Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (1999) 1, 181191

Recommendations for the housing of cats in the home, in catteries and animal shelters, in laboratories and in veterinary surgeries
I Rochlitz Animal Welfare and Human Animal Interaction !rou", #e"artment of $linical %eterinary Medicine, &ni'er ity of $am(ridge, Madingley )oad, $am(ridge $*+ ,-S, &. In recent year , t/ere /a (een an increa e in intere t in a""lied et/ology and animal 0elfare, and an increa e in t/e "o"ularity of t/e dome tic cat1 2/i /a timulated re earc/ on t/e (e/a'iour and 0elfare of cat 3e"t in different en'ironment 1 2/i article "re ent a re'ie0 of t/e recent re earc/ and ma3e recommendation for t/e /ou ing of dome tic cat in t/e /ome, in catterie and animal /elter , in la(oratorie and in 'eterinary urgerie 1 2/e "o"ularity of t/e dome tic cat /a increa ed teadily in t/e "a t fe0 year 1 In 1998, t/e o0ned cat "o"ulation in t/e &. 0a 8 million and e4ceeded t/e "et dog "o"ulation (y 111 million (5et Food Manufacturer 6 A ociation 1999)1 ,'er 789 (:11 million) of *riti / /ou e/old o0ned at lea t one cat and +;9 of t/e e /ou e/old /ad more t/an one cat1 In recent year , re earc/ /a (een carried out on t/e (e/a'iour and 0elfare of cat 3e"t in different en'ironment 1 2/e e include la(oratorie (5od(er ce3 et al 1991, Mc$une 1997, 'an den *o < de $oc3 *uning 199=(, 'an den *o 1998), animal /elter (#urman 1991, Mc$une 1997, )oy 1997, Smit/ et al 199=, .e ler < 2urner 199;, )oc/lit> 199;), ?uarantine and (oarding catterie (.e ler < 2urner 199;, )oc/lit> et al 1998() and t/e /ome (*ern tein < Strac3 199@)1 2/i "a"er re'ie0 t/e recent re earc/, and "re ent guideline on t/e /ou ing re?uirement of cat 3e"t in t/e /ome, in catterie and animal /elter , in la(oratorie and in 'eterinary urgerie 1 Assessment of welfare 2/e dome tic cat /a e'ol'ed from a carni'ore 0it/ an e entially olitary life tyle 0/ere, in many conte4t , t/ere i no need for large, e4aggerated or rituali ed ignal to de'elo"1 A e ment of 0elfare may initially eem difficult, a cat do not /a'e a 0ide a (e/a'ioural re"ertoire for 'i ual communication (eg "o ture, facial e4"re ion, tail "o ition) a , for e4am"le, t/e /ig/ly ocial, grou"Ali'ing dog1 Ho0e'er, t/e &. $at *e/a'iour Wor3ing !rou" (199:) /a "u(li /ed an et/ogram (a catalogue of di crete, "ecie Aty"ical (e/a'iour "attern t/at form t/e (a ic (e/a'ioural re"ertoire of t/e "ecie ) for (e/a'ioural tudie of t/e dome tic cat, and tre core , (a ed on (e/a'iour /a'e (een de'elo"ed (Mc$une 1997, .e ler < 2urner 199;)1 5/y iological mea ure

uc/ a urinary corti ol /a'e al o (een u ed to a e $arl tead et al 199+, )oc/lit> et al 1998()1

0elfare ($arl tead et al 1997,

$at are more li3ely to re "ond to "oor en'ironmental condition (y (ecoming inacti'e and (y in/i(iting normal (e/a'iour uc/ a elfAmaintenance (feeding, grooming and elimination), e4"loration or "lay, t/an (y acti'ely /o0ing a(normal (e/a'iour (Mc$une 1997, )oc/lit> 199;)1 $at 0it/ illne may al o modify t/eir (e/a'iour in a imilar 0ay1 .ee"ing cat in an enric/ed, timulating en'ironment t/at encourage a 0ide range of normal (e/a'iour 0ill not only en/ance t/eir 0elfare, (ut al o General recommendations 2/e main "oint to (e con idered 0/en de igning or e'aluating /ou ing for cat are li ted (elo01 2/e "articular re?uirement of cat 3e"t in "ecific en'ironment (t/e /ome, catterie and animal /elter , la(oratorie and 'eterinary urgerie ) are con idered in t/e ne4t ection1 W/en cat are /ou ed toget/er t/e control of infectiou di ea e i of "rimary im"ortance, (ut t/i a "ect 0ill not (e included in t/i re'ie01 6Size of enclosure (2/e term enclo ure, "en and cage are u ed interc/angea(ly) Wit/in an enclo ure (t/e internal en'ironment), t/ere /ould (e ade?uate e"aration (et0een feeding, re ting and elimination (litter tray) area 1 2/e enclo ure /ould (e large enoug/ to allo0 cat to e4"re a range of normal (e/a'iour , and to "ermit t/e careta3er or o0ner to carry out cleaning "rocedure ea ily1 W/en cat are /ou ed in grou" , t/ere /ould al o (e enoug/ "ace for cat to 3ee" t/em el'e e"arate from ot/er (Fig 1)1 $onflictAregulating mec/ani m are im"ortant to maintain ta(ility of grou" in ome "ecie ('an den *o 1998) (ut grou"Ali'ing cat lac3 di tinct dominant, /ierarc/ie and "o tAconflict mec/ani m uc/ reconciliation ('an den *o < de $oc3 *unir 199=a, 'an den *o 1998)1 2/ey are not ada"t (to li'ing in clo e "ro4imity to eac/ ot/er and reduce t/e li3eli/ood of aggre ion (y e ta(li /ing di tance (et0een t/em el'e (Bey/au en 19;9)1 If an enclo ure i too mall, t/ere may (e an increa e in agoni tic encounter or cat 0ill attem"t to a'oid eac/ ot/er decrea ing t/eir acti'ity (Bey/au en 19;9,'an den *o < de $oc3 *unir 199=a, 'an den *o 1998)1 2/e 'ertical dimen ion i "articularly im"ortant a regard t/e "ro'i ion of a""ro"riate internal com"le4ity ( ee ne4t ection), o cage /o0 (e of ade?uate /eig/t1 Complexity of enclosure *eyond a certain minimum i>e, it i t/e ?uality rat/er t/an t/e ?uantity of "ace t/at i im"ortant1 Mo t cat are acti'e, /a'e t/e a(ility to cli" 0ell and are 0ellAada"ted for concealment (-i en(erg 1989)1 2/ey u e ele'ated area a 'antage "oint from 0/ic/ to monitor t/eir urrounding (#eBuca < .randa 1997, Holme 199+, Jame 199:)1 -nclo ure /ould contain tructure t/at ma3e ma4imal u e of t/e 'ertical dimen ion,

