Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research最新文献

{"title":"A day in the life of an aged cat – Environment of old domestic cats and welfare implications","authors":"Sara Hoummady ,&nbsp;Oriana Rameau ,&nbsp;Audrey Besegher ,&nbsp;Thierry Bedossa ,&nbsp;Sarah Jeannin ,&nbsp;Pauline-M Anton ,&nbsp;Yohan Stephan ,&nbsp;Nancy Rebout ,&nbsp;Morgane Robles","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.11.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.11.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The aging feline population presents unique challenges for care and welfare, yet the environmental adaptations and opportunities available to aging cats remain insufficiently studied. This study examines differences in health, environmental use, and enrichment among mature (8- &lt;10 years), senior (≥10–14 years), and super-senior cats (≥15 years) through an online questionnaire completed by 441 cat owners.</div><div>The findings reveal significant disparities in health and environmental access across the three age groups. Super-senior cats exhibited the highest prevalence of frailty (51%) and pain-related indicators (47%), alongside reduced self-grooming (63%) and diminished affiliative behaviour with their caregivers (68%). Super-senior cats also initiated fewer play sessions with their owners. Environmental analyses showed that aging cats, particularly super-seniors, had less access to or made less use of critical resources such as olfactory enrichment, and interactive feeding tools; for example, only 15% of super-seniors had access to interactive feeding tool. These findings highlight a decline in play behaviour and owner interaction with age, raising concerns about the emotional wellbeing of super-senior cats. The study emphasizes the importance of evaluating the alignment between an aging cat’s environment and its needs, paving the way for future development of welfare assessments tailored to the aging feline population.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"83 ","pages":"Pages 20-25"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145532370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of an assessment tool for behavioral and cognitive changes in aging cats","authors":"Hsin-Yi Weng ,&nbsp;Niwako Ogata","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.11.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.11.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome (FCDS) is characterized by behavioral and cognitive changes in aging cats. Despite neuropathological evidence of age-related brain changes, assessment tools for FCDS remain limited compared to those available for dogs. This study aimed to develop and validate the Elderly Cat Cognitive Assessment Tool (E-CAT), a caregiver-based questionnaire for FCDS. Based on available evidence, 60 behavioral items pertaining to FCDS were complied. Caregivers of 109 cats aged 11 years and older (54 with chronic conditions and 55 healthy) completed the questionnaire. After the content validity and statistical assessments, 26 items were retained in the E-CAT, and grouped into four categories: Orientation, Activity, Social Interaction, and Emotional State. A summary E-CAT score was computed, compared by comorbidity status and age groups, and correlated to other validated instruments, including the Feline Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) questionnaire and the Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Checklist (MiPSC). E-CAT scores were significantly higher in cats with comorbidities (p = 0.003), older cats (p &lt; 0.001), and cats with clinical pain (p &lt; 0.001). A negative correlation was found between E-CAT score and HRQoL score (Spearman’s rho = − 0.623, p &lt; 0.001), indicating that cats with lower levels of cognitive functions had poorer quality of life. The E-CAT is a promising tool for detecting behavioral and cognitive changes in aging cats. However, to establish diagnostic utility of the E-CAT, larger longitudinal studies and further validation in different populations, including cats with and without confirmed FCDS, are needed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"83 ","pages":"Pages 1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145532371","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Perceived social support and pet-tutor relationship through the Pet-owner Relationship Scale (PORS): Predictors and implications for the human-animal bond","authors":"Luis Felipe Dias Lopes ,&nbsp;Eduarda Grando Lopes ,&nbsp;Francisco Giugliano de Souza Cabral ,&nbsp;Rosangela Arruda Saragozo ,&nbsp;Daniela Pegoraro ,&nbsp;Rayssa Cleide de Oliveira ,&nbsp;Luís Antônio Sangioni","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.12.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.12.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Perceived social support plays a fundamental role in human psychological well-being, influencing individuals’ ability to cope with stress and life challenges. Grounded in attachment and social support theories, this study assumes that supportive human relationships foster secure emotional patterns that extend to the bonds formed with companion animals. Conversely, limited social support may lead individuals to rely more heavily on pets as compensatory attachment figures. This study examines how perceived social support predicts the quality of the pet–owner relationship, focusing on emotional closeness, pet–owner interactions, and perceived costs associated with pet ownership. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from 546 pet owners through an online survey that included the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and the Pet-Owner Relationship Scale (PORS). Structural equation modeling was applied to analyze the predictive relationships between perceived social support from family, friends, and other sources and the dimensions of the pet–owner bond. The findings indicate that higher levels of perceived social support are associated with stronger emotional closeness and more frequent interactions with pets, while lower support levels are linked to greater perceived costs of ownership. Emotional closeness also mitigates the negative impact of perceived costs, underscoring the role of affective bonds in sustaining healthy relationships with pets. Additionally, variations were observed according to pet type, with mixed-pet owners reporting stronger engagement and higher social support from friends. In conclusion, this study highlights that social support acts as a predictor of the human–animal bond: individuals embedded in supportive social networks tend to develop stronger, more balanced, and emotionally fulfilling relationships with their pets. Strengthening human social support systems may therefore amplify the psychological and emotional benefits derived from pet companionship.