Cat's Quality Of Life Research Articles

Pet Owners' Preferences for Quality of Life Improvements and Costs Related to Innovative Therapies in Feline Pain Associated with Osteoarthritis-A Quantitative Survey.

This research aimed to explore UK cat owners' preferences for treatments for feline osteoarthritis (OA) by exploring preferences around quality of life (QoL) improvements, safety considerations, and costs associated with hypothetical innovative pain therapies. Aspects identified in an existing conceptual framework were extracted for inclusion in exploratory interviews with cat owners (n = 3) to identify key domains that contribute to the QoL of cats. QoL descriptions for cats with OA and hypothetical product attributes were developed and validated through interviews with veterinarians (n = 3). An online survey was subsequently shared with 255 pet owners in the UK. Pet owners were presented with QoL descriptions and hypothetical product attributes to gather their preferences for QoL improvements and their willingness to pay (WTP) for (unbranded) pain therapies at various price points. Pet owners were motivated to improve their cats' QoL, which translated into WTP for therapies; specifically, pet owners valued QoL improvements in mobility, pain expression, and well-being. When presented with a product profile of the hypothetical novel monoclonal antibody (mAb) and cost, 50% of cat owners were willing to pay more for a mAb that is expected to have improved efficacy and safety when compared to a hypothetical standard of care (SoC). Significantly more pet owners preferred the mAb than the SoC when price was not presented (p < 0.01), with product efficacy and safety driving pet owners' decision-making. The majority of pet owners did not agree that taking their cats to the veterinarian once a month for their treatment would be burdensome. Cat owners in the UK are motivated to improve their cats' QoL, which translates into WTP for the efficacious treatment of pain associated with osteoarthritis. Veterinarians should offer cat owners the pain treatment they feel is best suited for improving the cat's QoL and to ensure subsequent owner-pet bond is preserved.

Cats just want to have fun: Associations between play and welfare in domestic cats.

Play is often considered an indicator and promotor of animal welfare and may facilitate closer cat-human relationships. However, few studies have empirically investigated these associations. The current study aimed to investigate play-related factors associated with four welfare outcome measures in cats (Felis catus) including: cat quality of life; cat-guardian relationship quality; problem behaviour prevalence; and behavioural changes. An online survey was developed using demographic information, questions related to play and resources, free text sections and the following validated measures: cat quality of life (QOL), the cat owner relationship scale, and the adult playfulness trait scale. Responses were completed by 1,591 cat guardians from 55 countries. Higher cat playfulness scores and a greater number of games played were significantly associated with higher cat QOL scores while longer amounts of daily play, greater number of games, both cat and guardian initiating play and higher guardian playfulness scores were all significantly associated with higher cat-guardian relationship scores. Exclusively indoor housing was significantly associated with both higher cat QOL and higher cat-guardian relationships scores compared to cats with outdoor access. Behavioural changes associated with distress in cats were reported when play was absent. Play may be an important factor in assessing and maintaining cat welfare. Further research into the mechanisms of how play impacts welfare and cat-guardian relationships is needed.

Factors associated with play behavior in human-cat dyads

Play is a common behavior, often exhibited within human-cat dyads. Play is a behavior that may have numerous benefits to both cat and human, including within the realms of social cooperation and inter-species communication. However, little is known about human-cat play and foundational information is needed. The current study aimed to investigate total daily play durations, play session lengths, and the factors associated with play times in human-cat dyads.An online survey was developed using demographic information, questions related to play times, resources available to the cat, “games” played with the cat, free text sections and the following validated measures: cat quality of life (QOL), the cat owner relationship scale (CORS) and the human adult playfulness trait scale (APTS). Regression analysis was conducted using SPSS 26.Responses were completed by 1,591 cat guardians from 55 countries. Total daily play times and play session lengths were both significantly higher in human-cat dyads where the cat was younger in age, the guardian reported playing a larger diversity of “games” with the cat, and the guardian reported experiencing a closer relationship with their cat. Some guardians reported avoiding play during times when they were too busy or due to fears over incurring injuries.The amount of play available in human-cat dyads may have an effect on establishing and maintaining social bonds between cats and their humans. Further research into understanding play within human-cat dyads and how it affects inter-species relationships is needed.

Quality of Life Measurement in Dogs and Cats: A Scoping Review of Generic Tools.

