Jacobson LS, Ellis JJ, Janke KJ, Giacinti JA, Robertson JV. Behavior and adoptability of hoarded cats admitted to an animal shelter.
J Feline Med Surg 2022;
24:e232-e243. [PMID:
35722998 PMCID:
PMC9315195 DOI:
10.1177/1098612x221102122]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Objectives
The aim of this study was to analyze the behavioral characteristics and
success of adoption for previously hoarded cats.
Methods
Shelter records and post-adoption surveys were analyzed for hoarded cats ⩾6
months old at intake. A non-standard scoring system was used. Intake scores
were allocated contemporaneously and socialization scores were applied
retrospectively for three time points (TPs): 5–10 days post-intake (shelter
TP), ⩽1 week post-adoption (home TP1) and >1 week post-adoption (home
TP2). Adoption returns were compared between hoarded and non-hoarded
cats.
Results
The study included 195 hoarded cats, of which 174 were adopted. Of 164 cats
with intake scores, 86 (52%) were scored as ‘friendly’ at intake. Forty-five
cats had socialization scores for all of the TPs, and of these, the
percentages of ‘supersocial’ or ‘social’ decreased from 87% at the shelter
TP to 47% at home TP1, then increased to 84% at home TP2. Most cats that
scored as ‘tense’ at intake had supersocial or social scores at home TP2.
Nine of the 88 cats with survey results had out-of-box (OOB) elimination in
either the shelter or home but only 1/88 in both. Adopters expressed
positive feelings for 42/43 cats for which feelings-based language was used
in their survey responses. Notable behaviors, such as neediness, were
recorded for 48/88 cats. Relationships with other household pets were
typically positive. Eighteen of 174 hoarded (10%) and 188/2662 non-hoarded
(7.1%) cats were returned post-adoption. Of these, six hoarded and 87
non-hoarded returns included behavioral reasons. There were no significant
differences between hoarded and non-hoarded cats for total or behavioral
returns.
Conclusions and relevance
Hoarded cats had high adoption rates, high adopter satisfaction and the
potential for good emotional well-being in adoptive homes. Behavior at
intake and OOB elimination in the shelter may not reflect post-adoption
behavior. Behavior-based outcome decisions for these vulnerable animals
should be deferred to allow time for habituation.
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