A1 Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä lehdessä
Feline litter box issues associate with cat personality, breed, and age at sterilization
Tekijät: Mikkola Salla; Salonen Milla; Hakanen Emma; Lohi Hannes
Kustantaja: American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
Julkaisuvuosi: 2023
Journal: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Tietokannassa oleva lehden nimi: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Vuosikerta: 261
Numero: 5
Aloitussivu: 652
Lopetussivu: 660
ISSN: 0003-1488
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.22.10.0441
Verkko-osoite: https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.22.10.0441
Tiivistelmä
OBJECTIVETo identify potential risk factors for feline litter box issues (eg, house soiling).ANIMALS3,049 privately owned cats.PROCEDURESData were collected using a validated, owner-completed survey with convenience sampling. The feline behavior and personality survey included 138 statements related to cat behavior and questions concerning cat background and health. Statements related to litter box issues were subjected to factor analysis. Associations between the identified factors and personality and background variables were studied using generalized linear models. Strength of these associations (ie, importance) was evaluated by calculating relative and absolute effect sizes.RESULTSFactor analysis yielded 2 factors: house soiling and litter box fussiness. This study suggests that fearful cats are more prone to both forms of litter box issues than nonfearful individuals. Other associations we found differed between factors. For example, low sociability toward cats, male sex, and being intact associated only with increased house soiling and older age only with litter box fussiness. The most important variables in the litter box models (ie, sociabil-ity toward cats, breed, and activity/playfulness) failed to reach the suggested cutoff for a small effect size.CLINICAL RELEVANCENumerous variables are thought to influence litter box issues, but few studies have examined their relevance. Here, we studied the associations of over 30 background variables and personality traits with 2 litter box issue factors to estimate their importance at the population level. Our results bring new knowledge to this field and may contribute to finding new solutions for these complex issues in the future.
OBJECTIVETo identify potential risk factors for feline litter box issues (eg, house soiling).ANIMALS3,049 privately owned cats.PROCEDURESData were collected using a validated, owner-completed survey with convenience sampling. The feline behavior and personality survey included 138 statements related to cat behavior and questions concerning cat background and health. Statements related to litter box issues were subjected to factor analysis. Associations between the identified factors and personality and background variables were studied using generalized linear models. Strength of these associations (ie, importance) was evaluated by calculating relative and absolute effect sizes.RESULTSFactor analysis yielded 2 factors: house soiling and litter box fussiness. This study suggests that fearful cats are more prone to both forms of litter box issues than nonfearful individuals. Other associations we found differed between factors. For example, low sociability toward cats, male sex, and being intact associated only with increased house soiling and older age only with litter box fussiness. The most important variables in the litter box models (ie, sociabil-ity toward cats, breed, and activity/playfulness) failed to reach the suggested cutoff for a small effect size.CLINICAL RELEVANCENumerous variables are thought to influence litter box issues, but few studies have examined their relevance. Here, we studied the associations of over 30 background variables and personality traits with 2 litter box issue factors to estimate their importance at the population level. Our results bring new knowledge to this field and may contribute to finding new solutions for these complex issues in the future.
Turun yliopiston Tutkimustietojärjestelmän portaali