Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-x4r87 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-27T16:03:15.236Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Play and welfare in domestic cats: Current knowledge and future directions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

JSL Henning ,
EJ Fernandez ,
T Nielsen  and
S Hazel
JSL Henning*
Affiliation:
University of Adelaide, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, South Australia, Australia
EJ Fernandez
Affiliation:
University of Adelaide, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, South Australia, Australia
T Nielsen
Affiliation:
University of Adelaide, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, South Australia, Australia
S Hazel
Affiliation:
University of Adelaide, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, South Australia, Australia
*
* Contact for correspondence: julia.henning@adelaide.edu.au
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Play and welfare have long been linked within animal research literature, with play considered as both a potential indicator and promoter of welfare. An indicator due to observations that play is exhibited most frequently in times when an animal's fitness is not under threat and when immediate needs such as food, water and adequate space are met. And a promoter, because of observations that animals who play more also have better welfare outcomes. However, limited research has been undertaken to investigate this link, especially in companion animals. The domestic cat (Felis catus) is one of the most popular companion animals in the world, yet little is known about the impact of play behaviour on cat welfare. We review the current literature on play and welfare in cats. This includes examining the role of cat play in mitigating negative welfare outcomes, such as reducing problem behaviours, one of the leading reasons for guardian dissatisfaction and cat relinquishment to shelters. Play is also discussed as a potential tool to provide environmental enrichment and to improve cat-human relationships. Future areas for research are suggested. We find that further research is needed that uses a multi-faceted approach to assess how quantity, type and quality of play impact subsequent cat behaviour and welfare. Future research could also assess cat play needs and preferences as well as investigate the role of play in mitigating threats to cat welfare such as reducing problem behaviour and improving human-cat relationships. If play is an indicator and promoter of welfare, studies into the impact of play may offer an accessible approach for monitoring and improving domestic cat welfare.

Keywords

affective stateanimal welfarebehaviourcatenrichmentplay
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 31 , Issue 4 , November 2022 , pp. 407 - 421
Copyright
© 2022 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

References

Ahloy-Dallaire, J 2015 Investigating the functions of rough-and-tumble play in American mink, Neovison vison. Doctoral dissertation. http://hdl.handle.net/10214/9353Google Scholar
Ahloy-Dallaire, J, Espinosa, J and Mason, G 2018 Play and optimal welfare: does play indicate the presence of positive affective states? Behavioural Processes 156: 3–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2017.11.011CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ainsworth, MDS, Blehar, MC, Waters, E and Wall, SN 2015 Patterns of attachment: A psychological study of the strange situation. Psychology Press. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203758045CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Alho, AM, Pontes, J and Pomba, C 2016 Guardians’ knowledge and husbandry practices of feline environmental enrichment. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 19: 115–125. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2015.1117976CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Altmann, EO and Gotlib, IH 1988 The social behavior of depressed children: An observational study. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology 16: 29–44. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00910498CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Amat, M, de la Torre, JLR, Fatjó, J, Mariotti, VM, Van Wijk, S and Manteca, X 2009 Potential risk factors associated with feline behaviour problems. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 121: 134–139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2009.09.012CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Antonacci, D, Norscia, I and Palagi, E 2010 Stranger to familiar: wild strepsirhines manage xenophobia by playing. PLoS ONE 5: e13218. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0013218CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Arhant, C, Wogritsch, R and Troxler, J 2015 Assessment of behavior and physical condition of shelter cats as animal-based indicators of welfare. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 10: 399–406. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2015.03.006CrossRefGoogle Scholar
AVMA 2019 Policy on free-roaming, owned cats. https://www.avma.org/KB/Policies/Pages/Free-Roaming-Owned-Cats.aspxGoogle Scholar
Baarendse, PJ, Counotte, DS, O'Donnell, P and Vanderschuren, LJ 2013 Early social experience is critical for the development of cognitive control and dopamine modulation of prefrontal cortex function. Neuropsychopharmacology 38: 1485–1494. https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2013.47CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Barrett, L, Dunbar, RI and Dunbar, P 1992 Environmental influences on play behaviour in immature gelada baboons. Animal Behaviour 44: 111–115. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-3472(05)80760-2CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bateson, P, Martin, P and Young, M 1981 Effects of interrupting cat mothers’ lactation with bromocriptine on the subsequent play of their kittens. Physiology and Behavior 27: 841–845. https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9384(81)90051-2CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bateson, P, Mendl, M and Feaver, J 1990 Play in the domestic cat is enhanced by rationing of the mother during lactation. Animal Behaviour 40: 514–525. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-3472(05)80532-9CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bateson, P and Young, M 1981 Separation from the mother and the development of play in cats. Animal Behaviour 29: 173–180. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-3472(81)80163-7CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Beatty, WW and Costello, KB 1982 Naloxone and play fighting in juvenile rats. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior 17: 905–907. https://doi.org/10.1016/0091-3057(82)90470-1CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bekoff, M 2001 Social play behaviour. Cooperation, fairness, trust, and the evolution of morality. Journal of Consciousness Studies 8: 81–90Google Scholar
