Kris Hill from the Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) shares some feline highlights from the International Society of Anthrozoology (ISAZ) 2024 Conference.
Anthrozoology is the tutorial examine of human interactions with different animals (together with cats!).
The annual International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ) Conference was hosted this yr (27-30 June 2024) by Hartpury University in Gloucestershire, UK.
The conference programme included assorted and insightful shows from students and professionals from world wide who’re working within the subject of human-animal research. And though the sector is far broader, companion animals, together with cats, had been central to many themes and talks. Several SCAS members had been in attendance, and presenting research funded by SCAS or associated to our mission and core aims.
We additionally had a stand to share our sources and encourage new members to hitch (see right here for extra details about SCAS membership, together with diminished charges for college kids).
Left to proper: Kris Hill, Vangelis Diamantakos, Liz Ormerod (SCAS Chair), and Christel Moons
Several shows centered totally on cats and cat-human relations. These included research on 1) cat behaviours, 2) cat welfare, 3) human attitudes to predation by cats, and 4) the scientific and social advantages of the cat-human bond.
1. Cat behaviour
Dr. James Serpell from University of Pennsylvania, USA, offered analysis findings from a venture that studied fetching behaviours in cats: Prevalence and Characteristics of Fetching Behavior in Owned Domestic Cats (Felis Catus).
Photo taken by writer
2. Cat welfare
Dr Allison Andrukonis from Virginia Tech, USA, offered analysis into the efficacy of potential measures that may be applied to scale back stress in shelter cats (diminished urination is an indication of stress): The Effect of Extra Space and Gentling on Urine Output in Shelter Cats.
Photo taken by writer
3. Human attitudes to cat behaviours
Megan Barker from Merrist Wood University Centre, UK, shared findings from their analysis on the attitudes and willingness of UK cat homeowners to implement measures which may cut back the impression of wildlife predation by their cats: Bells, Bibs, and Beyond: Investigating Factors that Influence UK Cat Owners’ Willingness to Mitigate Wildlife Predation.
Photo taken by writer
4. Clinical and social advantages to people
Héloïse Vesque-Annear from the Catholic University of Lille, France, offered analysis on the advantages resident cats conferred on older adults with dementia: Effect of “Resident Cats” on the Health and Social Network of Older Adults With Alzheimer’s or Disabilities in Nursing Homes.
Photo taken by writer
A key goal of SCAS is to lift consciousness of the significance of defending the human-animal bond. This is very so relating to older individuals getting into care amenities, as illustrated by the story of Edith and her cat Freddie.
Do you realize of a care dwelling (wherever on the earth) that has gone above and past to assist hold an older particular person and their beloved cat collectively? If so, please contemplate nominating them for the Bob Harvey Award to recognise and rejoice their good work.
Many talks engaged with analysis associated to companion animals, together with cats. For instance, Animal Hoarding Disorder is a psychological sickness that has devastating results on the people affected, their communities, and causes immense animal struggling. A wealth of analysis is being carried out on the human-companion animal (pet) bond and the position of pets in human well being and wellbeing. A keynote presentation by Prof. Hal Herzog mentioned the science surrounding the so-called ‘Pet impact’ and Prof. Aubrey Fine’s lecture mentioned the position of animals in baby psychology and counselling.
Animal-assisted companies (AAS) entails companion animal species being utilized in therapeutic or studying contexts, and analysis on this space additionally seems to be on the welfare and wellbeing of the animals concerned in these actions.
On the ultimate day of the convention, SCAS held a workshop on the ‘SCAS Code of Practice: Moving Towards a UK Consensus for Minimum Standards in Animal Assisted Interventions.’
The SCAS code of practice is a residing doc that goals to function a gold commonplace for greatest practices that shield each people and animals concerned in Animal Assisted Services (AAS) (previously known as Animal Assisted Interventions, AAI).
Photo by writer
An replace on the standing of the revised SCAS Code of Practice shall be offered on the Annual SCAS Conference on Sunday 20 October 2024. The SCAS Conference (Online) brings collectively practitioners and researchers to assist form the way forward for protected and compassionate Animal Assistance Services (AAS) by means of interdisciplinary innovation. Register here to hitch.
It was disappointing that there have been no candidates for the ISAZ Penny L. Bernstein Human-Cat Interaction Student Travel Award this yr. The award is given in honour of the late Dr Bernstein, an anthrozoologist and animal behaviourist, whose major curiosity was in relationships with home cats. Hopefully in 2025 there shall be extra college students presenting analysis centered on cats!
There had been so many attention-grabbing talks and a lot to absorb, so I apologise for something I missed! If you have a look at the profiles of presenters on the ISAZ conference, you might discover they’re educated in a variety of disciplines, together with psychology, animal behaviour, anthropology, and sociology, all of which may contribute to our understanding of cats and the cat-human bond.
However, analysis into cat behaviour and cat-human relationships has a number of catching as much as do, with many extra research on canine behaviour and dog-human relationships.
World-renowned cat behaviourist, Dr. Dennis Turner, has mirrored on the questions that remain unanswered. This is effectively price a learn for anybody excited by cats, however particularly college students contemplating making a profession out of finding out cats (fairly than simply finding out with cats).
In an article not too long ago printed in Vet Record, SCAS member Dr. Sandra McCune shares how her profession developed from a shelter volunteer to veterinary nursing to turning into a number one researcher within the subject of human-animal interactions. Much of Sandra’s tutorial profession has been centered on understanding and serving to our feline associates.
For anybody contemplating finding out anthrozoology, there are a rising variety of universities and schools world wide providing courses in Anthrozoology and associated topics.
Pexel
Follow us on FB and Twitter (@SCASuk), and make sure to retweet posts from us and our companions on #PetsInHousing
SCAS is the UK’s main human-companion animal bond organisation by means of funding analysis, offering training, elevating consciousness, encouraging greatest observe, and influencing the event of insurance policies and practices that help the human-companion animal bond. For extra particulars take a look at our web site at www.scas.org.uk
Kris Hill from the Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) shares some feline highlights from the International Society of Anthrozoology (ISAZ) 2024 Conference.
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