Owner presence versus absence during cat veterinary examinations: cat responses and owner attitudes

It is well known that physical examinations are stressful for cats and their owners, and thus there is a need for evidence-based strategies to reduce stressors in the veterinary environment. Research suggests that owner presence compared to absence reduces fear and stress in dogs during physical examinations, although little research has examined the impact of owner presence and absence on cat welfare. Thus, the aims of this research were to assess: 1) the effect of owner presence versus absence on their cat’s responses during a mock physical examination, and 2) assess participant attitudes on common veterinary practices. Cat owners (N = 33) completed a pre-appointment questionnaire and participated in two mock veterinary examinations with their cat, one with them present and one absent. Appointment order was counter-balanced, and cat responses were recorded during the appointments. During the mock examinations, cats displayed an increased rate of vocalizations when their owner was absent versus present during the habituation (IRR: 3.23, p = 0.0035) and physical examination (IRR: 3.18, p = 0.007) phases of the examinations. No other cat response effects were detected. The questionnaire results indicate that participants perceive themselves (p < 0.0001) and their cat (p < 0.0001) as more comfortable when they are present versus absent during their cat’s examination. Participants indicated they strongly agree to being present compared to absent during invasive procedures (i.e., blood or urine collection) in the examination room (p < 0.0001) and treatment area (p = 0.002). Participating cat owners also rated themselves as more comfortable when a familiar versus unfamiliar veterinarian (p < 0.0001) or non-veterinarian staff member (p < 0.0001) takes their cat to the treatment area without them. Cat response results indicate that owner separation may have a mild negative impact on cat stress. We recommend owners be provided a choice to be present during their cat’s examination and procedures. When cats need to be separated from their owner, it is recommended to have a familiar person take their cat to the treatment area; however, more research is needed to replicate these results on a wider scale for greater generalizability. Overall, increased consideration of the human-cat relationship and interactions may help improve veterinary appointment-related client satisfaction and reduce stress for cats and their owners.