Environmentally enriched housing for cats when housed singly (1995)

Loveridge, G. G., Horrocks, L. J., Hawthrone, A. J.

Abstract

A species-adequate housing arrangement for single-housed laboratory cats is described. Each cat lives in a two-roomed lodge (2.6 sq. m) with glass walls enabling the resident to be visually stimulated by the cats on each side. Approximately half of a cat's time is spent in a social room together with other cats. In addition to the social interaction during work routines, time is set aside each afternoon to give individual cats a minimum of 20 minutes personal attention. .... Our decision to avoid the use of cages .... had given WCPN [Waltham Center for Pet Nutrition] a population of friendly, adaptable, visibly demonstrative and confident animals.