Bekoff, M and Allen, C 1997 Animal Play: Evolutionary, Comparative, and Ecological Perspectives. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UKGoogle Scholar
Bell, HC, Pellis, SM and Kolb, B 2010 Juvenile peer play experience and the development of the orbitofrontal and medial pre-frontal cortices. Behavioural Brain Research 207: 7–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2009.09.029CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berger, J 1979 Social ontogeny and behavioural diversity: Consequences for bighorn sheep Ovis canadensis inhabiting desert and mountain environments. Journal of Zoology 188: 251–266. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1979.tb03403.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Biben, M 1979 Predation and predatory play behaviour of domestic cats. Animal Behaviour 27: 81–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-3472(79)90129-5CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bird, J and Edwards, S 2015 Children learning to use technologies through play: A Digital Play Framework. British Journal of Educational Technology 46: 1149–1160. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.12191CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bishop, JC and Curtis, M 2001 Play today in the primary school playground: Life, learning, and creativity. Open University Press: Bucks, UKGoogle Scholar
Blanche, EI 2002 Play and process: Adult play embedded in the daily routine. In: Roopnarine, JL (ed) Conceptual, Social-Cognitive, and Contextual Issues in the Fields of Play pp 249–278. Ablex Publishing: London, UKGoogle Scholar
Boissy, A, Manteuffel, G, Jensen, MB, Moe, RO, Spruijt, B, Keeling, LJ, Winckler, C, Forkman, B, Dimitrov, I and Langbein, J 2007 Assessment of positive emotions in animals to improve their welfare. Physiology & Behavior 92: 375–397. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.02.003CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bowen, J and Heath, S 2005 Behaviour Problems in Small Animals: Practical Advice for the Veterinary Team. Elsevier Health Sciences: Amsterdam, The NetherlandsGoogle Scholar
Bradshaw, JW 2012 The Behaviour of the Domestic Cat. CABI: Wallingford, UKCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bradshaw, JW 2018 Normal feline behaviour:… and why problem behaviours develop. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 20: 411–421. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X18771203CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brambell, FWR 1965 Report of the Technical Committee. Animals Kept Under Intensive Livestock Husbandry Systems. HM Stationery Office: London, UKGoogle Scholar
Brando, SICA and Burghardt, GM 2019 Studying play in zoos and aquariums. In: Kaufman, A, Bashaw, M and Maple, T (eds) Scientific Foundations of Zoos and Aquariums: Their Role in Conservation and Research pp 558–585. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108183147.022CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Broadhead, P 2003 Early Years Play and Learning: Developing Social Skills and Cooperation. Routledge: Oxon, UKCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brooks, HL, Rushton, K, Lovell, K, Bee, P, Walker, L, Grant, L and Rogers, A 2018 The power of support from companion animals for people living with mental health problems: a systematic review and narrative synthesis of the evidence. BMC Psychiatry 18: 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1613-2CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Broom, DM 1986 Indicators of poor welfare. British Veterinary Journal 142: 524–526CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Broom, DM 1991 Animal welfare: concepts and measurement. Journal of Animal Science 69: 4167–4175. https://doi.org/10.2527/1991.69104167xCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Broom, DM and Fraser, AF 2015 Domestic Animal Behaviour and Welfare. CABI: Wallingford, UKCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Broom, DM and Johnson, KG 2019 Stress and Animal Welfare pp 131–172. Springer: New York, USA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32153-6_6CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brown, SL 2009 Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul. Penguin: London, UKGoogle Scholar
Brown, WP and Stephan, VL 2020 The influence of degree of socialization and age on length of stay of shelter cats. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science pp 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2020.1733574CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burghardt, GM 2005 The Genesis of Animal Play: Testing the Limits. Mit Press: Cambridge, MA, USACrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burghardt, GM 2011 The Oxford Handbook of the Development of Play. Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195393002.013.0002Google Scholar
