Assessment of stress levels among cats in four animal shelters.
OBJECTIVE
To measure stress levels among cats in traditional and enriched shelter environments via behavioral assessment and urine cortisol-to-creatinine ratios.


METHODS
Cross-sectional observational study.


METHODS
120 cats in 4 Boston-area animal shelters.


METHODS
Cats were randomly selected and observed during 3 periods (morning, midday, and afternoon) of 1 day and scored by use of a behavioral assessment scale. The next day, urine samples were collected for analysis of the urine cortisol-to-creatinine ratio. Information about each cat's background before entering the shelter was collected.


RESULTS
Stress scores were highest in the morning. The relationships between the amount of time cats spent in the shelter and the cat stress score or urine cortisol-to-creatinine ratio were not strong. There was no correlation between the cat stress score and urine cortisol-to-creatinine ratio. Urine cortisol-to-creatinine ratios did correlate with signs of systemic disease and were significantly lower in cats in the more environmentally enriched shelters, compared with cats in the traditional shelters. Urine cortisol-to-creatinine ratio was highest among cats with high exposure to dogs. Of the cats in the study, 25% had subclinical hematuria detectable on a urine dipstick.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, the cat stress score was not a useful instrument for measuring stress because it failed to identify cats with feigned sleep and high stress levels. Urine cortisol-to-creatinine ratios can be monitored to noninvasively assess stress levels in confined cats. Environmental enrichment strategies may help improve the welfare of cats in animal shelters.
McCobb
Emily C
EC
Center for Animals and Public Policy, School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, 200 Westboro Rd, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA.
Patronek
Gary J
GJ
Marder
Amy
A
Dinnage
Julie D
JD
Stone
Michael S
MS
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine; D002415:Cats / Q000523:psychology* / Q000652:urine*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000652:urine / Q000662:veterinary*; D013997:Time Factors; D016482:Urinalysis
D003404:Creatinine; D006854:Hydrocortisone