At Virginia Tech, there’s a study on the benefits of taking shelter cats for a stroll now and again. Marjorielee Christianson writes that
Over 3 million cats enter shelters in the United States each year, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Julianna Scardina, a member of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2024, knows that the stress of living in a shelter long-term can negatively affect cat behavior and that behavior is often a reason cats aren’t adopted as quickly. She joined a research project with Erica Feuerbacher, associate professor in the School of Animal Sciences, who partnered with the Montgomery County Animal Care and Adoption Center, to find a solution.
Just like humans and their hobbies, animals can relieve stress by engaging in enrichment activities.
“Dogs living in animal shelters are often taken out of their kennels for walks and play groups, while cats typically remain within the confines of their kennel for the duration of their time at the shelter,” said Allie Andrukonis, postdoctoral research associate in the School of Animal Sciences within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and one of the researchers in the study.
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The research team observed the behavior of cats and kittens over several days to determine their overall well-being and any changes after a 15-minute walk in the stroller. Some cats also went through stroller desensitization training prior to walks.
“We have a coding system that documents different behaviors to determine the cat’s comfort level,” Scardina said. “If they begin to display behaviors like yowling or crouching, we make sure to remove them from the environment and get them comfortable again.”
Cats were observed in their kennels, while training, and, using some do-it-yourself techniques, during their time in the stroller.