uc/ a /el'e , clim(ing frame , "latform , /ammoc3 and rai ed 0al30ay "laced at 'ariou /eig/t (Fig 7)1 A cat are more li3ely to re t alone t/an 0it/ ot/er , t/ere /ould (e a ufficient num(er of re ting area for all cat in t/e enclo ure1 (5od(er ce3 et al 1991, *ern tein < Strac3 199@)1 Hiding i a (e/a'iour t/at cat often /o0 in re "on e to timuli or c/ange in t/eir en'ironment, and to a'oid interaction 0it/ ot/er cat or "eo"le (Mc$une 1997, $arl tead et al 199+, Jame 199:, )oc/lit> et al 1998()1 )e ting area 0/ere cat can retreat to and (e concealed, in addition to 6o"en6 re ting area (eg1 /el'e ), are e ential for t/eir 0ellA (eing (Fig +)1 %i ual (arrier , uc/ a 'ertical "anel , can al o (e u ed to ena(le cat to get a0ay from ot/er and /ide1 If it i nece ary to o( er'e t/e cat clo ely, a (o4 o"en on t0o or t/ree ide , or a dee"A ided tray, can (e u ed1 )e t area /ould /a'e comforta(le (edding, 0/ic/ 0ill reduce t/e li3eli/ood of cat re ting in t/eir litter tray (#eBuca < .randa 1997)1 2e t indicate t/at cat "refer "olye ter fleece to cottonAloo"ed to0el, 0o'en ru /Amatting and corrugated card(oard for lying on (Ha0t/orne et al 199:)1 2/ere /ould (e a ufficient num(er of litter tray , at lea t one "er t0o cat (Ho 3in 199@), ited a0ay from feeding and re ting area 1 $at can /a'e indi'idual "reference for litter c/aracteri tic , o it may (e nece ary to "ro'ide a range of litter ty"e and de ign of litter tray 1 Surface for cla0 a(ra ion (e1g1 cratc/ "o t , ru / matting, car"et, 0ood) /ould al o (e a'ailAa(le, a 0ell a toy (Fig 7)1 ,(Cect 0/ic/ mo'e, /a'e com"le4 te4ture and mimic "rey c/aracteri tic are t/e mo t ucce ful at "romoting "lay (Hall < *rad /a0 1998)1 A 'ariety of toy /ould (e a'aila(le, and no'elty i al o im"ortant o toy /ould (e re"laced regularly1 Mo t cat "lay alone rat/er t/an in grou" (5od(er ce3 et al1 1991), o t/e cage /ould (e large enoug/ to "ermit t/em to "lay 0it/out di tur(ing ot/er cat 1 $on ideration /ould al o (e gi'en to "ro'iding container of gra , 0/ic/ ome cat li3e to c/e0 and may (e im"ortant for t/e elimination of fur(all (tric/o(e>oar )1 $atni" (De"eta cataria) may al o (e "ro'ided, eit/er a a dried /er( or contained in toy 1 Anot/er en'ironmental enric/ment tec/ni?ue i to increa e t/e time animal "end in "redatory and feeding (e/a'iour1 Mc$une (199:) ugge t "utting dry food into container 6Wit/ /ole t/roug/ 0/ic/ t/e cat /a to e4tract indi'idual "iece 1 Quality of the external environment 2/e en'ironment around t/e enclo ure (t/e e4ternal en'ironment) 0ill /a'e an im"act on t/e cat6 0elfare1 -ffort /ould (e made to increa e olfactory, 'i ual and auditory timulation, for e4am"le (y creating enclo ure t/at loo3 out on to area of /uman and animal acti'ity, or (y "ro'iding acce to an outdoor run1 A tec/ni?ue u ed in ome animal /ou e i t/e "laying of a radio, to "ro'ide mu ic and /uman con'er ation (*enn 199:, Jame 199:, De0(erry 199:)1 2/i i t/oug/t to "re'ent animal from (eing tartled (y udden noi e and /a(ituate t/em to /uman 'oice , and to "ro'ide a degree of continuity in t/e en'ironment (Jame 199:)1 Contact with conspecifics 2/e cat i a ocial carni'ore t/at regularly interAact 0it/ con "ecific (Bey/au en 19;9, %oit/ < *orc/elt 198@, Sandell 1989)1 Mo t cat can (e E /ou ed in grou" "ro'iding t/at t/ey are 0ell ociali ed to ot/er cat , and t/at t/ere i ufficient "ace, ea y acce to feeding and elimination area and a ufficient num(er of concealed retreat and re ting

