Abstract

This study documented behaviour of cats during veterinary examinations investigating possible associations between their behaviour and age, gender, temperament, clinical parameters and familiarity with pet carriers, car rides and veterinary clinics. Background information (i.e. temperament and familiarity with pet carriers, car rides and veterinary clinics), signalment, clinical parameters and behaviour were recorded for 95 cats during a veterinary examination. Their behaviour was analysed and a behavioural profile was attributed (alert, anxious, frightened, irritated, agonistic). Aggressive cats tended to exhibit more scratching/attempt to scratch and hard stare behaviour. Half of the cats vocalised and cats vocalised more when they were not familiar with pet carriers (p = .010) and car rides (p = .005). Heart rate was higher than normal and was positively associated with mydriasis (p = .018) shown by the 85% of the cats. Males vocalised more than females (p = .007) who also had a lower total behavioural score (p = .002). Age was associated with the behaviour profile: young cats fell in the anxious profile, and were more likely to try to escape, and elderly cats exhibited a frightened and irritated profile and were more likely to show scratching, tail lashing and piloerection (all p < .05). Whilst cats first experiencing a veterinary examination attempted to escape more, those that were not familiar with car rides had higher behavioural scores (p = .05). Overall, veterinary examination was confirmed to be a stressful situation for cats in particular for those not familiar with pet carriers and car rides.

• HIGHLIGHTS

• Cats’ physiological and behavioural responses during veterinary examinations were documented.

• Young cats were more anxious, while elderly cats were irritated and showed more scratching, tail lashing and piloerection.

• Cats not familiar with car rides and veterinary clinics showed more vocalisation, hissing, ears flat back and escape attempts.

摘要

这项研究记录了猫在兽医检查过程中的行为，调查了它们的行为与年龄，性别，性情，临床参数以及对宠物携带者，汽车旅行和兽医诊所的熟悉程度之间的可能联系。在兽医检查过程中，记录了95只猫的背景信息（即，气质和对宠物携带者的熟悉程度，驾车和兽医诊所的状况），信号，临床参数和行为。对他们的行为进行了分析，并归纳了行为特征（机敏，焦虑，恐惧，激怒，激动）。攻击性猫倾向于表现出更多的抓挠/试图抓挠和强烈凝视的行为。在不熟悉宠物运送器（p  = .010）和乘车游览（p时，一半的猫发声，猫的发声更多 = .005）。 85％的猫显示，其心率高于正常水平且与瞳孔散大呈正相关（p = .018）。男性比女性（p  = .007）发声更多，女性的总行为得分也较低（p  = .002）。年龄与行为特征有关：幼猫陷入焦虑状态，更有可能试图逃脱，老年猫表现出恐惧和受刺激的状态，更可能表现出抓挠，尾巴扎扎和立毛（所有p  < .05）。第一次接受兽医检查的猫试图逃脱，而那些不熟悉乘车的猫的行为评分更高（p = .05）。总的来说，兽医检查被确认对猫来说是一种压力，特别是对于那些不熟悉宠物携带者和乘车的人而言。

• 强调

• 记录了猫在兽医检查过程中的生理和行为反应。

• 年轻的猫更焦虑，而老年的猫则更恼火，并表现出更多的抓挠，尾部扎扎和立毛。

• 不熟悉驾车和兽医诊所的猫表现出更大的发声，嘶嘶声，耳朵向后平放和逃脱尝试。