Carlstead, K, Brown, JL and Strawn, W 1993 Behavioral and physiological correlates of stress in laboratory cats. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 38: 143–158. https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-1591(93)90062-TCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carney, HC, Sadek, TP, Curtis, TM, Halls, V, Heath, S, Hutchison, P, Mundschenk, K and Westropp, JL 2014 AAFP and ISFM guidelines for diagnosing and solving house-soiling behavior in cats. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 16: 579–598. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X14539092CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Caro, T 1980 Effects of the mother, object play, and adult experience on predation in cats. Behavioral and Neural Biology 29: 29–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0163-1047(80)92456-5CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Caro, T 1981 Predatory behaviour and social play in kittens. Behaviour 76: 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1163/156853981X00013CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cecchetti, M, Crowley, SL, Goodwin, CE and McDonald, RA 2021 Provision of high meat content food and object play reduce predation of wild animals by domestic cats Felis catus. Current Biology 31(5): 1107–1111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.12.044CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chalkowski, K, Wilson, AE, Lepczyk, CA and Zohdy, S 2019 Who let the cats out? A global meta-analysis on risk of parasitic infection in indoor versus outdoor domestic cats (Felis catus). Biology Letters 15: 20180840. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2018.0840CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Collard, RR 1967 Fear of strangers and play behavior in kittens with varied social experience. Child Development pp 877–891. https://doi.org/10.2307/1127265CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Crowley, SL, Cecchetti, M and McDonald, RA 2020 Diverse perspectives of cat owners indicate barriers to and opportunities for managing cat predation of wildlife. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 18: 544–549. https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.2254CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Daenen, EW, Wolterink, G, Gerrits, MA and Van Ree, JM 2002 The effects of neonatal lesions in the amygdala or ventral hippocampus on social behaviour later in life. Behavioural Brain Research 136: 571–582. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0166-4328(02)00223-1CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Delgado, M, Han, BSG and Bain, MJ 2021 Domestic cats (Felis catus) prefer freely available food over food that requires effort. Animal Cognition pp 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-021-01530-3CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Delgado, M and Hecht, J 2019 A review of the development and functions of cat play, with future research considerations. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 214: 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2019.03.004CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Duffy, DL, De Moura, RTD and Serpell, JA 2017 Development and evaluation of the Fe-BARQ: A new survey instrument for measuring behavior in domestic cats (Felis s catus). Behavioural Processes 141: 329–341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2017.02.010CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Edwards, C, Heiblum, M, Tejeda, A and Galindo, F 2007 Experimental evaluation of attachment behaviors in owned cats. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 2: 119–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2007.06.004CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Egan, J 1967 Object play in cats. In: Brunner, J, Jolly, A and Sylva, K (eds) Play-Its Role in Development and Evolution pp 161–165. Penguin: London, UKGoogle Scholar
Ellis, S 2007 Environmental enrichment for the domestic cat—an introduction. Veterinary Nursing Journal 22(12): 19–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/17415349.2007.11013636CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ellis, S 2009 Environmental enrichment: practical strategies for improving feline welfare. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 11: 901–912. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfms.2009.09.011CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ellis, S, Rodan, I, Carney, HC, Heath, S, Rochlitz, I, Shearburn, LD, Sundahl, E and Westropp, JL 2013 AAFP and ISFM feline environmental needs guidelines. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 15: 219–230. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X13477537CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fagen, R 1978 Evolutionary biological models of animal play behavior. The development of behavior: Comparative and Evolutionary Aspects pp 385–404Google Scholar
Fagen, R 1995 Animal Play, Games of Angels, Biology, and Brian: The Future of Play Theory pp 23–44. SUNY Press: Albany, NY, USAGoogle Scholar
Fagen, R and Fagen, J 2004 Juvenile survival and benefits of play behaviour in brown bears, Ursus arctos. Evolutionary Ecology Research 6: 89–102Google Scholar
Fagen, R and Fagen, J 2009 Play behaviour and multi-year juvenile survival in free-ranging brown bears, Ursus arctos. Evolutionary Ecology Research 11: 1053–1067Google Scholar
Fantuzzo, J, Sutton-Smith, B, Atkins, M, Meyers, R, Stevenson, H, Coolahan, K, Weiss, A and Manz, P 1996 Community-based resilient peer treatment of withdrawn maltreated preschool children. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 64: 1377. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.64.6.1377CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fernandez, EJ 2022 Training as enrichment: A critical review. Animal Welfare 31: 1–12. https://doi.org/10.7120/09627286.31.1.001CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fernandez, EJ, Myers, M and Hawkes, NC 2021 The effects of live feeding on swimming activity and exhibit use in zoo Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti). Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens 2: 88–100. https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg2010007CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Finka, LR, Ward, J, Farnworth, MJ and Mills, DS 2019 Owner personality and the wellbeing of their cats share parallels with the parent-child relationship. PLoS ONE 14: e0211862. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0211862CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fisher, M 2009 Defining animal welfare—does consistency matter? New Zealand Veterinary Journal 57: 71–73. https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2009.36880CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Foreman-Worsley, R and Farnworth, MJ 2019 A systematic review of social and environmental factors and their implications for indoor cat welfare. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 220: 104841. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2019.104841CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Foreman-Worsley, R, Finka, LR, Ward, SJ and Farnworth, MJ 2021 Indoors or outdoors? An international exploration of owner demographics and decision making associated with lifestyle of pet cats. Animals 11: 253. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020253CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fraser, D 2008 Understanding animal welfare. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 50: 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-50-S1-S1CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fraser, D 2009a Animal behaviour, animal welfare and the scientific study of affect. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 118: 108–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2009.02.020CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fraser, D 2009b Assessing animal welfare: different philosophies, different scientific approaches. Zoo Biology 28: 507–518. https://doi.org/10.1002/zoo.20253Google ScholarPubMed
Freire, R, Buckley, P and Cooper, JJ 2009 Effects of different forms of exercise on post inhibitory rebound and unwanted behaviour in stabled horses. Equine Veterinary Journal 41: 487–492. https://doi.org/10.2746/095777309X383883CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Friedmann, E and Son, H 2009 The human-companion animal bond: how humans benefit. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice 39: 293–326. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2008.10.015CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gajdoš Kmecová, N, Pet'ková, B, Kottferová, J, Skurková, L and Mills, DS 2021a Are these cats playing? A closer look at social play in cats and proposal for a psychobiological approach and standard terminology. Frontiers in Veterinary Science pp 811. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.712310CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gajdoš Kmecová, N, Pet'ková, B, Kottferová, J, Wannell, RS and Mills, DS 2021b Potential risk factors for aggression and playfulness in cats: examination of a pooling fallacy using Fe-BARQ as an example. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 7: 1132. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.545326CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gariépy, N and Howe, N 2003 The therapeutic power of play: examining the play of young children with leukaemia. Child: Care, Health and Development 29: 523–537. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2214.2003.00372.xCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gillum, RF and Obisesan, TO 2010 Living with companion animals, physical activity and mortality in a US national cohort. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 7: 2452–2459. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph7062452CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grigg, EK and Kogan, LR 2019 Owners’ attitudes, knowledge, and care practices: Exploring the implications for domestic cat behavior and welfare in the home. Animals 9: 978. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9110978CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Größbacher, V, Lawrence, AB, Winckler, C and Špinka, M 2020 Negative play contagion in calves. Scientific Reports 10: 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-78748-7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Growth From Knowledge 2016 Pet Ownership Global Survey. https://www.gfk.com/fileadmin/user_upload/country_one_pager/NL/documents/Global-GfK-survey_Pet-Ownership_2016.pdfGoogle Scholar
Guyot, GW, Bennett, TL and Cross, HA 1980 The effects of social isolation on the behavior of juvenile domestic cats. Developmental Psychobiology: The Journal of the International Society for Developmental Psychobiology 13(3): 317–329. https://doi.org/10.1002/dev.420130307CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hall, SL and Bradshaw, JW 1998 The influence of hunger on object play by adult domestic cats. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 58: 143–150. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1591(97)00136-6CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hall, SL, Bradshaw, JW and Robinson, IH 2002 Object play in adult domestic cats: the roles of habituation and disinhibition. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 79: 263–271. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1591(02)00153-3CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harmon-Jones, E, Harmon-Jones, C and Price, TF 2013 What is approach motivation? Emotion Review 5: 291–295. https://doi.org/10.1177/1754073913477509CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hausberger, M, Fureix, C, Bourjade, M, Wessel-Robert, S and Richard-Yris, MA 2012 On the significance of adult play: what does social play tell us about adult horse welfare? Naturwissenschaften 99: 291–302. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-012-0902-8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Heath, S 2020 Environment and feline health. Feline practice: Integrating medicine and well-being (part I). An Issue of Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice 50(4): 663. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2020.03.005CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heidenberger, E 1997 Housing conditions and behavioural problems of indoor cats as assessed by their owners. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 52: 345–364. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1591(96)01134-3CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Held, SD and Špinka, M 2011 Animal play and animal welfare. Animal Behaviour 81: 891–899. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2011.01.007CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Henning, J, Nielsen, T, Nettifee, J, Muñana, K and Hazel, S 2021 Understanding the impacts of feline epilepsy on cats and their owners. Veterinary Record: e836. https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.836CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Henricks, TS 2015 Play as experience. American Journal of Play 8: 18–49Google Scholar