"lace 1 W/en cat are 3e"t in large grou" , it may (e nece ary to di tri(ute feed, re t and elimination area in a num(er of different ite , to "re'ent certain cat from mono"oli ing one area and denying ot/er acce ('an den *o < de $oc3 *uning 199=()1 Many factor 0ill determine t/e ideal grou" i>e, (ut it eem t/at 78 to 7: indi'idual i t/e ma4imal num(er for cat in la(oratorie (Jame 199:, Hu(rec/t < 2urner 1998)1 In animal /elter , 0/ere infectiou di ea e i a fre?uent "ro(lem and t/ere i a regular turno'er of cat , t/ey /ould (e 3e"t in maller grou" 1 $at t/at fail to ada"t ati factorily to grou"Ali'ing /ould (e identified and /ou ed ingly1 Contact with humans and uality of care In addition to interacting 0it/ con "ecific , dome tic cat interact fre?uently and effecti'ely 0it/ /uman (%oit/ < *orc/elt 198@, 2urner 199:)1 W/ile cleaning and feeding time "ro'ide ome o""ortunitie for interaction , a "eriod of time 0/ic/ i not "art of routine careta3ing "rocedure /ould (e et a ide e'ery day for cat to interact 0it/ careta3er or o0ner (Fig =)1 Some cat may "refer to (e "etted and /andled, 0/ile ot/er may "refer to interact 'ia a toy (.ar / < 2urner 1988)1 ,0ner and careta3er need to (e 3no0ledgea(le a(out t/e (e/a'iour of t/e animal t/ey are re "on i(le for, ince (e/a'ioural c/ange are often t/e fir t indicator of illne or ot/er cau e of "oor 0elfare1 A tudy of o0ner 0/o relin?ui /ed "et to /elter found t/at many lac3ed 3no0ledge a(out t/e normal (e/a'iour of t/eir "et (Salman et al 1998)1 ,0ner are more li3ely to de'elo" a ucce ful relation /i" 0it/ t/eir "Ft if t/ey /a'e reali tic e4"ectation a(out it (e/a'iour and re?uirement (.idd et al 1997)1 Formal training in animal /u (andry /ould (e mandatory for t/o e in'ol'ed in t/e day to day care of cat in /elter , catterie , la(oratorie and 'eterinary urgerie , and o0ner /ould (e encouraged to o(tain information a(out cat from a 'ariety of ource 1 2/e ocia(ility of cat to "eo"le and to conA "ecific i influenced (y many factor , uc/ a t/e /andling of 3itten at a young age, t/eir e4"o ure to ot/er cat and "eo"le, and genetic influence (Mc$une et al 199:)1 Attention to management "rocedure and electi'e (reeding 0ill en ure t/at cat are 0ell ociali ed1

Specific housing environments

2/e follo0ing ection de cri(e t/e "articular re?uirement of cat in t/e /ome, in catterie and animal /elter , in la(oratorie and in 'eterinary urgerie 1 2/e aim /ould (e to "ro'ide good /ou ing condition , regardle of t/e lengt/ of t/e /ou ing "eriod1 W/et/er it 0ill (e /ou ed for 7 day , 7 0ee3 , 7 mont/ or 7 year i of no rele'ance to t/e animalG it 0ellA(eing i determined (y t/e condition it li'e in day to day1 $learly, in ome ituation com"romi e or modification may /a'e to (e made1 For e4am"le, in ?uarantine catterie or animal /elter 0/ere cat may (e confined for long "eriod , it 0ill (e "articularly im"ortant to en ure t/at t/e enclo ure and urrounding are com"le4 and timulating, and t/at t/e cat recei'e ufficient /uman contact1 In 'eterinary urgerie (0/ere t/e cat may (e ill), or in la(oratorie (0/ere e4"erimental "rocedure are carried out), it may (e nece ary to re trict t/e cat6 mo'ement and to monitor it clo ely1 De'ert/ele , Cu t (ecau e t/e animal 0ill (e /ou ed for a /ort "eriod of time i not an e4cu e for "ro'iding "oor /ou ing condition 1

