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Cat Behavior, Science, & Training

Shelter Cat Behavior and Welfare

Photo of a shelter cat prior to participating in a behavioral test.

Shelter cats have unique welfare needs.

A shelter cat prepares to participate in behavioral research that aims to increase the welfare of cats in shelters. Sheltering professionals can provide enrichment opportunities to promote the welfare of cats during their stay in the shelter.

Click Here to View Relevant Publication: Houser, B., & Vitale, K.R. (2022). Increasing Shelter Cat Welfare Through Enrichment: A Review. Applied Animal Behaviour Science.

A shelter cat staying at a volunteer foster’s home in order to have a short break from the shelter environment. Research indicates that cats who leave the shelter for either 1-day or 1-week are not at a disadvantage compared to cats staying in the shelter.

Click Here to View Relevant Publication: Vitale, K. R., Frank, D. H., Conroy, J., & Udell, M. A. R. (2022). Cat Foster Program Outcomes: Behavior, Stress, and Cat–Human Interaction. Animals.

Cat Preference Assessment

A shelter cat participating in a preference assessment. The cat is given a choice between food, a toy, an item with scent, and the attention of a person. Shelter professionals can use an abbreviated version of this test to assess what enrichment items individual cats prefer.

Click Here to View Relevant Publication: Vitale Shreve, K.R., Mehrkam, L.R. & Udell, M.A.R. (2017). Social Interaction, Food, Scent or Toys? A Formal Assessment of Domestic Pet and Shelter Cat Preferences. Behavioural Processes.

Don’t have access to the published article? Download the free pre-publication version of Social Interaction, Food, Scent or Toys? Here!

Cat-Human Interaction

A shelter cat receives pets during a behavioral test. Shelter professionals should consider utilizing handling methods that aim to reduce stress for cats.

Click Here to Listen to a Relevant Podcast:
CatSci Podcast Episode. 8: Tabitha Kucera, Fear Free & Fun
This episode was the winner of the 2020 Fear Free Pets Award! Awarded by the Cat Writers’ Association Communication Contest.

Click Here to Listen to a Relevant Podcast:
CatSci Ep. 2: Everyday Enrichment, Spice Up Your Cat’s Life
This episode was the winner of a 2019 Certificate of Excellence & the Muse Medallion Award for Winning Audio/Broadcast (Podcast).
Awarded by the Cat Writers’ Association Communication Contest.

Short Term Foster Programs for Shelter Cats: Beneficial or Problematic?

Video: Webcast presented by Kristyn Vitale for Maddie’s Insights Webcasts, Maddie’s Fund Education.

Click Here to Read the Corresponding Article to the Lecture!

Recent Publications in the Field

Lamon TK, Slater MR, Moberly HK, Budke CM (2023) Welfare and quality of life assessments for shelter cats: A scoping review. Applied Animal Behaviour Science.

Vitale, K. R., Frank, D. H., Conroy, J., & Udell, M. A. R. (2022). Cat Foster Program Outcomes: Behavior, Stress, and Cat–Human Interaction. Animals.

Houser, B., & Vitale, K.R. (2022). Increasing Shelter Cat Welfare Through Enrichment: A Review. Applied Animal Behaviour Science.

Tuozzi A, Arhant C, Anderle K, et al (2021) Effects of Human Presence and Voice on the Behaviour of Shelter Dogs and Cats: A Preliminary Study. Animals.

Eagan BH, Gordon E, Fraser D (2021) The effect of animal shelter sound on cat behaviour and welfare. Animal Welfare.

Grant RA, Warrior JR (2019) Clicker training increases exploratory behaviour and time spent at the front of the enclosure in shelter cats; Implications for welfare and adoption rates. Applied Animal Behaviour Science.

Kogan L, Kolus C, Schoenfeld-Tacher R (2017) Assessment of clicker training for shelter cats. Animals.

Arhant C, Troxler J (2017) Is there a relationship between attitudes of shelter staff to cats and the cats’ approach behaviour? Applied Animal Behaviour Science.

Suchak M, Piombino M, Bracco K (2016) Predictors of proximity to others in colony housed shelter cats. Pet Behaviour Science.

Rehnberg LK, Robert KA, Watson SJ, Peters RA (2015) The effects of social interaction and environmental enrichment on the space use, behaviour and stress of owned housecats facing a novel environment. Applied Animal Behavior Science.

Arhant C, Wogritsch R, Troxler J (2015) Assessment of behavior and physical condition of shelter cats as animal-based indicators of welfare. Journal of Veterinary Behavior.

Weiss E, Gramann S, Drain N, et al (2015) Modification of the Feline-Ality^TM Assessment and the Ability to Predict Adopted Cats’ Behaviors in Their New Homes. Animals.

Learn More about Kristyn Vitale

Click Here For Publications
Kristyn Vitale has 18 publications which includes peer-reviewed articles and book chapters.

Click Here for Media Appearances
Kristyn Vitale has appeared on radio programs, podcasts, webinars, documentary films, and TV.

Click Here for Additional Media Coverage
Kristyn Vitale‘s research and expertise in cat behavior has been internationally featured in media outlets.