Ascensão e incompreensão do gato doméstico (Felis silvestres catus) no século XXI: a importância da etologia felina na relação afiliativa com humanos

Abstract

The Compulsory Supervised Internship (ESO) is a compulsory curricular course in the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine Course of the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE), having been carried out entirely in the Maria João Experimental Cattery, located at Campus SEDE / UFRPE, in Recife (PE ). The activities developed were divided into the areas of Animal Behavior and Shelter Medicine, aiming to improve knowledge in Ethology and Animal Welfare, especially focused on feline species. The behavior of the domestic cat is the target of questions and misunderstandings; Many behaviors that are considered problematic are actually natural. Misinformation about feline ethology is one of the main reasons for the increase in homeless or mistreated animals worldwide. Thus, we aimed to understand the dynamics of the human-feline bond and contribute to a greater behavioral understanding of the feline species by studying which aspects of feline daily life (social, physiological or environmental) most influence the way they use their time. A virtual questionnaire (internet) consisting of 15 questions was elaborated, applied during 21 consecutive days, which counted 882 answers. The behavioral study was conducted at the Maria João Cattery, located in Recife-PE, with a duration of 25 days, resulting in 25 hours of observations and 21,850 recorded conducts. The results of the questionnaire, the ethogram and the animal welfare evaluation were analyzed descriptively. The data showed that most guardians have difficulty understanding their cats and that the environment becomes the factor that most influences the animal in choosing one conduct over another. It was also produced an educational material, based on the bibliographic survey conducted, intended for tutors and professionals dealing with the feline species, to serve as an instrument for the dissemination of appropriate knowledge and the reduction of crime rates committed against animals.