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"83 ","pages":"Pages 83-91"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145786949","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Functional characteristics of behavior problems in dogs","authors":"Asude Ayvaci,&nbsp;Valdeep Saini","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.11.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.11.009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In behavioral psychology, <em>function</em> typically refers to the appetitive consequence, or reinforcer, that maintains a given behavior and causes it to occur more frequently. The primary method to identify the function of maladaptive or problematic behavior is through a method known as <em>functional analysis</em>. The present study was a comprehensive review of functional analysis used with dogs, to identify common reinforcers of various problem behaviors observed in dogs. The functional analysis method was effective at identifying the function of dog behavior problems in 27 of 28 cases, indicating that functional analyses are an efficacious method to better understand the reinforcer(s) for behavioral problems observed in dogs. Common reinforcers for different topographies as well as correlations between dog breeds, behaviors, and reinforcers are discussed. In addition to the empirical review, this study discusses the advantages and disadvantages of functional analysis methods as well as the current state of the literature as it relates to improving animal welfare broadly, and interventions for behavior problems observed in dogs specifically.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"83 ","pages":"Pages 26-34"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145532368","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence and severity of behavior problems in dogs in the United States: A re-assessment","authors":"James A. Serpell,&nbsp;Lauren R. Powell","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.11.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.11.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In a recent article in this journal, a large sample (N = 43,517) of behavioral data derived from the mini C-BARQ survey was used to estimate the prevalence of major behavior problems in the US pet dog population. According to those estimates, 49.9% of US dogs displayed moderate to severe anxiety, 55.6% displayed moderate to severe aggression, and 85.9% displayed moderate to severe separation anxiety. Here we argue that the methods used to calculate these frequencies involved choices that tend to exaggerate the severity and/or frequency of canine behavior problems. When the same set of data are analyzed using more appropriate methods, the calculated percentages of dogs displaying behavior at the moderate to severe level ranges from 14.1%–28.2% for the different types of anxiety/fear measured by the mini C-BARQ, 1.2%–30.4% for the various types of aggression, and 9.3% for separation-related behavior. The findings illustrate the need for caution when interpreting and extrapolating from the results of behavioral survey data and emphasize that the process of categorizing any behavior as \"problematic\" is inherently subjective since it depends on the unique perceptions of individual animal owners. This type of information is not accessible using C-BARQ or mini C-BARQ assessments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"83 ","pages":"Pages 8-13"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145532372","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Why language matters: Descriptions, diagnoses, and what we think we know about canine separation anxiety and aggression","authors":"Karen L. Overall","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2026.01.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2026.01.001","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"83 ","pages":"Pages 106-109"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145976699","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing nest-building performance in mice: A multifactorial study of strain, age, sex, and environmental factors","authors":"Luciana Cintra ,&nbsp;Camila Fernanda Hernandes ,&nbsp;Sandra Regina Alexandre-Ribeiro ,&nbsp;Dennis Albert Zanatto ,&nbsp;Claudia Madalena Cabrera Mori","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.12.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.12.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Providing nesting material is one of the main forms of environmental enrichment for laboratory mice. Nest building is an innate behavior, widely observed in wild mice, which construct complex, dome-shaped, multi-layered structures. Although various materials can be used in microisolator cage systems, this behavior remains underexplored under laboratory conditions. Evidence indicates that laboratory mice can build nests comparable to those of their wild counterparts, reinforcing the relevance of this enrichment for animal welfare. The aim of this study was to evaluate nest-building behavior in mice, considering biological and environmental variables, including strain, sex, age, nest location within the cage, seasonal variation, ambient temperature, and the use of cardboard tunnels. A total of 620 observations were analyzed from 106 cages, each containing 2–5 mice of both sexes, distributed across three strains (B6J, Nude, and BTBR). Nests were assessed weekly over the course of one year using a scoring system adapted from previous studies, in which higher scores indicate more elaborate, dome-shaped structures, whereas lower scores correspond to incomplete, flat, or less cohesive constructions. The use of cardboard tunnels provided as enrichment was also recorded (intact, shredded, or soiled with excreta). Other variables evaluated included age (20–109 days), and the position and side of the nest within the cage. Most mice built well-structured nests, with 39% of cages reaching the