Simple SummaryQuality of life (QoL) assessment tools play an important role in veterinary medicine by optimising companion animal welfare and directing treatment decisions. No distinct guidelines are currently available for tool design and appraisal. Nine published generic QoL assessment tools designed for use in dogs and cats were compared to each other. Each tool was uniquely individual in terms of structural design, psychometric evaluation and statistical analysis. Although each tool was unique, the majority assessed similar aspects of dog and cat QoL, namely activity level, the desire for interaction and appetite. These findings provide a reference point for future tool development by emphasizing the need for more consistency in reporting methodology and statistical validation, as well as highlighting potential valuable aspects of QoL in dogs and cats.Quality of life (QoL) assessment in companion animals is an essential aspect of veterinary medicine that helps guide treatment decisions and ensures optimal animal welfare. Veterinarians and pet owners can use disease-specific or generic QoL assessment tools to evaluate an individual animal’s QoL. The aim of this scoping review was to identify and assess published generic QoL assessment tools suitable for use in either dogs or cats. A literature search identified 82 relevant publications, nine of which contained appropriate generic QoL assessment tools in accordance with inclusion and exclusion criteria. Each tool was assessed for evidence of psychometric evaluation including statistical analysis, reliability and validity. Commonly included items were determined to highlight potential important aspects of dog or cat QoL. Five of the nine publications used a statistical method such as factor analysis to determine tool design and structure. Although at least one aspect of reliability and validity was assessed for seven of the tools, none were validated across all measures. Two of the publications contained minimal to no statistical analysis. Common items for both dogs and cats included those regarding activity level, the desire for interaction and appetite. In addition, common items for cats included those regarding mood and grooming. This scoping review identified and evaluated currently available generic QoL assessment tools, providing a reference point for future tool development and validation.

Introducing a Controlled Outdoor Environment Impacts Positively in Cat Welfare and Owner Concerns: The Use of a New Feline Welfare Assessment Tool.

There is much debate over the pros and cons of allowing cats to roam freely as opposed to keeping them confined indoors. We surveyed owners who implemented a commercial physical containment system to the outdoors to evaluate their characteristics and the apparent impact of this system on cat welfare and owner perceptions. As part of the latter aim, we also developed a new feline welfare assessment tool based on the mathematical relationship between different measures. The survey was circulated to customers over the preceding 2 years of ProtectaPet® between May and June 2019 and gathered 446 responses. Univariate analyses compared changes following installation on factors such as the amount of time the cat spent outside, other cats entering the owner's garden and owners' concerns about their cat outside. Principal component analysis was used to reduce 21 potential indicators of feline welfare into fewer variables. This resulted in 4 subscales, 2 relating to positive welfare and 2 relating to negative welfare. The effects of installation of the containment system and significant predictors of these four welfare subscales were assessed. The majority of respondents lived in an urban environment with a relatively small garden, had multiple cats and a history of feline trauma associated with a road traffic accident. As expected, the time spent outside significantly increased, while the frequency of other cats entering the garden and owner concern about leaving their cats outside significantly decreased. The 4 welfare subscales grouped into positivity, maintenance behaviors, health issues and fearfulness; installation of the system was associated with significant improvements across all of these. Time spent outside after installation had a significant effect on positivity and, to a lesser extent, maintenance behaviors. Overall, installation was associated with positive changes in both owner and cat quality of life, which seem to be particularly associated with an increased sense of security. This suggests that housing cats within a controlled outside environment with physical barriers can provide a practical solution for many of the problems associated with cats being allowed out.

Feline obesity and diabetes: a One Health perspective.

Abstract There is increasing awareness of obesity and diabetes mellitus in cats that parallels the 'epidemic' of obesity and type 2 diabetes in humans. Likewise, understanding of the pathophysiology and management of feline obesity and diabetes has developed alongside and draws from human medicine. As in human medicine, overweight and obesity are associated with the development with diabetes; however, there are other genetic and environmental influences that contribute to this risk, some of which are shared. In cats, the body condition score appears to be a good diagnostic tool. It is reliable in the hands of owners and is likely to reflect visceral adiposity. However, the diagnostic label of feline obesity should be considered against the rate of success of any intervention, owner perspectives and impact on cat quality of life, as well as risk of future disease. The classification of human diabetes is evolving towards one that is more closely linked to disease outcome and therefore management. Consideration could be given to classifying the diabetes of hypersomatotropism and that associated with exogenous glucocorticoid administration in cats, separately in veterinary medicine. Rather regarding feline obesity and diabetes as models of human disease, a closer interdisciplinary 'One Health' approach between veterinary and human medicine is warranted to advance research and clinical care in this field.

Perceptions of Quality of Life and Priorities of Owners of Cats with Heart Disease

Owners' perceptions and priorities regarding quality of life (QoL) are important considerations given the unknown efficacy of many commonly administered medications, stress of hospital visits, difficulties providing home care, and personal choices including euthanasia. To describe the relative importance of quality versus quantity of life to owners of cats with heart disease. Two hundred and thirty-nine cats with heart disease. Prospective questionnaire-based clinical study. Cat owners completed a questionnaire to identify important parameters when assessing their cat's QoL, the relative importance of quality versus quantity of life, and willingness to trade survival time for QoL. Variables associated with these parameters were evaluated with multivariate analyses. Appetite, owner interaction, sleep patterns, and litterbox habits were deemed important to QoL. Concern over pet suffering was significantly greater than concern over life expectancy. Ninety-three percent of owners were willing to trade survival time for good QoL; 57% of these were willing to trade up to 6 months. On multivariate analysis, the only factor significantly (P=.002) associated with willingness to trade 6 months was study site. Owner concern regarding stress of administering medications at home increased with number and frequency of medications. These results indicated that QoL is more important to owners of cats with heart disease than longevity. The various priorities and concerns of cat owners should be taken into account in order to provide optimal care.