The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of physical

environmental enrichment on the agonistic behavior of 30 cats housed

in the "Rescue Mission" shelter. In the pre-enrichment period, a

the cats, statistically significant relationships were found. Taken

together, these results point to the significant influence of sex, age, and

body condition on cats' environmental enrichment preferences. These

findings highlight the importance of environmental enrichment in

improving the welfare of cats in shelters and homes, and provide

relevant information for decision making in the management of these

animals. It is concluded that the implementation of effective

environmental enrichment strategies can reduce stress and improve

enriquecimiento, se observó un aumento significativo de

vocalizaciones. Tras implementar cajas y estanterías como

enriquecimiento, se registró una reducción gradual de estos

comportamientos. La comparación de los dos tipos de

enriquecimiento reveló que los gatos prefirieron las 282 cajas en lugar

de las 170 estanterías. En cuanto a la relación entre el enriquecimiento

y el sexo, la edad y la condición corporal de los gatos, se encontraron

relaciones estadísticamente significativas. En conjunto, estos

puede reducir el estrés y mejorar el comportamiento de los gatos,

promoviendo una convivencia más armoniosa entre los felinos.

Keywords / Palabras clave

animal welfare, agonistic behavior, environmental enrichment, cats,

shelter

Bienestar animal, comportamiento agonístico, enriquecimiento

ambiental, gatos, refugio

ethological and psychological needs of an animal, highlighting the

importance of the process of environmental suitability in creating an

overall welfare that meets the natural behavioral needs of animals.

Behavior is an organism's response to stimuli. Salonen (2020)

indicates that this behavior is variable among individuals and consists

of different traits, such as aggressiveness, fear, among others.

Implying that it is usually influenced by genes, the behavior of an

individual is also manifested through environmental factors. In the

specific case of cats, as described by Alley Cat Allies (2017), their

behavior has two main sources: instinctive and learned. It is complex

promote their adoption, as well as veterinary care services, adequate

food, and recreational space. Wagner, Hurley, and Stavisky (2018),

emphasize the importance of shelters and rehoming centers, as they

contribute to population management and facilitate the rehoming of

species that are homeless or have lost their homes. These institutions

play a valuable role in animal welfare and in finding new homes for

those animals in need.

Domestic cats have become popular as pets, however, Liu, Paterson,

Camarri, Murray, and Phillips (2020) report that many are

surrendered to shelters or welfare organizations, or at worst

has led to shelters being in a chronic situation, having to house a

considerable number of animals, ranging from 20 to 100, which

represents a challenge for the capacity and resources of these shelters.

In 2019, Lingna conducted research entitled "Enrichment strategies

that modify cat behavioral pattern: their applications in improving

welfare". The aim of her study was to apply effective short- and long-

term environmental enrichment strategies, focusing on assessing the

preferences of scratcher types (corded or cardboard) and their

scratching behavior and provided a form of environmental enrichment

that promoted increased activity and variety of behaviors in the cats.

In research titled "Exploring improvements in the welfare of shelter

cats through environmental enrichment options," conducted by Ellis,

Stryhn, Spears, and Cockram in 2017, various forms of environmental

enrichment were examined with the purpose of identifying those that

generate greater welfare in cats housed in shelters. The study sought

pattern observed prior to implementing enrichment. This suggests

that, in order to develop an effective program, it is crucial to create an

Research by Lingna (2019), Ellis and colleagues (2017) and De Toni

(2020) have concluded that the application of environmental

enrichment in cat shelters has a positive impact on their behavior. By

studying feline responses to different types of environmental

enrichment, information is gained about the cats' preferences and

needs, which in turn significantly improves their well-being. These

When designing a shelter, it is important to consider several key

factors. The National Veterinary Academy (2021) highlights that these

crucial aspects include the welfare of the animals, the safety of the

staff, and the needs of those caring for the animals in the shelter. In

addition, it emphasizes the need to establish a protocol for each stage

established by the Association of Shelter Veterinarians with the

Toscano (2020), considers that an environment in the shelter that

does not have appropriate conditions, adding a deprivation of stimuli,

damages the normal behavioral patterns of the animals, manifesting

stress and consequently stereotyped behaviors, together with other

According to the research conducted by Ellis and Wells (2017), the

importance of the principle of freedom of expression in the welfare of

animals in shelters is highlighted, especially for felines. In addition,

Animal welfare is a topic of great importance and has been the subject

of several research studies. One example is the study by Mariti et al.

(2020), in which a detailed observation of environmental and

behavioral changes in cats housed in shelters that received different

forms of human contact was conducted. This research sought to

understand how human contact affects the welfare of cats in a shelter

environment.

perceive from their cage, either the room around them or the area in

which they are located. On the other hand, the microenvironment

Environmental needs in the feline species, as noted by Bennett,

Paterson, and Walker (2020), play a crucial role in the well-being and

quality of life of shelter cats. The provision of an enriched environment

and a routine-based care program can have a significant impact on the

An enriched environment for cats involves providing a variety of

stimuli and opportunities that meet their natural needs. Ellis and

Carney (2021), stress, this can include the availability of climbing and

The authors explain that cats, regardless of the number of individuals

in the group, usually show signs of stress between week one of entering

the shelter compared to other cats that have been housed in this place

for between two to sixteen weeks, so it is evident that the adaptation

period upon entering a shelter takes approximately two weeks.

concept refers to the closest and most direct environment in which

being of the cats while they are waiting to be adopted or reunited with

their owners.

Toscano and Menor (2020) state that it is important to consider both

the microenvironment and the macroenvironment when enriching the

cat's environment. If only the microenvironment is enhanced without

attention to the macroenvironment, cats are likely to show greater

apathy and adopt more apathetic, avoidant and agonistic behaviors.

cats toward humans and other felids in environments such as shelters

and homes. This concept encompasses the broader environment that

cats perceive from their cage or designated space, i.e., the outdoor

environment surrounding them. The design and organization of the

macroenvironment can influence cats' socialization, affecting how

they interact with people and other feline companions.

achieved both physically, mentally and socially, allowing animals to

Environmental enrichment is a crucial practice to improve the welfare

their natural behaviors, such as scratching, exploring, hunting, and

maintaining social interactions with other individuals. By ensuring an

enriched environment, the activity, curiosity and general well-being of

shelter cats are encouraged, allowing them to better adapt to their new

To enrich a cat's environment, Foreman and Farnworth (2019),

emphasize the need to understand the preferences and actions that

cats typically perform in their natural outdoor environment in order to

Ellis, et al. (2022), stress the importance of having a meticulous

approach when applying environmental enrichment. To achieve this

goal, it is recommended to employ an enrichment plan that has been

previously analyzed and approved, which can be applied in a

generalized manner for all cats. This will allow prioritization of a wide

variety of behaviors in meeting the needs of the animals.

to enhance the living environment of felines in shelters by providing

physical and mental stimulation that encourages natural and positive

By implementing environmental enrichment programs, shelters can

behavioral problems, improving overall feline well-being. Differential

attention to physical environmental enrichment in refugee cats has a

profound impact on their well-being. By considering preferences

based on sex, age and body condition, an environment is created that

aligns with their individual needs. This can result in reduced stress

levels, more natural behaviors, and a greater sense of security, which

positive impact on overall public health.

This study and its comparison with other research highlights the

importance of providing adequate enrichment for cats in shelters and

homes. Reducing stress and improving the well-being of cats can have

positive effects on human-animal coexistence, which could reduce the

enrichment strategies aimed at cat welfare and their positive impact

on both veterinary and public health.

In the development of the present study, significant results were

obtained that allow drawing relevant conclusions about the behavior

environmental enrichment had a positive impact on the reduction of

agonistic behaviors. During the pre-enrichment phase, a high level of

agonistic behaviors, such as paw tapping (205 times), vocalizations

(184 times), and staring (135 times), was observed. However, after the

implementation of physical environmental enrichment (boxes and

shelves), a significant decrease in agonistic behaviors was evident. Paw

a safe and secure shelter space, which meets the cats' natural

behavioral needs.

In the third objective, which sought to evaluate the relationship

between types of physical environmental enrichment with sex, age and

body condition, interesting results were found. The relationship

preferences for certain types of enrichment may be influenced by

different stimulation and exploration needs in young and adult cats.

The highly significant relationship between cats' body condition and

their enrichment preferences (p = 0.0000000000213) is a highly

relevant finding. It indicates that the choice of enrichment may be

preference was found for boxes and shelves as forms of enrichment,

with boxes being the option most used by the felines. These findings

suggest the importance of providing an enriched environment adapted

to the needs of the cats, considering their preferences and individual

characteristics to improve their well-being and quality of life in the

shelter.

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