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<p>Stability of preference is critical for understanding how environmental enrichment can support welfare in managed care. This study investigated whether textile preferences in domestic cats (<i>Felis catus</i>) are stable across repeated exposures. Thirty-six female domestic cats housed in a research colony were individually presented with four textile types (absorbent pad, blanket, cardboard, and towel) across three consecutive days. Cats’ sniffing and touching behaviors were recorded to quantify interaction, and total interaction duration was used as the primary measure of engagement. Mean total interaction time increased over days, with the absorbent pad consistently receiving the highest engagement overall. However, individual interaction patterns varied widely, and a stable preference for a specific textile across days was rare, occurring in only 2 of the 36 cats, suggesting that short-term preference assessments may not reliably predict future choice behavior. These data indicate that preferences in cats may be dynamic rather than trait-like, varying across time and context. For clinical and welfare applications, repeated assessments or offering multiple enrichment options may better accommodate individual variability and fluctuating motivational states. Preference testing for enrichment planning should therefore account for temporal instability and avoid assumptions based on limited observations.</p>

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Preference Stability for Various Textiles Within and Between Domestic Cats and Implications for Clinical Applications

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月1日

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  • Jaden Dales,
  • Lindsey Vansandt,
  • Dieter Vanderelst,
  • Kathryn Kalafut

摘要

Stability of preference is critical for understanding how environmental enrichment can support welfare in managed care. This study investigated whether textile preferences in domestic cats (Felis catus) are stable across repeated exposures. Thirty-six female domestic cats housed in a research colony were individually presented with four textile types (absorbent pad, blanket, cardboard, and towel) across three consecutive days. Cats’ sniffing and touching behaviors were recorded to quantify interaction, and total interaction duration was used as the primary measure of engagement. Mean total interaction time increased over days, with the absorbent pad consistently receiving the highest engagement overall. However, individual interaction patterns varied widely, and a stable preference for a specific textile across days was rare, occurring in only 2 of the 36 cats, suggesting that short-term preference assessments may not reliably predict future choice behavior. These data indicate that preferences in cats may be dynamic rather than trait-like, varying across time and context. For clinical and welfare applications, repeated assessments or offering multiple enrichment options may better accommodate individual variability and fluctuating motivational states. Preference testing for enrichment planning should therefore account for temporal instability and avoid assumptions based on limited observations.