Enriquecimento ambiental para gatos domésticos (Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758): aplicações de técnicas para melhoria do bem estar felino

Abstract

(Environmental Enrichment for domestic cats (Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758): applications of techniques to improve feline well-being). It is known that domestic cats are animals highly sought after by humans. However, it is important to emphasize that these animals when confined can develop high levels of stress, causing disorders for their guardians, and for this reason it is ideal to develop an appropriate management and a complex environment for felines. The present work involves the application of an enrichment program designed to increase the welfare levels of two domestic cats. The same was created from preliminary observations that defined the main needs of the animals. This program used three forms of enrichment: nourish, sensory, structural. The applications of the techniques occurred through behavioral observations in the pre-enrichment phases, during the application of enrichment and post-enrichment, by instant aninstant scan sampling and method of all occurrences. It was not possible to confirm the hypothesis that the techniques applied permanently changed the animals' behavior, however it can be noted the importance of enrichment in the time that it was present in the locality. As in the case of felines, in the week after the application of the enrichment program their behaviors returned to the pattern observed in the pre-enrichment, this shows us that in addition to the creation of a good program one should think about creating an environment with permanent enrichment, that is, based on the observed behaviors analyze what are the main deficiencies of the animals and insert in the environment strategies that can supply them. [resumo fornecido pelo autor]