Herron, ME and Buffington, CA 2010 Feline focus: environmental enrichment for indoor cats. Compendium of Continuing Educational Veterinology 32: 1–5Google Scholar
Himmler, SM, Himmler, BT, Pellis, VC and Pellis, SM 2016 Play, variation in play and the development of socially competent rats. Behaviour 153: 1103–1137. https://doi.org/10.1163/1568539X-00003307CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hoy, JM, Murray, PJ and Tribe, A 2010 Thirty years later: Enrichment practices for captive mammals. Zoo Biology 29: 303–316. https://doi.org/10.1002/zoo.20254CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hughes, B 2002 A Playworker's Taxonomy of Play Types, Second Edition. PlayLink: London, UKGoogle Scholar
Janke, N, Berke, O, Flockhart, T, Bateman, S and Coe, JB 2017 Risk factors affecting length of stay of cats in an animal shelter: A case study at the Guelph Humane Society, 2011–2016. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 148: 44–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2017.10.007CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jongman, EC 2007 Adaptation of domestic cats to confinement. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 2: 193–196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2007.09.003CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kafer, R, Lago, D, Wamboldt, P and Harrington, F 1992 The Pet Relationship Scale: Replication of psychometric properties in random samples and association with attitudes toward wild animals. Anthrozoös 5: 93–105. https://doi.org/10.2752/089279392787011476CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kessler, M and Turner, D 1997 Stress and adaptation of cats (Felis silvestris catus) housed singly, in pairs and in groups in boarding catteries. Animal Welfare 6: 243–254CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kogan, LR and Grigg, EK 2021 Laser light pointers for use in companion cat play: Association with guardian-reported abnormal repetitive behaviors. Animals 11: 2178. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11082178CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Krachun, C, Rushen, J and de Passillé, AM 2010 Play behaviour in dairy calves is reduced by weaning and by a low energy intake. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 122: 71–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2009.12.002CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kurian, JR, Bychowski, ME, Forbes-Lorman, RM, Auger, CJ and Auger, AP 2008 Mecp2 organizes juvenile social behavior in a sex-specific manner. Journal of Neuroscience 28: 7137–7142. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1345-08.2008CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leaf, RC, Wnek, DJ and Lamon, S 1984 Oxazepam induced mouse killing by rats. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior 20: 311–313. https://doi.org/10.1016/0091-3057(84)90260-0CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lee, P 1984 Ecological constraints on the social development of vervet monkeys. Behaviour 91: 245–261. https://doi.org/10.1163/156853984X00092CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leussis, MP and Andersen, SL 2008 Is adolescence a sensitive period for depression? Behavioral and neuroanatomical findings from a social stress model. Synapse 62: 22–30. https://doi.org/10.1002/syn.20462CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Leussis, MP, Lawson, K, Stone, K and Andersen, SL 2008 The enduring effects of an adolescent social stressor on synaptic density, part II: Poststress reversal of synaptic loss in the cortex by adinazolam and MK-801. Synapse 62: 185–192. https://doi.org/10.1002/syn.20483CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Levine, E, Perry, P, Scarlett, J and Houpt, K 2005 Intercat aggression in households following the introduction of a new cat. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 90: 325–336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2004.07.006CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leyhausen, P and Tonkin, BA 1979 Cat Behaviour. The Predatory and Social Behaviour of Domestic and Wild cats. Garland STPM Press: New York, USAGoogle Scholar
Loberg, JM and Lundmark, F 2016 The effect of space on behaviour in large groups of domestic cats kept indoors. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 182: 23–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2016.05.030CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Longstaff, L, Gruffydd-Jones, TJ, Buffington, CT, Casey, RA and Murray, JK 2017 Owner-reported lower urinary tract signs in a cohort of young cats. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 19: 609–618. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X16643123CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lund, HS, Sævik, BK, Finstad, OW, Grøntvedt, ET, Vatne, T and Eggertsdóttir, AV 2016 Risk factors for idiopathic cystitis in Norwegian cats: a matched case-control study. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 18: 483–491. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X15587955CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Manduca, A, Campolongo, P, Palmery, M, Vanderschuren, LJ, Cuomo, V and Trezza, V 2014 Social play behavior, ultrasonic vocalizations and their modulation by morphine and amphetamine in Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rats. Psychopharmacology 231: 1661–1673. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-013-3337-9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Marsh, J, Plowman, L, Yamada-Rice, D, Bishop, J and Scott, F 2016 Digital play: A new classification. Early Years 36: 242–253. https://doi.org/10.1080/09575146.2016.1167675CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martin, P and Bateson, P 1985 The ontogeny of locomotor play behaviour in the domestic cat. Animal Behaviour 33: 502–510. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-3472(85)80073-7CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martin, P and Caro, TM 1985 On the functions of play and its role in behavioral development. Advances in the Study of Behavior 15: 59–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-3454(08)60487-8CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McCabe, GP and Ecker, C 1996 Risk factors for relinquishment of cats to an animal shelter. Journal of American Veterinary Medicine Assocation 209: 582–588Google Scholar
McLeod, LJ, Hine, DW and Bengsen, AJ 2015 Born to roam? Surveying cat owners in Tasmania, Australia, to identify the drivers and barriers to cat containment. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 122: 339–344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2015.11.007CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Meaney, MJ, Dodge, AM and Beatty, WW 1981 Sex-dependent effects of amygdaloid lesions on the social play of prepubertal rats. Physiology & Behavior 26: 467–472. https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9384(81)90175-XCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Medina, FM, Bonnaud, E, Vidal, E, Tershy, BR, Zavaleta, ES, Donlan, J, Keitt, BS, Le Corre, M, Horwath, SV and Nogales, M 2011 A global review of the impacts of invasive cats on island endangered vertebrates. Global Change Biology 17: 3503–3510. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2011.02464.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mellen, J and Sevenich MacPhee, M 2001 Philosophy of environmental enrichment: past, present, and future. Zoo Biology 20: 211–226. https://doi.org/10.1002/zoo.1021CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mellor, DJ 2016 Updating animal welfare thinking: Moving beyond the ‘Five Freedoms’ towards'a Life Worth Living.’ Animals 6: 21. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani6030021CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mellor, DJ and Beausoleil, N 2015 Extending the ‘Five Domains’ model for animal welfare assessment to incorporate positive welfare states. Animal Welfare 24: 241. https://doi.org/10.7120/09627286.24.3.241CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mendl, M 1988 The effects of litter-size variation on the development of play behaviour in the domestic cat: litters of one and two. Animal Behaviour 36: 20–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-3472(88)80246-XCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mendl, M, Mason, GJ and Paul, ES 2017 Animal welfare science. In: Burghardt, GM, Pepperberg, IM, Snowdon, CT and Zentall, T (eds) APA Handbook of Comparative Psychology: Perception, Learning, and Cognition pp 793–811. American Psychological Association: Washington, USA. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000012-035CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mintline, EM, Stewart, M, Rogers, AR, Cox, NR, Verkerk, GA, Stookey, JM, Webster, JR and Tucker, CB 2013 Play behavior as an indicator of animal welfare: Disbudding in dairy calves. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 144: 22–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2012.12.008CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mitchell, RW 1990 A theory of play. In: Bekoff, M and Jamieson, D (eds) Interpretation and Explanation in the Study of Animal Behavior Vol 1: Interpretation, Intentionality, and Communication pp 197–227. Westview Press: Boulder, CO, USAGoogle Scholar
Newberry, RC 1995 Environmental enrichment: increasing the biological relevance of captive environments. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 44: 229–243. https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-1591(95)00616-ZCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Niesink, RJ and Van Ree, JM 1989 Involvement of opioid and dopaminergic systems in isolation-induced pinning and social grooming of young rats. Neuropharmacology 28: 411–418. https://doi.org/10.1016/0028-3908(89)90038-5CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Normansell, L and Panksepp, J 1990 Effects of morphine and naloxone on play-rewarded spatial discrimination in juvenile rats. Developmental Psychobiology: The Journal of the International Society for Developmental Psychobiology 23: 75–83. https://doi.org/10.1002/dev.420230108CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
O'Hanley, KA, Pearl, DL and Niel, L 2021 Risk factors for aggression in adult cats that were fostered through a shelter program as kittens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 236: 105251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105251CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Oliveira, AFS, Rossi, AO, Silva, LFR, Lau, MC and Barreto, RE 2010 Play behaviour in nonhuman animals and the animal welfare issue. Journal of Ethology 28: 1. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-009-0167-7CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Palagi, E, Burghardt, GM, Smuts, B, Cordoni, G, Dall'Olio, S, Fouts, HN, Řeháková-Petrů, M, Siviy, SM and Pellis, SM 2016 Rough-and-tumble play as a window on animal communication. Biological Reviews 91: 311–327. https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.12172CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Panksepp, J 2011 The basic emotional circuits of mammalian brains: do animals have affective lives? Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 35: 1791–1804. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2011.08.003CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Panksepp, J, Herman, B, Vilberg, T, Bishop, P and DeEskinazi, F 1980 Endogenous opioids and social behavior. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 4: 473–487. https://doi.org/10.1016/0149-7634(80)90036-6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Panksepp, J, Jalowiec, J, DeEskinazi, F and Bishop, P 1985 Opiates and play dominance in juvenile rats. Behavioral Neuroscience 99: 441. https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7044.99.3.441CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pascual, R, Zamora-León, SP and Valero-Cabré, A 2006 Effects of postweaning social isolation and re-socialization on the expression of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and dendritic development in the medial prefrontal cortex of the rat. Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis 66: 7–14Google ScholarPubMed