!he home In t/e &nited State , (et0een :8 and @89 of "et cat are /ou ed indoor (Bu3e 199@, 5atrone3 et al 199;)G t/i figure i lo0er for cat in *ritain alt/oug/ data /a'e not (een "u(li /ed1 SomeG aut/or (Band (erg 199@, Miller 199@) feel t/at cat are (e t /ou ed indoor , 0/ile ot/er (elie'e t/at t/e cat6 ?uality of life i en/anced if it i 1Allo0ed outdoor (,6Farrell < De'ille 199=, Hu(rec/t < 2urner 1998)1 $at t/at roam freely outdoor are more li3ely to (e e4"o ed to infectiou di ea e, in'ol'ed in agoni tic encounter 0it/ cat and ot/er animal , inCured or 3illed (y motor 'e/icle , and may go mi ing1 Anot/er tated argument for 3ee"ing cat indoor i to "rotect 0ildlife "o"ulation from "redation (2atrone3 1998)1 $at 0it/ outdoor acce can "ro(a(ly com"en ate to ome degree for un ati factory condition in t/eir /ome en'ironment (2urner 199:)1 Some (e/a'iouri t noteAt/at cat 3e"t e4clu i'ely indoor are o'erA re"re ented in t/e "o"ulation referred to t/em 0it/ (e/a'ioural "ro(lem (Hu(rec/t < 2urner 1998)1 5ro'iding ecure enclo ure 0it/in a garden, or lea /Atraining a cat, are olution t/at ena(le t/e cat to (enefit from outdoor acce 0it/out undue ri 31 W/et/er cat are confined indoor or allo0ed outdoor , /ou ing condition in t/e /ome /ould follo0 t/e recommendation li ted "re'iou ly1 *ern tein and Strac3 (199@) de cri(ed t/e u e of "ace and "attern of interaction of 1= unrelated, neutered dome tic cat , 0/o li'ed toget/er in a ingleA torey /ou e at a den ity of one cat "er 18 m71 2/e cat did not /a'e acce to t/e outdoor 1 Mo t of t/e cat /ad fa'ourite "ot 0it/in t/e room t/at t/ey u ed1 Some indi'idual /ad t/eir o0n uni?ue "lace, (ut more commonly e'eral cat c/o e t/e ame fa'ourite "ot1 2/e e area 0ere /ared eit/er "/y ically, (y cat occu"ying t/e "ace toget/er or, more often, tem"orally (y cat occu"ying t/em at different time of t/e day1 2/ere 0a 'ery little aggre ion and no fig/ting (et0een t/e cat 1 Indi'idual eemed to "eacefully coAe4i t (y a'oiding eac/ ot/er for mo t of t/e time1 Female cat are aid to (e more uited to an indoor e4i tence t/an male cat , (ecau e feral male /a'e a (igger /ome range t/an feral female (Merten < Sc/ar 1988)1 *ern tein and Strac3 (199@) found t/at neutered male /ad an a'erage /ome range of four to fi'e room (out of 18), and neutered female a range of t/ree to +1@ room 1 It i li3ely t/at (ot/ neutered male and neutered female can (e ucce fully /ou ed indoor , "ro'iding t/ere i ufficient ?uantity and ?uality of "ace1 "oarding and uarantine catteries and animal shelters In 199:, t/e $/artered In titute of -n'ironmental Healt/ "u(li /ed model licence condition and guidance for cat (oarding e ta(li /ment in t/e &. ($I-H Animal *oarding - ta(li /ment Wor3ing 5arty 199:)1 2/e e guideline er'e a a (a i u"on 0/ic/ local en'ironmental /ealt/ officer i ue licence to (oarding catterie 1 $oncern /a'e (een e4"re ed regarding t/e 0elfare of animal in ?uarantine (*ennett 199;, )oc/lit> et al 1998a,() (ut currently t/ere e4i t only a 'oluntary code of "ractice (Mini try of Agriculture 199:)1 Ho0e'er, legi lation on 0elfare tandard in ?uarantine "remi e i li3ely to (e introduced in t/e future1 Animal /elter in t/e &. are not u(Cect to legi lation on tandard of animal care, alt/oug/ t/e Feline Ad'i ory *ureau /a

