Feline Anthrozoology: The Study of Cat-Human Relationships!
Pet-admin
Kris Hill from the Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) shares some feline highlights from the International Society of Anthrozoology (ISAZ) 2023 Conference.
Anthrozoology is the educational examine of human interactions with different animals (together with cats!).
The annual International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ) Conference was held this yr (June 15 – 18) in Edinburgh, Scotland. SCAS Trustee Dr. Sandra McCune gave a keynote deal with on the historical past and way forward for human-animal interplay analysis and its use in coverage and apply.
The conference programme included various and insightful displays from students and professionals from all over the world who’re working within the discipline of human-animal research. And though the sector is far broader, companion animals, together with cats have been central to many themes and talks.
Author’s cat!
Remember to take away the cats out of your baggage earlier than travelling!
Purrfect Partners: A Deep Dive Into Cat-Assisted Counseling was a workshop organised by Dr. Elizabeth Hartwig from Texas State University and Cynthia Hodges, MEd, from Peace Alcove Counseling.
Although their use in animal assisted interventions has acquired much less consideration than canines and horses, cats could be very efficient therapeutic companions. This workshop explored totally different points of incorporating cats in a counselling setting, together with the qualities of a great remedy cat, an evaluation protocol for cat counselling groups, and the right way to encourage shoppers to have optimistic interactions that enhance human-cat affiliative behaviours. The workshop was led by Dr Hartwig, who based the licensed Animal Assisted Counceling Academy at Texas State University. Cynthia is a licenced councillor who, collectively together with her cat, Texas Red, have been one of many first groups to graduate from the programme.
During the two.5-hour workshop, contributors engaged in experiential and interactive actions utilizing movies that demonstrated Cat-Assisted Counselling (CAC) expertise and coaching. The organisers facilitated some interventions in order that contributors had an concept of CAC interventions they might embody in remedy plans. Some of us contributors might have gotten a bit of too excited when the organisers teased us by saying they’d purchased some cats for us to work with! Here is mine.
Photo taken by creator.
During the workshop we practiced on one another how we would introduce a shopper to our cat. And we obtained to take our ‘cats’ house with us as a memento.
Several displays targeted totally on cats and cat-human relations.
Ginny Thomas from the University of Exeter, UK, research the wild/home dichotomy of how people feed wildcats (Felis silvestris silvestris) versus feral home cats (Felis silvestris catus) and what this implies for the re-introduction of the European wildcat to components of Britain.
Julia SL Henning from the University of Adelaide, Australia, introduced analysis findings to point out how play is a behaviour might help in establishing and sustaining wholesome human-cat relationships, which in flip might enhance cat welfare and human wellbeing.
Kris Hill, additionally from the University of Exeter (and SCAS communications officers and creator of this weblog!) introduced a few of her doctoral analysis into cat-human relations.
Photo taken by Sandra McCune.
Peter Sandøe from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, introduced the outcomes of a examine that exhibits how cats are stored and managed in rural Denmark. He reported a shift in direction of fewer farm cats, rather more management of replica and extra ID-tagged (microchipped or ear-marked) cats throughout the previous 24 years. This helps clarify the drop in variety of unowned cats in Denmark.
Janette Young and colleagues from the University of South Australia are creating baseline information to be able to measure the well being of indoor cats to facilitate well being fairness between aged care residents and foster cats.
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. Unfortunately, cats appear to be most affected and are much less prone to survive a serve hoarding state of affairs. Research into intervention, remedy, and prevention is paramount, and Katherine O Compitus introduced an integrative remedy mannequin for Animal Hoarding Disorder.
A wealth of analysis is being carried out on the human-companion animal (pet) bond and the function of pets in human well being and wellbeing (the topic this yr’s annual SCAS conference, to be held just about on 17 September 2023). Roxanne Hawkins from Edinburgh University introduced her analysis on the function of the human-pet bond in how younger adults self-manage their psychological well being. Animal-assisted remedy/interactions (AAT/AAI) includes 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.
Research into animal welfare within the context of animal shelters can be being carried out. For instance, Bailey Eagan introduced encouraging findings from a examine of how gabapentin can cut back stress (and consequently enhance rehoming success) of cats rescued from hoarding conditions. Lexis H Ly from University of British Columbia, Canada, introduced their analysis into the predictors of profitable diversion of cats and canines away from animal shelter consumption by means of a self-rehoming web site.
On the ultimate day, SCAS hosted a workshop on Pets & Housing: Global Challenges and Solutions, led by Sandra McCune and Elizabeth Ormerod. Since it was first established in 1979, the Society of Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) has campaigned to boost consciousness in regards to the unfairness and the numerous dangerous penalties of ‘no pet’ clauses in tenancy agreements for rented properties. This contains supporting educational research and conferences, partnering with advocacy teams and charities campaigning for coverage change, and fascinating with varied stakeholders.
Photo taken by creator.
The workshop introduced a number of the analysis carried out by Holly Dalby from the University of Stirling on behalf of a global steering group on Pets and Housing Issues, initiated by SCAS. Participants answered a collection of questions round entry to pet-friendly housing in their very own international locations which will probably be included right into a whitepaper being developed by the worldwide steering group.
Copyright, SCAS 2023
I think many individuals can relate to hiding their feline companions from a landlord in some unspecified time in the future, however hopefully not in the bathroom! This picture was printed on a postcard, and delegates have been requested to jot down down what they will do to contribute to analysis, or actions geared toward serving to hold pets and folks collectively.
There have been so many fascinating talks and a lot to soak up, so I apologise for something I missed! If you have a look at the profiles of this yr’s presenters chances are you’ll discover they’re educated in a variety of disciplines, together with psychology, animal behaviour, anthropology, and sociology, all of which might 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, Dennis Turner, lately mirrored on the questions that remain unanswered. This is nicely price a learn for anybody thinking about cats, however particularly college students contemplating making a profession out of learning cats (quite than simply learning with cats).
For anybody contemplating learning anthrozoology, there are a rising variety of universities and schools all over the world providing courses in Anthrozoology and associated topics.
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SCAS is the UK’s main human-companion animal bond organisation by means of funding analysis, offering training, elevating consciousness, encouraging finest apply, and influencing the event of insurance policies and practices that help the human-companion animal bond. For extra particulars try our web site at www.scas.org.uk
