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 (N_cats = 78, N_dogs = 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.

中文翻译：

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使用米兰宠物生活质量仪器（MPQL）来测量COVID-19期间宠物的生活质量

COVID-19大流行导致生活方式改变，对宠物的生活质量（QoL）产生未知的影响。在2020年5月至2020年7月之间，我们分发了一项在线调查，以调查几种因素对猫和犬QoL的作用，包括与锁定有关的因素。我们使用现有的量表来测量人和宠物的性格（增强敏感度理论性格问卷，RST-PQ； RST-Dog； RST-Cat）以及人与动物的关系（列克星敦对宠物的附着量表，LAPS）和米兰宠物质量生命仪器（MPQL）。总体而言，有235名参与者报告了大约242只成年宠物（N_只猫= 78只，N_只狗）= 164）。因子分析证实了现有量表（RST-PQ，RST-Dog，RST-Cat，LAPS）的结构和内部可靠性，并提出了MPQL的四因子结构（身体，心理，社会，环境）。结果表明，宠物的体质QoL很大程度上是由与宠物相关的因素（宠物的人口统计和生活经验以及宠物的个性）来解释的。相反，宠物的心理生活质量主要由与所有者相关的因素来解释，例如所有者的人口统计学，与COVID-19相关的变化以及所有者的个性。可以预见，宠物的环境质量主要由环境因素来解释，例如家庭环境和国家/地区中的户外活动。最后，通过较大的模型组合来解释宠物的社会生活质量：宠物的特征和个性，环境和与COVID-19相关的变化，以及宠物与人的关系。这些发现可以通过两种非互斥机制来解释。报告的变化可能是COVID-19大流行对主人造成的心理和生活方式影响的副产品，这反过来又改变了主人与宠物互动并照顾宠物的方式。但是，主人的性格和情绪可能会使他们对宠物的回答产生偏见。