Date of Award

2010

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Harley, Heidi

Keywords

Cat Personality, Coat Color, Shelter Animal Welfare

Area of Concentration

Biological Psychology

Abstract

For cats in shelters, coat color may influence a potential adopter�s choice of cat, how long a cat stays in a shelter and how likely he or she is to be euthanized, but cat personality is reported as a primary reason for adopters� satisfaction with their cats. Cat personality evaluations may help shelters facilitate appropriate and successful adoptions, while reducing euthanasia and return rates. Many people have a perception of coat color, particularly tortoiseshell and calico, as a representative indicator of cat personality, while research on the relationship between the two is lacking. This study utilized behavior assessments and scoring from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals� (ASPCA) Feline-ality program to evaluate the behavior of 107 neutered (37 m, 70 f) domestic cats surrendered to a Florida humane society. The study tested relations between solid coat colors (black, orange, brown, tortoiseshell), solid-with-white coat colors (black with white, orange with white, brown with white, calico), and two aspects of personality: sociability to humans (Sociability), and response to novelty (Novelty). The mean scores of Sociability and Novelty were not significantly different between the solid coat color group and the solid-with-white group. Additionally, when groups of solid coat color cats were compared to each other, no significant differences were found for the mean Sociability or the mean Novelty scores. Coat color should not be used as an indicator of cat personality during adoption.

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