Monografía. La mente del gato doméstico : felis silvestris catus

Abstract

The science of animal welfare holds extensive research in the spheres of physical health and behavioral expression (naturalness), but regarding the mental sphere there is greater complexity and fewer studies, despite being one of the three fundamental pillars of animal welfare. The cat became the favorite pet in much of the world. However, there is a lack of research of this species, and understanding the feline mind is essential to provide adequate welfare conditions. In addition, there is a bidirectional relationship between cognition and welfare and this is a species that requires enriched environments in a more complex and stimulating way. The purpose of this review was to describe the different investigations that have tried to understand the mind of the domestic cat Felis silvestris catus. Cognitive research conducted on cats includes perception, object permanence, memory, physical causality, quantity and time discrimination, sensitivity of cats to human signals, vocal recognition and communication, attachment bonds, personality, and cognitive health; demonstrating in all cases the ability of the cat in these areas. Studies in cognition have demonstrated the ability of the cat to learn, do quickly and modify his behavior after learning, which also allows us to assume some degree of consciousness. The sentience of the cat is demonstrated by his ability to experience negative (fear and pain) and positive (joy, "friendship") emotions. The cat's mind is unique and it is extremely important to use some methods and interpret results in the context of the species. We can conclude that scientific research to date shows the capacities of sentience and cognition of the domestic cat, and opens the window for further research on the feline mind and its repercussions on maximizing its level of welfare and granting the protection they deserve.