Researchers from the Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Mars Veterinary Health, Royal Canin, and the University of Bristol have developed and validated a new feline quality-of-life tool.
Cats often hide their discomfort, especially during veterinary visits, making it difficult for veterinarians to accurately assess their health and well-being. The researchers’ goal was to provide pet owners and veterinarians with a tool to evaluate a cat’s behavior in their home environment, where they are most comfortable.
The tool, referred to as the Feline Quality of Life (FelQoL), includes a questionnaire completed by cat owners that provides information about seven areas of cat happiness and well-being:
- Active: Measures activity and playfulness
- Talkative: Measures the intensity of vocal interactions
- Appetite: Measures interest in food
- Satisfied: Measures satisfaction around mealtime
- Relaxed: Measures the cat’s level of relaxation
- Mobile: Measures mobility
- Sociable: Measures the level of interaction with family members
“The notion that cats can be difficult to read is well known,” said Dr. Janet Patterson-Kane, global veterinary science partner with Mars Science & Diagnostics. “That’s why the FelQoL is such an important development for veterinary professionals and pet owners alike. This science-backed, practical tool could help better identify cats’ welfare needs and improve their day-to-day quality of life.”
To develop the tool, the researchers used responses from 1,324 cat owners in the U.S. and the U.K. to identify key factors related to feline quality of life. The questionnaire was shown to work reliably for different populations of cats with different backgrounds and environments.
The two-part study, published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, is the most comprehensive study of its kind on feline well-being. Key findings include:
- A cat’s quality of life is strongly affected by their age, health, and environment. For example, older cats and those with health conditions were less active and social, whereas cats provided with perching spots were more active.
- The tool provided consistent results when cats were re-evaluated.
- Results were consistent with clinical expectations and previous findings.
- The FelQoL was able to differentiate cats with different characteristics and conditions, based on data related to demographics (breed, age, sex, neutering status), health, and their environment (access to environmental features, weather, and the owner’s emotional state).
FelQoL can help cat owners and veterinarians work together to enhance feline well-being. Cat owners can use the tool at home to track their cats’ quality of life and to recognize significant changes that warrant veterinary attention. It can also be used during veterinary visits to guide discussions about feline well-being and quality of life.
To learn more about the FelQoL tool, access Part 1 and Part 2 of the validation studies.