recently "u(li /ed a cat re cue manual (Haug/ie 1998), 0/ic/ include a code of "ractice for cat re cue facilitie 1 #urman (1991) de cri(ed (e/a'ioural indicator of tre in cat 0/o 0ere introduced into communal "en at an animal /elter1 MaCor (e/a'ioural c/ange occurred in t/e fir t = day , (ut c/ange continued t/roug/out t/e fir t mont/ a t/e cat ada"ted1 .e ler and 2urner (199;) tudied 1=8 cat entering a (oarding cattery, and monitored t/eir ada"tation u ing a $atAStre AScore1 Stre le'el decrea ed during t/e o( er'ation "eriod, 0it/ a "ronounced reduction in t/e fir t = day , and t0oAt/ird of cat adCu ted ati factorily 0it/in 7 0ee3 1 In anot/er /elter tudy ()oc/lit> 199;), (e/a'ioural and "/y iological data indicated t/at cat /o0ed ign of ada"tation 0it/in 7 0ee3 1 Ho0e'er, cat too3 longer (: 0ee3 ) toAadCu t to condition in a ?uarantine cattery ()oc/lit> et al 1998()1 Smit/ et al (199=) e4amined t/e (e/a'iour of cat in /elter , 0it/ "ecific reference to t/eir "atial di tri(ution1 $at u ed tructure more often t/an t/e floor of t/e "en , and /ig/ tructure , 0/ic/ "ro'ided 'antage "oint , 0ere u ed more fre?uently t/an lo0 one 1 2/e e finding 0ere confirmed in ot/er tudie (#urman 1991, 5od(er ce3 et al 1991, )oy 1997, )oc/lit> et al 1998()1 )oy (1997) found t/at cat "referred 0ood a a u( trate to "la tic, and al o li3ed material t/at maintain a con tant tem"erature uc/ a tra0, /ay, 0ood /a'ing and fa(ric1 In an animal /elter, t/e "re ence of a toy 0it/in an enclo ure may ma3e t/e animal more attracti'e to "ro "ecti'e o0ner (Well < He""er 1997)1 2ec/ni?ue /a'e (een de'elo"ed for identifying cat t/at are unfriendly to0ard ot/er cat or "eo"le (.e ler 199;)1 $at t/at are "oorly ociali ed to0ard con "ecific /ould (e /ou ed ingly, and cat t/at are "oorly ociali ed to0ard "eo"le, uc/ a feral cat , /ould not initially (e u(Cected to a /ig/ demand for interAaction 0it/ /elter taff and 'i itor (.e ler 199;)1 Ho0e'er, cat may (ecome more ociali ed to0ard /uman and u( e?uently ma3e more re0arding "et , if t/ey recei'e regular ociali ation e ion 1 Ho 3in (199:) e4amined t/e effect of /uman contact on t/e reaction of cat in a re cue /elter1 $at t/at /ad recei'ed additional /andling e ion , 0/ere t/ey interacted clo ely 0it/ a familiar "er on, could u( e?uently (e /eld for longer (y an unfamiliar "er on t/an cat 0/o /ad not recei'ed additional /andling e ion 1 $oncern /a (een e4"re ed regarding t/e "otentially /armful effect long "eriod of /ou ing in a /elter may /a'e on t/e animal6 (e/a'iour (Well < He""er 1997) and t/e li3eli/ood t/at t/e animal 0ill (e a(le to integrate ucce fully into a /ome en'ironment after ado"tion1 In a tudy of cat ado"ted from a /elter, t/ere 0a no correlation (et0een t/e lengt/ of time t/e cat /ad (een in t/e /elter (t/e longe t time 0a 91: mont/ ) and t/e time it too3 to ada"t to it ne0 /ome ()oc/lit> et al 199@)1 Anot/er tudy found t/at (eing in a ?uarantine cattery for i4 mont/ cau ed c/ange in t/e tem"erament and (e/a'iour of cat 1 and in t/e relation /i" (et0een cat and t/eir o0ner ()oc/lit> et al 1998a)1 #aboratories In t/e &., t/e Home ,ffice i ue a $ode of 5ractice for t/e /ou ing and care of animal u ed in cientific "rocedure (Home ,ffice 1989) and a $ode of 5ractice for t/e /ou ing

