Takeda CSY, Luchesi SH, Martins FP, Trindade PHE, Damasceno AAP, de Souza Gomes I, Dos Santos RG, de Souza Monteiro JR, Otta E. Cat behaviour in the secure base test: Comparison between owned and shelter animals.
Behav Processes 2024;
215:104989. [PMID:
38224845 DOI:
10.1016/j.beproc.2024.104989]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to compare affiliative behaviours of owned and shelter cats directed to human in a novel environment after a brief temporary absence of the person. A sample of 20 owned and 20 shelter animals were individually tested in a Secure Base Test, with three 2-min episodes: 1) cat accompanied by a person who sits on the floor inside a circle, 2) the person leaves and the animal is left alone, 3) the person returns, and sits inside the circle again. Three categories were used for coding videotapes of experimental sessions: (1) inside circle, (2) allo-rubbing and (3) tail up. Shelter animals showed more proximity maintenance and affiliative signs with a person than owned animals. Our findings suggested similarities between the secure base effect in cats and in human children: cats seek proximity and maintain contact with a person, displaying affiliative signs to the person, especially after being left alone frightened by an unfamiliar environment.
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