Paul, ES, Harding, EJ and Mendl, M 2005 Measuring emotional processes in animals: the utility of a cognitive approach. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 29: 469–491. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2005.01.002CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pellegrini, AD 2009 The Role of Play in Human Development. Oxford University Press: USACrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pellegrini, AD 2011 The development and function of locomotor play. In: Pellegrini, AD and Nathan, PE (eds) The Oxford Handbook of the Development of Play pp 172–183. Oxford University Press: Oxford, UKGoogle Scholar
Pellis, SM, O'Brien, DP, Pellis, VC, Teitelbaum, P, Wolgin, DL and Kennedy, S 1988 Escalation of feline predation along a gradient from avoidance through “play” to killing. Behavioral Neuroscience 102: 760. https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7044.102.5.760CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pellis, SM, Pellis, VC, Pelletier, A and Leca, JB 2019 Is play a behavior system and, if so, what kind? Behavioural Processes 160: 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2018.12.011CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Potter, A and Mills, DS 2015 Domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) do not show signs of secure attachment to their owners. PLoS ONE 10: e0135109. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0135109CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pullen, AJ, Merrill, RJ and Bradshaw, JW 2012 Habituation and dishabituation during object play in kennel-housed dogs. Animal Cognition 15(6): 1143–1150. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-012-0538-2CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pyari, MS, Uccheddu, S, Lenkei, R and Pongrácz, P 2021 Inexperienced but still interested: Indoor-only cats are more inclined for predatory play than cats with outdoor access. Applied Animal Behaviour Science: 105373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105373CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Riley, S 2019 The changing legal status of cats in Australia: From friend of the settlers, to enemy of the rabbit, and now a threat to biodiversity and biosecurity risk. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 5: 342. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2018.00342CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rushen, J, Wright, R, Johnsen, JF, Mejdell, CM and de Passillé, AM 2016 Reduced locomotor play behaviour of dairy calves following separation from the mother reflects their response to reduced energy intake. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 177: 6–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2016.01.023CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Russell, JA 2003 Core affect and the psychological construction of emotion. Psychological Review 110: 145. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.110.1.145CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Scarlett, WG, Naudeau, S, Salonius-Pasternak, D and Ponte, I 2004 Children's Play. Sage Publications: Newbury Park, CA, USAGoogle Scholar
Seitz, PF 1959 Infantile experience and adult behavior in animal subjects: II. Age of separation from the mother and adult behavior in the cat. Psychosomatic Medicine 21: 353–378CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sharpe, LL, Clutton-Brock, TH, Brotherton, PN, Cameron, EZ and Cherry, MI 2002 Experimental provisioning increases play in free-ranging meerkats. Animal Behaviour 64: 113–121. https://doi.org/10.1006/anbe.2002.3031CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shreve, KRV, Mehrkam, LR and Udell, MA 2017 Social interaction, food, scent or toys? A formal assessment of domestic pet and shelter cat (Felis silvestris catus) preferences. Behavioural Processes 141: 322–328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2017.03.016CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Siegel, MA, Jensen, RA and Panksepp, J 1985 The prolonged effects of naloxone on play behavior and feeding in the rat. Behavioral and Neural Biology 44: 509–514. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0163-1047(85)91024-6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Siviy, SM 2016 A brain motivated to play: Insights into the neurobiology of playfulness. Behaviour 153: 819–844. https://doi.org/10.1163/1568539X-00003349CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Siviy, SM and Panksepp, J 1985 Energy balance and play in juvenile rats. Physiology & Behavior 35: 435–441. https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9384(85)90320-8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Slingerland, LI, Fazilova, VV, Plantinga, EA, Kooistra, HS and Beynen, AC 2009 Indoor confinement and physical inactivity rather than the proportion of dry food are risk factors in the development of feline type 2 diabetes mellitus. The Veterinary Journal 179: 247–253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.08.03CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smaldino, PE, Palagi, E, Burghardt, GM and Pellis, SM 2019 The evolution of two types of play. Behavioral Ecology 30: 1388–1397. https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arz090CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sommerville, R, O'Connor, EA and Asher, L 2017 Why do dogs play? Function and welfare implications of play in the domestic dog. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 197: 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2017.09.007CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stavisky, J 2014 Too many cats: how owner beliefs contribute to overpopulation. Veterinary Record 174: 116–117. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.g1100CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stella, JL and Croney, CC 2016 Environmental aspects of domestic cat care and management: Implications for cat welfare. The Scientific World Journal. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/6296315CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Strickler, BL and Shull, EA 2014 An owner survey of toys, activities, and behavior problems in indoor cats. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 9: 207–214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2014.06.005CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Styles, BC 1980 The MICRO system. Museum Documentation Association Occasional Paper 4: 43–46Google Scholar
Tacconi, G and Palagi, E 2009 Play behavioural tactics under space reduction: social challenges in bonobos, Pan paniscus. Animal Behaviour 78: 469–476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2009.06.004CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tan, SM, Stellato, AC and Niel, L 2020 Uncontrolled outdoor access for cats: An assessment of risks and benefits. Animals 10: 258. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10020258CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thomas, E and Schaller, F 1954 Das Spiel der optisch isolierten, jungen Kaspar-Hauser-Katze. Naturwissenschaften 41: 557–558. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00629051. [Title translation: Play in optically isolated, young house cats]CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Trezza, V and Vanderschuren, LJ 2008 Cannabinoid and opioid modulation of social play behavior in adolescent rats: differential behavioral mechanisms. European Neuropsychopharmacology 18: 519–530. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2008.03.001CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Trezza, V and Vanderschuren, LJ 2009 Divergent effects of anandamide transporter inhibitors with different target selectivity on social play behavior in adolescent rats. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 328: 343–350. https://doi.org/10.1124/jpet.108.141069CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vanderschuren, LJ 2010 How the brain makes play fun. American Journal of Play 2: 315–337Google Scholar
Vanderschuren, LJ, Spruijt, B, Van Ree, J and Niesink, R 1995 Effects of morphine on different aspects of social play in juvenile rats. Psychopharmacology 117(2). 225–231. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02245191CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vanderschuren, LJ and Trezza, V 2013 What the laboratory rat has taught us about social play behavior: role in behavioral development and neural mechanisms. The Neurobiology of Childhood 189–212. https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2013_268CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van Kerkhof, LW, Damsteegt, R, Trezza, V, Voorn, P and Vanderschuren, LJ 2013 Functional integrity of the habenula is necessary for social play behaviour in rats. European Journal of Neuroscience 38: 3465–3475. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.12353CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Van Kerkhof, LW, Trezza, V, Mulder, T, Gao, P, Voorn, P and Vanderschuren, LJ 2014 Cellular activation in limbic brain systems during social play behaviour in rats. Brain Structure and Function 219: 1181–1211. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-013-0558-yGoogle ScholarPubMed
Varlinskaya, EI, Spear, LP and Spear, NE 1999 Social behavior and social motivation in adolescent rats: role of housing conditions and partner's activity. Physiology & Behavior 67: 475–482. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9384(98)00285-6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Veit, W and Browning, H 2021 Perspectival pluralism for animal welfare. European Journal for Philosophy of Science 11: 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13194-020-00322-9CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wall, M, Cave, NJ and Vallee, E 2019 Owner and cat-related risk factors for feline overweight or obesity. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 6: 266. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00266CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Webster, J 2016 Animal welfare: Freedoms, dominions and “a life worth living”. Animals 6: 35. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani6060035CrossRefGoogle Scholar
West, M 1974 Social play in the domestic cat. American Zoologist 14: 427–436CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Widmar, NJO, Morgan, CJ and Croney, CC 2018 Perceptions of social responsibility of prominent animal welfare groups. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 21: 27–39. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2017.1365000CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wilson, J, Gruffydd-Jones, T and Murray, J 2017 Risk factors for road traffic accidents in cats up to age 12 months that were registered between 2010 and 2013 with the UK pet cat cohort (‘Bristol Cats’). Veterinary Record 180: 195. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.103859CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wilson, SC and Kleiman, DG 1974 Eliciting play: A comparative study: (Octodon, Octodontomys, Pediolagus, Phoca, Chocropsis, Ailuropoda). American Zoologist 14(1): 341–370. https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/14.1.341Google Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Henning et al. supplementary material
Download undefined(File)
File 157.4 KB