Abstract:
Persian and exotic shorthair cats are the most-popular brachycephalic breeds worldwide. This study aimed to explore differences in human-cat bonding, behavioural traits, perception of clinical breed-related problems, and the motivation for purchasing between brachycephalic cat owners (BCOs) and non-brachycephalic cat owners (NBCOs). Using an online questionnaire, human-cat bonding and cats\' behavioural traits were explored using the CORS and Fe-BARQ scales, respectively. Breed-related problems and motivations for purchasing were explored only in BCOs. There were 278 BCOs and 250 NBCOs who completed the survey. Respiratory diseases resulted in being the main health problem of these breeds. Most BCOs were not aware of the incidence of these disorders in brachycephalic cats. Character and appearance were the main motivations for purchasing these breeds. Perceived emotional closeness (EC), cat-owner interaction (COI), and perceived cost (PC) mean scores were significantly higher in BCOs. Playfulness and affection-/attention-seeking scores were significantly higher in NBCOs. BCOs reported a significantly higher score for separation-related behaviours. The higher scores in separation-anxiety-related behaviours and in the EC and COI scales could be related mainly to the high level of care these breeds require. The motivation for acquiring brachycephalic breeds for good companionship seems in contrast with the lower scores obtained from BCOs for playfulness and affection-/attention-seeking.
摘要:
波斯和异国情调的短毛猫是世界上最受欢迎的短头猫。本研究旨在探讨人与猫结合的差异,行为特征,对临床品种相关问题的感知,以及短头猫主人(BCO)和非短头猫主人(NBCO)之间的购买动机。使用在线问卷,使用CORS和Fe-BARQ量表探索了人猫结合和猫行为特征,分别。仅在BCO中探讨了与品种相关的问题和购买动机。有278个BCO和250个NBCO完成了调查。呼吸系统疾病导致这些品种的主要健康问题。大多数BCO不知道短头猫中这些疾病的发生率。性格和外表是购买这些品种的主要动机。感知情感亲近度(EC),猫-主人互动(COI),BCO的感知成本(PC)平均得分明显更高。在NBCO中,嬉戏和情感/注意力寻求得分明显更高。BCO报告的分离相关行为得分明显较高。分离焦虑相关行为以及EC和COI量表的较高得分可能主要与这些品种所需的高水平护理有关。为了获得良好的陪伴而获得短脑品种的动机似乎与从BCOs获得的较低得分相反,后者的趣味性和情感/注意力寻求。