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Updated: Jul 29, 2025
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Using Clicker Training and Social Observation to Teach Rats to Voluntarily Change Cages
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Understanding the Factors Influencing Cat Containment: Identifying Opportunities for Behaviour Change
Gemma C Ma1,2, Lynette J McLeod3
1Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|May 27, 2023
Summary
Most Australian cat owners contain their pets, with psychological capability being key to increasing cat containment. Interventions should focus on enhancing owners
Area of Science:
- Animal Behaviour and Welfare
- Human Dimensions of Wildlife Management
- Conservation Psychology
Background:
- Over 5 million pet cats in Australia range from indoor to outdoor lifestyles.
- Roaming cats pose risks to biodiversity, public nuisance, and personal safety.
- There's significant interest in behavior change interventions to promote cat containment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate factors influencing cat containment behaviors among Australian owners.
- To identify owner profiles to tailor behavior change interventions.
- To provide recommendations for increasing cat containment.
Main Methods:
- An online questionnaire surveyed 4482 cat owners on demographics, containment habits, and agreement with Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation (COM) items.
- Statistical analysis explored relationships between COM factors, owner characteristics, and containment.
- Latent profile analysis identified distinct owner segments.
Main Results:
- 65% of owners fully contained their cats; 24% used a night curfew.
- Psychological capability was the strongest predictor of containment.
- Motivation, apartment living, and renting were associated with higher containment rates.
Conclusions:
- Understanding owner segments is crucial for effective behavior change strategies.
- Enhancing owners' psychological capability and promoting night curfews are recommended first steps.
- Targeted interventions can increase cat containment and mitigate associated risks.
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