Owner׳s Perception for Detecting Feline Body Condition Based on Questionnaire and Scores

Abstract

To evaluate the owner׳s ability to identify body condition in cats, based on questionnaire and scores, as well as to obtain others׳ information about the cat and the owner that may be related to the body condition. Seventy-seven owned cats, aged above 11 months, were evaluated. Initially, information was obtained on age, sex, breed, and whether they had been neutered. Next, owners were asked to fill a questionnaire: the first section was about the cat׳s diet type, feeding regime, and activity level, and the second section was on the owners׳ diet, physical activity, and physical condition. The owners estimated body condition of their cats before and after seeing drawings with images. The authors also estimated body condition. Only a 5-point visual scale showed significant difference between the cat׳s body score assigned by the owner before and after seeing drawings, and before seeing drawings compared with the cat׳s body score assigned by the authors. A weak positive correlation was detected between cat׳s body score assigned by the 2 authors and access to any type of cat climbing systems, and weak negative correlation was detected for the variable spayed or neutered. The cat׳s physical activity level showed weak negative correlation with cat׳s body score. There was a strong positive correlation between cat׳s body weight and cat׳s body score. The owners showed ability to identify body condition in cats after seeing the drawings in both visual scales, and there was a relationship between cat׳s body weight and body condition score.

Keywords: activities; body score; cat; obesity.