The five freedoms cats need ​to have a good life

By ALMA J. BUELVA

​ST. LOUIS, MO – Having a roof over their heads is not enough to make cats feel happy and at home. In fact, many household cats live in poor conditions that they are not exactly better off than cats staying in stressful shelter environments. 

This is the reality imparted by the esteemed Debra Horwitz, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (DACVB), to attendees of the recent Cat Writers Association conference here. As guest speaker, Horwitz shared valuable insights on how to improve the well-being of cats in the home, shelters and post-adoption. 

“Household cats are unique because of all cats species, household cats are both predators and prey,” said Dr. Debra Horwitz, DVM, DACVB. (Photo from Cat Writers Association)

“Feline well-being is improved by recognizing and understanding feline communication, and social behaviors and utilizing that information to create a better environment for our cats,” said Horwitz.

To assess a cat's well-being, Horwitz said their five freedoms must be satisfactorily met. These are:
* Freedom from hunger and thirst
* Freedom from discomfort
* Freedom from pain, injury or disease
* Freedom to express normal behavior
* Freedom from fear and distress

​She said a lot of people don't want to see pet's normal but “unwanted” behaviors so they try to suppress those. 

“When a cat can't express its natural self, it becomes depressed,” Horwitz said. She then went on to disprove that cat's are anti-social animals. 

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​Aside from food to support good health, cats need healthy mental stimulation and social relationships in their lives. Sure, they want to eat privately and not share, but ethological studies show cats have social needs, too, said Horwitz. It's also ingrained in every cat to play, explore and engage in predatory behaviors.    

“Cats are a-social not anti-social. They can live alone or in groups around aggregated food sources. We people are the ones who created their cat groupies that they can't escape from,” said Horwitz. 

She said there are three groups of feline personalities: the sociable, confident and easy going; the timid, nervous, shy and unfriendly; and the active or active aggressive. Despite the personality differences, all cats need to feel safe and to avoid stress, Horwitz added. 

Ethology, the scientific and objective study of animal behavior that is natural as well as adaptive, has noted how “cats domesticated themselves, unlike dogs which co-evolved with people”, Horwitz said.

“Household cats are unique because of all cats species, household cats are both predators and prey,” she added.  

To properly respond to threats, cats depend on their olfactory sensitivities, hiding abilities and marking of territories. -- MetroPets