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Animals
Special Issues
Felid Welfare—Behavior, Reproduction, and Abnormal Behavior
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Felid Welfare—Behavior, Reproduction, and Abnormal Behavior

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Welfare".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 April 2022) | Viewed by 19102

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jenny Loberg

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Science, P.O. Box 234, SE-523 32 Skara, Sweden
Interests: domestic cat behavior and welfare; large felid behavior and welfare; conservation of felids
Dr. Maria Andersson

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Science, P.O.Box 234, SE-523 32 Skara, Sweden
Interests: domestic cat behavior and welfare; cat-human interactions; large felid behavior and welfare
Dr. Elin Hirsch

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Science, P.O.Box 234, SE-523 32 Skara, Sweden
Interests: domestic cat behavior and welfare; cat-human interactions; group-housing of cats; socialization effects

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Felids in captivity face numerous situations that may result in welfare and/or reproductive problems related to thwarting of natural behavior, social structure, and natural home rage. These welfare problems can be expressed as different abnormal and detrimental behaviors as well as unsuccessful breeding or caring for young. Socialization to humans of wild felids in captivity effects both conservation and welfare as well as the possibility to preserve natural behaviors. In domestic cats, insufficient socialization and the relation with humans is connected to several welfare issues, such as fear and stress. 

The aim of the current Special issue is to publish papers elaborating these problems both in wild species of cats kept in zoos and domestic cats kept in private homes and rescue centers. With this Special Issue, our goal is also to help researchers in the field to identify similarities and differences in welfare problems between felid species.

For this Special Issue, we invite you to contribute with your latest findings through literature reviews, empirical research papers, short communications, or discussion papers.

Dr. Jenny Loberg
Dr. Maria Andersson
Dr. Elin Hirsch
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • felids
  • welfare
  • behavior
  • reproduction
  • abnormal behavior
  • socialization

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 1066 KiB  
Article
Laser Light Pointers for Use in Companion Cat Play: Association with Guardian-Reported Abnormal Repetitive Behaviors
by Lori R. Kogan and Emma K. Grigg
Animals 2021, 11(8), 2178; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11082178 - 23 Jul 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 14456
Abstract
Use of laser light pointers for feline play is popular with many companion cat guardians. It can be an enjoyable shared interaction and provide an opportunity for feline exercise. Laser light play alone, however, does not allow cats to complete the hunting sequence [...] Read more.
Use of laser light pointers for feline play is popular with many companion cat guardians. It can be an enjoyable shared interaction and provide an opportunity for feline exercise. Laser light play alone, however, does not allow cats to complete the hunting sequence and it has been suggested that this may trigger frustration and stress, common contributors to compulsive behaviors. This study examined the potential relationship between the use of laser light pointers for play and excessive or abnormal repetitive behaviors (ARBs) often linked to diagnosis of feline compulsive disorders. Using an online, anonymous, cross-sectional survey, we explored cat guardians’ use of laser toys and reported ARBs in their cats. A total of 618 responses were analyzed, primarily female participants from the United States. We found significant associations between the frequency of laser light play and the occurrence of all surveyed ARBs, apart from overgrooming. Provision of outdoor access and cat age were also significant predictors of reported ARBs: indoor-only cats, and young (1–2 years) cats were more likely to display ARBs. The strongest patterns were seen for behaviors which may be connected to laser light play: chasing lights or shadows, staring “obsessively” at lights or reflections, and fixating on a specific toy. Although correlational, these results suggest that laser light toys may be associated with the development of compulsive behaviors in cats, warranting further research into their use and potential risks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Felid Welfare—Behavior, Reproduction, and Abnormal Behavior)
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Review

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12 pages, 617 KiB  
Review
Guidelines for Telemetry Studies on Snow Leopards
by Örjan Johansson, Shannon Kachel and Byron Weckworth
Animals 2022, 12(13), 1663; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12131663 - 28 Jun 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2795
Abstract
Animal-borne tracking devices have generated a wealth of new knowledge, allowing us to better understand, manage and conserve species. Fitting such tracking devices requires that animals are captured and often chemically immobilized. Such procedures cause stress and involve the risk of injuries and [...] Read more.
Animal-borne tracking devices have generated a wealth of new knowledge, allowing us to better understand, manage and conserve species. Fitting such tracking devices requires that animals are captured and often chemically immobilized. Such procedures cause stress and involve the risk of injuries and loss of life even in healthy individuals. For telemetry studies to be justifiable, it is vital that capture operations are planned and executed in an efficient and ethical way. Project objectives must be clearly articulated to address well-defined knowledge gaps, and studies designed to maximize the probability of achieving those goals. We provide guidelines for how to plan, design, and implement telemetry studies with a special emphasis on snow leopards that are typically captured using foot snares. We also describe the necessary steps to ensure that captures are conducted safely, and with minimal stress to animals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Felid Welfare—Behavior, Reproduction, and Abnormal Behavior)
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