A percepção de tutores de gatos domésticos (Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758) sobre o impacto destes animais na fauna silvestre

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the perception of cat owners about the influence of the domestic cat on wild fauna, on the animal's behavior and also on the prey that they usually attack. In this study, online questionnaires were used for cat tutors, seeking to emphasize the tutor's knowledge of his animal, regarding its hunting and if the tutors use any strategy to reduce the interaction of cats with wild fauna. Thus, it is possible to understand the knowledge of tutors towards their animals, such as the health and health that the tutor values ??for the pet, the amount of cats that each tutor prefers and also his understanding of the complications that this animal causes to wild fauna. The evaluation of tutors is of paramount importance, as this shows the commitment of human beings to animal welfare and the nature where they are inserted. For tutors who still do not fully understand the subject, the work seeks to clarify some doubts about animal behavior and how to responsibly maintain domestic cats, so that it is possible to keep the affected species away from possible extinction. To structure the questionnaire, it was adapted in a comparative way for rural and urban areas, contrasting the guardians' perception of the impact of cats on wild animals and analyzing the difference in the types of prey attacked by cats in the two areas. The results, including 68 participants who answered the questionnaires, allow us to infer that most of the interviewees know basic animal health and welfare care, most of them do not recognize the potential impact that the cat causes on wild fauna. Thus, for new awareness programs it is essential to insert this subject for tutors. [resumo fornecido pelo autor]