Estudo da vocalização de gatos de abrigo: Influência da adoção e da separação do cuidador humano

Abstract

The study of cat vocalization allows obtaining information about their emotional state, needs, and social interactions, making it an indispensable resource in the field of animal welfare. The aim of this study was to describe and compare the vocalizations of shelter cats in a Secure Base Test conducted before and six months after adoption. The test, lasting 6 minutes, consists of three 2-minute phases. In the first phase (Phase 1), a human introduced the cat to an unfamiliar room, remaining in the center of a circle drawn on the floor. In the second phase (Phase 2), the human left the room, leaving the cat alone, and in the third phase (Phase 3), the human returned, repeating the process of the first phase. Vocalizations were categorized into trills (n=10), purring (n=14), and meowing (n=634), with no records of aggressive vocalizations. The statistical analysis focused on meowing, including parameters such as average quantity, duration (in seconds), inter-meow interval (in seconds), fundamental frequency (in Hz), and intensity (in dB). Kruskal-Wallis tests, supplemented by the Dunn test, were used to compare means between phases before and after adoption within the same group. The results revealed significant differences in the group before adoption for inter-meow interval (H=6.464; p=0.03949), fundamental frequency (H=8.139; p=0.01709), and intensity (H=20.02; p=4.491E-05). In the group after adoption, significant differences were observed in meow duration (H=12.42; p=0.002), inter-meow interval (H=12.35; p=0.002), fundamental frequency (H=6.639; p=0.03617), and meow intensity (H=6.461; p=0.03955). Student's t-test was used to compare means between corresponding phases in the two groups. Significant differences were found in meow quantity between Phases 2 (t=2.2986; p=0.033), fundamental frequency between Phases 2 (t=2.4305; p=0.0091413), and Phase 3 (t=3.0319; p=0.003), as well as meow intensity between Phases 1 (t=6.6102; p=2.52E-10) and Phase 2 (t=3.8772; p=0.00011324). These data suggest that cats emphasize vocal communication, possibly as a means to seek security or express emotions during separation, particularly when directed towards their owners, indicating a closer bond compared to shelter caregivers.