maximum score of 5. Statistical analysis showed that nest quality was significantly influenced by strain, season, and nest location within the cage. Compared to Nude mice, B6J and BTBR strains showed reduced nest-building performance. Scores were lower in spring compared to winter, while nests located at the cage edges, particularly on the right side and at the front, had slightly higher scores than those in the center. In conclusion, strain is the primary determinant of nest quality, while environmental and positional factors exert additional effects. Nude mice, during winter or colder periods, and nests located at the edges and front of the cage were associated with more complex nest constructions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"83 ","pages":"Pages 98-105"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145839200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy of advice for preventing separation-related behaviors in puppies: A video trial and separation test","authors":"Fiona C. Dale ,&nbsp;Rachel A. Casey ,&nbsp;Charlotte C. Burn","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.11.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.11.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Preventing separation-related behaviors (SRBs) is important for canine welfare, potentially reducing relinquishment or euthanasia. This double-blind study assessed efficacy of advice provided to prospective puppy owners. Thirty-four owners were randomly assigned to treatments: (1) Control, receiving responsible ownership advice; (2) Calm, receiving control advice plus advice on calm interactions during departures and reunions; (3) Habituation, receiving control plus advice on gradually increasing time left alone; or (4) Combination, receiving all advice. Owners filmed puppies alone at four timepoints over 6 months and during a separation test. A treatment-blind observer scored puppy behavior, later categorized as ‘active anxious’ (e.g. whining, barking), ‘passive anxious’ (e.g. panting, lip-licking), ‘inactivity’ (e.g. lying) and ‘active positive’ (e.g. playing, eating). Recruitment challenges caused sub-optimal sample size, rendering findings exploratory. Calm group puppies exhibited more inactivity than Control and Combination across timepoints and in separation tests; Habituation group puppies showed more inactivity than Controls during separation tests. Other behavior categories showed no significant associations with treatment. However, across treatments, puppies whose owners did more habituation activities showed less passive anxious behavior. Passive anxious scores were greater in puppies left alone than with other dogs. When radio or TV was on, versus off, puppies showed more passive anxious and less active positive behavior. While the advice did not significantly reduce SRBs, possibly due to sub-optimal sampling, the Calm advice, and to some extent Habituation, were associated with greater inactivity when dogs were alone. Further research could aim to verify findings and maximize owner compliance with SRB prevention advice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"83 ","pages":"Pages 52-68"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145570943","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Personality or temperament? The answer depends on animal settings and on moral considerations","authors":"Isadora de Castro Travnik ,&nbsp;Aline Cristina Sant’Anna ,&nbsp;Karynn Vieira Capilé ,&nbsp;Laura Vitória Fontoura de Lara ,&nbsp;Cesar Augusto Taconeli ,&nbsp;Carla Forte Maiolino Molento","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.12.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.12.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This review examined research on animal individuality across species and animal settings. It aimed to identify patterns influencing the use of the terms temperament and personality, including contextual and moral considerations. A literature review and bibliometric analysis were conducted using the search term “personality OR temperament” in article titles, combined with species-specific terms in titles, abstracts, and keywords. The search covered domestic, wild, and laboratory species across the Scopus and Web of Science databases. The resulting database included 772 articles, of which 765 were analyzed using the Bibliometrix program. Terminology, pre-study setting, species, and moral values attributed to animals were categorized. The analysis highlighted seven influential journals and key research groups in the field. Textual analysis revealed that temperament predominated in titles until 2014, after which personality became more commonly used. Cattle, dogs, and horses were the most studied domestic animals, while wild mammals, birds, and ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii) also featured prominently. Regarding the pre-study setting, 25.6% of studies focused on farmed animals, 25.6% on unspecified settings, and 19.2% on free-living animals. In terms of moral values, 39.6% of studies were classified as primary instrumental, 26.6% as ambiguous, 22.4% as secondary instrumental, and 11.4% as intrinsic. Significant associations were found between terminology, animal group, pre-study setting, and moral value (χ² tests, p &lt; 0.001). Temperament was predominantly linked to farmed animals and primary instrumental values. In contrast, personality was most associated with companion and free-living animals and with intrinsic or secondary instrumental values. Our analysis reveals systematic biases in the use of personality and temperament, influenced by pre-study settings, species, and moral considerations. It underscores the need for an explicit reflection on terminological choices and their ethical implications for animals, grounded in modern understandings of animal sentience and ethics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"83 ","pages":"Pages 69-82"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145786950","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Editorial Board/Table of Contents","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/S1558-7878(26)00005-5","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1558-7878(26)00005-5","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"83 ","pages":"Page ii"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146034550","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}