Cat-human bond: satisfaction and behavioural complaints among Italian respondents

The present is a study of the data collected through an online survey which investigated satisfaction of Italian cat-caretakers with their pet, considering health and behavioural complaints. The survey was advertised using social media and a virtual snowball sampling method was applied. The questionnaire collected information about caretaker’s demographics, their cat’s origin, health problems and behavioural complaints, and their satisfaction with the cat. 6096 respondents completed the questionnaire. Logistic regression was applied and some cats’ and caretakers’ demographics predicted both the presence of behavioural problems and the assignment of maximum score in satisfaction. House soiling was the most frequently reported behavioural complaint (4.7%) and it was predicted by both management factors (i.e., number of cats in the household, p < 0.05), and cat-related ones (e.g., cat’s age, anxiety level, and health problems, all p < 0.001). House soiling, aggression (both intra and inter-species), fear, hyperactivity and eating disorders decreased caretakers’ satisfaction (all p < 0.001), whereas the presence of what respondents identified as health problems did not. Moreover, some cat features as “being affectionate” increased the caretaker’s satisfaction (p < 0.001). The results of this study highlighted the impact of behavioural complaints on the cat caretaker’s satisfaction with their pet, supporting the need of prevention and/or treatment of behavioural problems or inappropriate behaviours to avoid unsatisfactory relationship between cats and their caretaker and to improve cat welfare.