Maddie's Insights: Social Behavior and Implications for Bonded Pairs in Group-housed Shelter Cats - On-demand

Maddie's® Insights are monthly webcasts with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people.  

Little is known about the social behavior of cats living in group housing at shelters. In a series of studies, Dr. Suchak and her research team recorded all the social behavior occurring between cats living in group housing and compared cats who were introduced at the shelter versus those who were surrendered together. They then followed up by specifically examining social behavior between cats who were labeled as bonded pairs or adopted together. Cats who were labeled as bonded pairs had a longer time to adoption, but the relationship between this designation and social behavior was weak. Recommendations will be provided for identifying bonded pairs.

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify positive social (prosocial, affiliative) behavior in cats
2. Understand that being surrendered together is not adequate evidence for bonding
3. Recognize the link between behavior and social bonding in cats

Program Agenda:

• General overview of social behavior in cats
• Review of research regarding social behavior in group housed shelter cats and the impact of bonded pairs on adoption times
• Limitations of identifying bondedness in cats
• Recommendations for identifying bonded pairs

Presenter: Malini Suchak, PhD, Associate Professor of Animal Behavior, Animal Cognition and Animal Well-being at Canisius University in Buffalo, NY.

This webinar has been pre-approved for 1.0 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and by the National Animal Care & Control Association. It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. Complete the quiz to earn continuing education credit for CAWA, NACA and RACE. RACE CE is valid until 9/6/2025.

Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcastsBondedPairs

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