Perfil alimentar e comportamental de gatos (Felis silvestris catus) domiciliados em Recife e Região Metropolitana.

Abstract

Cats play a very important role in human life. In Brazil, the feline population has stood out for its growth in comparison to other species. Often, professionals and guardians are unaware of the true nature of the cat, so nutritional and behavioral analysis is the initial measure for the detection of various types of problems of different origins in domestic cats and serves as the main source of evidence for the evaluation of animal welfare. This study aimed to evaluate the dietary and behavioral profile of cats living in Recife and metropolitan region. A questionnaire containing 38 questions was designed and applied to cat guardians in Recife and metropolitan region, in the state of Pernambuco, addressing points about feeding, behavior and welfare of these animals. The results obtained were tabulated and analyzed according to the frequency of responses, through descriptive statistics with the use of Microsoft Excel 2019 and Google Forms 2018 programs. The research on the food profile of domestic cats domiciled in Recife and metropolitan region showed that most of them are cats that feed themselves with food, and that the guardians are concerned about providing a ration according to the physiological conditions of the cat. Regarding the behavioral profile, many cats showed calm, docile, indifferent, scared and agitated behavior when dealing with strangers, and when interacting with other animals, their behavior mostly defined between: Agitated, frightened and aggressive. Some points need attention, a portion of the animals evaluated have free access to the street, have food available at will, do not receive food ideal for their nutrition and, as observed in the results, most are not with the ideal body score index, according to the perspective of their guardians. All these are detrimental factors to the animal, which can develop eating and behavioral disorders.