Faculty of Health and Medical Science

Research publications

Dog sitting outside looking at cat sitting inside — 📷 Alexis Chloe // Unsplash.com

Most recent research publications produced by researchers affiliated with the Centre for Companion Animal Welfare are listed here.

Dealing with annoying cats

The study investigates the effect of enrichment in the form of (i) non-food-related object play and (ii) food puzzles on owner-directed attention-seeking behaviour among companion cats with no or limited outdoor access.

Investigating dog and cat owners’ uptake of pet health insurance and spending on veterinary treatment

This study investigates the reasons for the uptake of insurance among dog and cat owners in different income groups in Austria, Denmark and the UK.

Feline obesity

Feline obesity is associated with stronger owner attachment, while indoor confinement increases risk of obesity at an early age in domestic shorthaired cats.

Training methods

Dog Owners’ Use of Training Methods

This study provides new insight into “ethical” factors that may influence training method choice.

Recurrent characteristics of dogs with separation-related problems

In this qualitative study, we explored professionally situated knowledge to identify factors that may contribute to the development of separation-related problems in dogs.

Companionship counts

Behavioural welfare indicators support that social housing benefits rabbit welfare.

Introducing new cats to multi-cat households

Cohabiting domestic cats may experience stress if there are conflicts between them.

Calling a trade-off a trade-off in arguments for cat confinement

The debate around keeping pet cats indoors is often framed as a win‑win for both wildlife and the animals themselves – but that narrative doesn’t hold up.

Perception of dog health and attitudes towards BOAS grading among Danish owners of French bulldog

This article discusses the disease load among French bulldogs as well as a tendency to rate one's own dog healthier than the average.

ATTACHMENT TO PETS

The development of a brief version of the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale

The aim of this paper is to develop a brief version of an existing human-animal attachment scale, namely the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS)