BBC two’s Horizon programme, The Secret Life of the Cat, used GPS trackers to understand what pet cats get up to when their owners are not around. Dr Alan Radford, from the University of Liverpool’s School of Veterinary Sciences and The Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network, commented on the findings:
“The Horizon program has given a fascinating glimpse into the world of our pet cats, and highlighted how little we know about them, especially when they leave our house.
“Much of the observed behaviour seen by the film makers was necessary for the cats to live close together, whilst at the same time minimising fighting. Many of the behaviours observed also impact on the diseases our cats experience. Although we now know lots about these individual diseases, we know much less about how common they are.
“The Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network (SAVSNET) is trying to fill this gap in our knowledge by collecting information on diseases seen by vets in veterinary practice.
“It is already clear that cats are taken to the vet less than their canine cousins and this may be a reflection of what is often their more solitary and secretive lifestyle.
“The highly territorial nature of cats highlighted in the horizon programme, particularly male cats, may be one reason why male cats are neutered more frequently than male dogs, partly to prevent territorial urine marking in the house.
“Despite this, cat fights still seem quite common, with cat bite abscesses a frequent reason for cats visiting their vet. The social structures in which our pet cats live, and are kept, also have profound implications on the infectious diseases they suffer from.
“Studies, such as the one in the Horizon programme, which look at the life of cats in the community, coupled with studies to understand the diseases they suffer from, such as SAVSNET, will allow us to build a much fuller picture of the frequently elusive feline lifestyle in the UK today.”
