A survey of Italian cat owners' attitudes towards cat vaccination through a web-based questionnaire.
Cat
Infectious diseases
Prevention
Questionnaire
Vaccination
Journal
BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
Titre abrégé: BMC Vet Res
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101249759
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
09 Aug 2021
09 Aug 2021
Historique:
received:
15
10
2020
accepted:
27
07
2021
entrez:
10
8
2021
pubmed:
11
8
2021
medline:
10
11
2021
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Vaccination plays an important role in feline healthcare as it is the most effective measure for prevention against feline infectious diseases. Therefore, it is important to know owners' opinion towards cats' vaccination and current veterinary practices in order to advice owners on the use of the correct vaccination protocol. This study aimed to investigate the proportion of cats regularly vaccinated and identify the main factors motivating cat owners' decisions related to vaccination in Italy. A questionnaire was disseminated online (mainly via social networks) to collect data regarding Italian cat owners' demographics, information about cats, factors regarding cats' vaccination, and veterinary-owner relationship. A total of 1264 owners participated in the survey and 1247 questionnaires were completed and statistically analyzed. The majority (91%; n = 1131) of cats were vaccinated and 80% (n = 998) had been vaccinated within the last 3 years. Age of 2-4 years old cats and the acquisition from a breeder or cat shop were significantly associated with vaccination within the last 3 years. Cats vaccinated but not within the last 3 years were significantly associated with cat's indoor lifestyle, cats' age ≥ 5 years old and low annual household income. Importance of vaccination cost, low annual household income and owners' job not related to healthcare was statistically associated with the lack of cat's vaccination. In addition, 86% of the owners took their cat regularly to veterinary clinics. Veterinarians play a significant role in owners' decision, and they are considered the most useful source of information about vaccination by 97% of owners. The high number of recently vaccinated cats suggests owner's attention towards feline vaccination and cat's health. The importance of veterinarian's advice along with the knowledge of factors associated to the unvaccinated status of cats may help veterinarians to grow owner's confidence and increase prevention of feline infectious diseases. However further investigations based on a more comprehensive sample of the general population are needed to confirm the results of this survey.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Vaccination plays an important role in feline healthcare as it is the most effective measure for prevention against feline infectious diseases. Therefore, it is important to know owners' opinion towards cats' vaccination and current veterinary practices in order to advice owners on the use of the correct vaccination protocol. This study aimed to investigate the proportion of cats regularly vaccinated and identify the main factors motivating cat owners' decisions related to vaccination in Italy. A questionnaire was disseminated online (mainly via social networks) to collect data regarding Italian cat owners' demographics, information about cats, factors regarding cats' vaccination, and veterinary-owner relationship.
RESULTS
RESULTS
A total of 1264 owners participated in the survey and 1247 questionnaires were completed and statistically analyzed. The majority (91%; n = 1131) of cats were vaccinated and 80% (n = 998) had been vaccinated within the last 3 years. Age of 2-4 years old cats and the acquisition from a breeder or cat shop were significantly associated with vaccination within the last 3 years. Cats vaccinated but not within the last 3 years were significantly associated with cat's indoor lifestyle, cats' age ≥ 5 years old and low annual household income. Importance of vaccination cost, low annual household income and owners' job not related to healthcare was statistically associated with the lack of cat's vaccination. In addition, 86% of the owners took their cat regularly to veterinary clinics. Veterinarians play a significant role in owners' decision, and they are considered the most useful source of information about vaccination by 97% of owners.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
The high number of recently vaccinated cats suggests owner's attention towards feline vaccination and cat's health. The importance of veterinarian's advice along with the knowledge of factors associated to the unvaccinated status of cats may help veterinarians to grow owner's confidence and increase prevention of feline infectious diseases. However further investigations based on a more comprehensive sample of the general population are needed to confirm the results of this survey.
Identifiants
pubmed: 34372835
doi: 10.1186/s12917-021-02981-z
pii: 10.1186/s12917-021-02981-z
pmc: PMC8350260
doi:
Substances chimiques
Vaccines
0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
267Informations de copyright
© 2021. The Author(s).
Références
PLoS One. 2019 Jan 15;14(1):e0210806
pubmed: 30645644
Prev Vet Med. 2008 Jul 15;85(3-4):267-94
pubmed: 18374434
Vet Rec. 2010 Jul 24;167(4):122-7
pubmed: 20656990
Ann Ig. 2018 May-Jun;30(3):251-256
pubmed: 29670995
J Small Anim Pract. 2016 Jan;57(1):E1-E45
pubmed: 26780857
Vet Rec. 2010 Feb 6;166(6):163-8
pubmed: 20139379
J Feline Med Surg. 2020 Jan;22(1):5-30
pubmed: 31916872
J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2008 Feb 15;232(4):531-40
pubmed: 18279086
J Feline Med Surg. 2015 Jul;17(7):583-7
pubmed: 26101309
Prev Vet Med. 2019 Jun 1;167:32-38
pubmed: 31027718
Biomed Res Int. 2016;2016:3796872
pubmed: 27610373
Science. 2019 Apr 12;364(6436):105
pubmed: 30975861
J Feline Med Surg. 2013 Sep;15(9):785-808
pubmed: 23966005
J Comp Pathol. 2010 Jan;142 Suppl 1:S60-9
pubmed: 20005526
J Feline Med Surg. 2019 Feb;21(2):73-83
pubmed: 29529958
Vet Microbiol. 2006 Oct 5;117(1):51-8
pubmed: 16701964
N Engl J Med. 2019 Jun 6;380(23):2185-2187
pubmed: 30995368
J Med Libr Assoc. 2012 Jul;100(3):197-204
pubmed: 22879809