and look after them. However, the owners’ characteristics and mood may bias their answers regarding their pets.
Highlights
The pandemic caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) led to unprecedented global measures aimed to reduce social contact and population movement to contain the spread of the virus
Given the link between fearful and aggressive personality traits and avoidance behaviour in dogs [27], and the relationship between dogs and owners’ personality and the development of behaviour problems [28], we argue that, when looking at quality of life, it is important to take into account both the pet and the owner’s personality in a way that favours cross-species comparison
We summarised the levels of some of the questions related to perceived issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, as our variables of interest are binary in nature, but multiple options were given to responders for the survey to be easier to understand
Summary
The pandemic caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) led to unprecedented global measures aimed to reduce social contact and population movement to contain the spread of the virus. COVID-19 restrictions are expected to have an impact on the behaviour and welfare of non-human animals [2]. Some authors suggest that less human disturbance in the environment may be of great benefit to some animal species, such as wildlife [3], while other species could be adversely affected. Companion animals might develop separation-related issues linked to the constant presence of their owners at home, their health might be affected by the postponement of non-urgent veterinary interventions adopted by veterinary practices in several countries, and, owners might have less funds to spend on health care for their pets [2]. From the One Health–One Welfare perspective, the pet–human relationship under COVID-19 should be investigated in depth [4]
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