AJUNTAMENT D'ALCOI
Website
Generalitat Valenciana
Website
Ayuntamiento de Valencia
Website
Cicloplast
Website
Ayuntamiento de Onil
Website
Anarpla
Website
Ayuntamiento de Mislata
Website
nlWA, North London Waste Authority
Website
Ayuntamiento de Salinas
Website
Zicla
Website
Fondazione Ecosistemi
Website
PEFC
Website
ALQUIENVAS
Website
DIPUTACI� DE VAL�NCIA
Website
AYUNTAMIENTO DE REQUENA
Website
UNIVERSIDAD DE ZARAGOZA
Website
OBSERVATORIO CONTRATACIÓN PÚBLICA
Website
AYUNTAMIENTO DE PAIPORTA
Website
AYUNTAMIENTO DE CUENCA
Website
BERL� S.A.
Website
CM PLASTIK
Website
TRANSFORMADORES INDUSTRIALES ECOL�GICOS
INDUSTRIAS AGAPITO
Website
RUBI KANGURO
Website
If you want to support our LIFE project as a STAKEHOLDER, please contact with us: life-future-project@aimplas.es
In this section, you can access to the latest technical information related to the FUTURE project topic.
The effect of a hiding box on stress levels and body weight in Dutch shelter cats; a randomized controlled trial
While staying in an animal shelter, cats may suffer from chronic stress which impairs their health and welfare. Providing opportunities to hide can significantly reduce behavioural stress in cats, but confirmation with physical parameters is needed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of a hiding box on behavioural stress levels (scored by means of the Cat-Stress-Score) and a physical parameter, namely body weight, during the first 12 days in quarantine for cats newly arrived cats at a Dutch animal shelter. Twenty-three cats between 1 and 10 years of age were randomly divided between the experimental (N = 12) and control group (N = 11) with and without a hiding box. Stress levels were assessed on days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 12 according to the non-invasive Cat-Stress-Score (CSS). Body weights were measured on days 0, 7 and 12. Finally, adoption rates and length of stay (LOS) were determined. Major findings of the study are: (1) the mean Cat-Stress-Score decreased with time for all cats, but cats with a hiding box showed a significant faster decrease in the CSS, reaching a lower CSS-steady state seven days earlier than the control group; (2) nearly all cats in both groups lost significant body weight during the first two weeks; (3) hiding boxes did not significantly influence weight loss; (4) no differences were found in the adoption rates and the LOS between both groups. Hiding enrichment reduces behavioural stress in shelter cats during quarantine situations and can therefore be a relatively simple aid to shelter adaptation. It offers no prevention however against feline weight loss, which indicates a serious health risk for shelter cats.
» Author: W. J. R. van der Leij, L. D. A. M. Selman, J. C. M. Vernooij, C. M. Vinke
» Reference: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0223492
» Publication Date: 14/10/2019
C/ Gustave Eiffel, 4
(València Parc Tecnològic) - 46980
PATERNA (Valencia) - SPAIN
(+34) 96 136 60 40
Project Management department - Sustainability and Industrial Recovery
life-future-project@aimplas.es