The Effects of Clicker Training on Stress in Communally Housed Shelter Cats

Abstract

Stress is a major concern regarding shelter cat populations, as it has many health and behavioral implications that could prolong their stay in a shelter environment. Many studies have looked at stress reduction methods in individually housed cats, but not those housed in communal rooms. This study focused on these communally housed cats and the effects that clicker training had on their stress levels. It was found that after six sessions, cats exhibited significantly lower overall stress scores. This suggests that clicker training could assist in improving the welfare and adoptability of communally housed shelter cats.