Environmental Enrichment in Cats

Preference of scratchers in kittens

Zhang, L. (2018). Preference of kittens for scratchers. Journal of feline medicine and surgery (in express). https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X18795258

Paired preference test was applied in six studies to evaluate the preference of scratchers (Figure 3) in kittens (< 2 month-old).

Results: In study 1, the S-shaped cardboard was preferred over a hemp post with a toy on top and no difference was observed in the other pairs of scratchers compared. In study 2, the S-shaped cardboard was preferred by kittens compared with a raised scratcher covered with window screen or with carpet, and no differences were observed between the latter two scratchers. In study 3, the scratcher covered with window screen set upright was preferred over the same scratcher laid horizontally on the floor. The S-shaped cardboard was preferred over the scratcher covered with bubble wrap. In study 4, kittens preferred the S-shaped cardboard over the scratchers covered with window screen or short-fiber carpet but not over the scratcher covered with long-fiber carpet. In study 5, the S-shaped cardboard was strongly preferred over the long cardboard and rectangular cardboard but not over the boat-shaped cardboard. In study 6, dried catnip plant, catnip oil spray or the hair from other cats did not alter the scratching behavior exhibited by the kittens vs the control S-shaped cardboard alone.

Conclusion: The S-shaped cardboard scratcher was a preferred scratcher for kittens. Catnip or odor of other cats did not alter this behavior in kittens.

Upcoming Research

• Preference of scratchers in adult cats
• The capacity of olfactory stimuli in inducing the use of scratchers
• Long term effects of environmental enrichment on cats