Parâmetros clínicos de gatos domésticos (felis catus) expostos à Catnip (nepeta cataria), ao Feliway® (feromônio facial felino) e às práticas cat-friendly

Abstract

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) and Feliway® (feline facial pheromone) are products widely known for their effects on the behavior of felines, being popular because they have an action of ambience the animals, reducing stress attitudes. They are recommended as a positive reinforcement by the Cat Friendly Practices guide of the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM), but their effects on clinical parameters are unknown. Therefore, this research intends to demonstrate if these positive reinforcements can be used during the veterinary routine in hospital without any prejudice to the clinical parameters examined by the veterinary. The tested substances proved to be unable of changing clinical parameters to the point of hiding changes that cats may have, in addition to not changing the behavior those animals would naturally manifest. It was observed that most cats showed unfavorable behavior in the first consultation (87.5%), while this value dropped to 50% in the third consultation, demonstrating that Cat Friendly handling with the animal since the first consultation, and not only the use of substances that help in reducing stress makes all the difference, as it makes contact with the veterinarian more positive and less traumatic for the animal in subsequent contacts.