and care of animal in de ignated (reeding and u""lying e ta(li /ment (Home ,ffice 199:), to e ta(li / minimum tandard and "ro'ide guideline on t/e /ou ing and care of la(oratory animal 1 In 199; 1==@ cientific "rocedure 0ere "erformed on cat in !reat *ritain (Home ,ffice 1998)1 A num(er of tudie underline t/e im"ortance of "o iti'e ocial interaction (et0een la(oratory tec/nician and t/e animal under t/eir care1 )andall et al (1998) found t/at la(oratory cat organi ed t/eir daily acti'ity "attern around /uman careta3er acti'ity, and re "onded trongly to /uman in t/eir en'ironment1 $at in enric/ed condition in a la(oratory facility "referred /uman contact to toy (#eBuca < .randa 1997), and cat /o0ed ign of tre 0/en t/ey 0ere u(Cected to an un"redicta(le careta3ing routine and tec/nician to""ed "etting and tal3ing to t/em ($arl tead et al 199+)1 #e Monte and Be 5a"e (199;) found t/at a tenni (all 0a a more effecti'e enric/ment tool t/an a 0ooden log, for la(oratory cat caged ingly1 -n'ironmentally enric/ed /ou ing for cat 3e"t at t/e Walt/am $entre for 5et Dutrition, a large re earc/ e ta(li /ment in t/e &., /a (een de cri(ed for cat /ou ed ingly (Bo'eridge et al 199:) and in grou" (Bo'eridge 199=)1 .ee"ing cat in an enric/ed, timulating en'ironment t/at encourage a 0ide range of normal (e/a'iour 0ill not only en/ance t/eir 0elfare, ma3ing t/em (etter u(Cect for cientific in'e tigation (5oole 199;), (ut 0ill al o /a'e a "o iti'e effect on t/e "u(lic "erce"tion of t/e treatment of animal in la(oratorie (*enn 199:)1 $eterinary surgeries In 'eterinary urgerie , it i "refera(le for cat to (e /ou ed in an area a0ay from dog 3ennel , "ro'iding t/at t/e cat can (e ade?uately u"er'i ed1 If tiered caging i u ed, t/e u""er cage /ould (e filled (efore t/e lo0er one , and cat /ould not (e 3e"t in tiered caging for long "eriod of time1 If cat are /o "itali ed for more t/an @A8 /, a litter tray /ould (e "ro'ided1 2/e cage /ould (e large enoug/ to contain t/i , a 0ell a a re ting and feeding area1 2/e addition of a (o4 0ill im"ro'e t/e cat6 0elfare (y offering it a "lace to /ide (Fig :), and if t/e (o4 i olid it can al o function a a /elf1 Current recommendations and regulations on dimensions of enclosures #imen ion of enclo ure for cat in animal /elter , (oarding and ?uarantine catterie and la(oratorie are "re ented in 2a(le 11 For grou"Ali'ing cat in /elter , .e ler (199;) ugge t t/at 11@; m7 of floor "ace i re?uire "er cat in order to 3ee" tre at an acce"ta(le le'el1 2/e "en i>e recommended (y t/e $/artered In titute of -n'ironmental Healt/ for (oarding catterie , 0/ic/ include (ot/ t/e /ou e and run area, are ade?uate1 In t/e aut/or6 o"inion, t/e minimum "en dimen ion for cat in ?uarantine catterie cannot "ro'ide good /ou ing, (a ed on t/e recommendation de cri(ed "re'iou ly, and /ould (e increa ed to dimen ion imilar to t/o e re?uired of (oarding catterie 1

!able 11 $age i>e for cat in animal /elter , catterie and la(oratorie Code of Practice
Animal shelter' Boardin catter!2 &'arantine catter! )ats (scientific proced'res)4 )ats (-reedin . s'ppl!in )5 /o s (scientific proced'res)%

Floor area (single) not specified 2."" m2

Floor area (groups) 1.67 m2/cat 2 cats #.7# m2 #$% cats %.68 m2 'p to # cats from same ho'sehold( in 1.% m2 *# k +." m2 *# k +.## m2/cat 2 ,# k +.7" m ,# k +." m2/cat not specified *# k +." m2/cat ,# k +.7" m2/cat 2 *" k %." m *" k 1 m2/do

Height walk-in (1.8 m) walk-in (1.8 m) walk-in (1.8 m) *# k +." m ,# k +.8 m 2m 2m *" k 1." m

6.e ler (199;)G %$I-H (199:)G &MAFF (199:)G 'Home ,ffice (1989)G (Home ,ffice (199:)1

Minimum cage i>e "ermitted for la(oratory cat in t/e &. are al o too mall1 2/e cage in Fig : /a 81=7 m7 of floor "ace and i 81: m /ig/, and i clearly inade?uate for t/e longAterm /ou ing of an adult cat1 #i tingui /ing (et0een t/e dimen ion of cage for cat according to (ody 0eig/t i un/el"ful1 Mo t adult cat 0eig/ more t/an + 3g1 2/o e under + 3g are li3ely to (e 3itten or young cat G t/ey 0ill (e more acti'e and "layful t/an adult and 0ill re?uire more rat/er t/an le "ace1 !rou" often con i t of cat of different 0eig/t , and a cat6 0eig/t may 'ary o'er time1 $age floor area /ould (e deterA mined "er 0eaned cat, and not according to t/e 0eig/t of t/e cat1 In addition, it doe not ma3e en e t/at t/e floor area and /eig/t of cage "ermitted for cat are o muc/ maller t/an t/o e for mall dog (le t/an : 3g) 3e"t for cientific "rocedure (2a(le 1)1 Some adult cat may 0eig/ more t/an : 3g, and dog can (e ta3en out for e4erci e, 0/erea cat "end mo t of t/eir time in t/eir cage 1 S/el'ing can (e remo'ed, a lo0er cage u ed or t/e cage /eig/t reduced u ing a /ori>ontal "artition if t/e e4"erimental "rocedure re?uire t/at t/e cat6 acti'ity i re tricted for /ort "eriod of time, alt/oug/ t/e cat /ould till (e a(le to tretc/ fully in a 'ertical direction1 2/e 0or3ing "arty for t/e re'ie0 of t/e -uro"ean $on'ention for t/e 5rotection of %erte(rate Animal u ed for -4"erimental and ,t/er Scientific 5ur"o e (-2S 17+), A""endi4 A ($ouncil of -uro"e 198@), /a recommended t/at one to t0o 0eaned cat can (e /ou ed in a cage 0it/ a floor area of 11: m 7, 0it/ anot/er 81;: m7 of floor "ace re?uired for e'ery additional catG t/e cage /ould (e 0al3Ain (JWS *rad /a0, "er onal communication)1 2/e e minimum cage dimen ion are li3ely to (e acce"ta(le, "ro'iding t/at t/e ?uality of t/e "ace i al o addre ed1 Concluding remar)s )ecent re earc/ in feline (e/a'iour and animal 0elfare /a yielded 'alua(le information, u"on 0/ic/ recommendation for t/e /ou ing of cat in t/e /ome, in catterie and animal /elter , in la(oratorie and in 'eterinary urgerie can (e (a ed1 2/ere i a need for more re earc/, and it i li3ely t/at t/e recommendation 0ill (e modified a furt/er 3no0ledge i gained1

Ac)nowledgements I 0ould li3e to t/an3 t/e t0o anonymou referee for t/eir /el"ful comment , and 5rofe or # M *room for "ro'iding t/e facilitie to 0rite t/i "a"er1

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