Efeito do enriquecimento ambiental no enfrentamento de estresse agudo em gatos domésticos (Felis catus) da raça Sphynx de criação: análises comportamental e adrenocortical

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the popularity of cats as companion animals, especially due to the perception that they are more adaptable to restricted environments. However, the lack of adequate stimuli can favor stress, directly impacting their physical and emotional well-being. Environmental enrichment (EE) is an efficient strategy for mitigating stress, providing physical, cognitive and social stimuli. Despite this, there is a lack of specific studies on the effects of EE in Sphynx cats, especially in breeding environments. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of EE on the physiological and behavioral response to acute stress in adult Sphynx cats. Twelve clinically healthy cats (eight females and four males), aged between two and five years, kept in four collective enclosures under controlled conditions were used. The experimental design was longitudinal, with two consecutive experimental periods for the same animals: without EE and with EE , each lasting seven days. During the enrichment period, the enclosures were equipped with vertical structures (shelves and elevated niches), scratching posts, tunnels, interactive toys (rotated daily), cardboard boxes, hiding places, as well as sensory enrichment (olfactory with catnip and aromatic foods) and food enrichment (hidden treats). During the control period, the enclosures remained with only the basic items: litter boxes, feeders and drinkers. Acute stress was induced on the seventh day of each period, by introducing a strange cat of the same species and with no previous history of coexistence into the enclosure for 24 hours. Behavioral assessments were performed through continuous filming, later analyzed based on an ethogram, including exploration, social interaction, vigilance, avoidance, aggression, self-grooming and stereotypies behaviors. For physiological assessment of stress, fecal samples were collected daily to quantify fecal corticosteroid metabolites (MCF) using an extraction and analysis by immunoassay (ELISA) protocol validated for the species. The results indicated that EE contributes significantly to reducing signs of stress, both in behavioral terms, with lower frequency of stereotypies and avoidance behaviors, and in physiological response, evidenced by lower concentrations of MCF. This study reinforces the importance of EE as an essential tool in promoting the well-being of cats kept in confined environments.