Cross-Species Design Research Scrapbook

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Full Size Cat Scratching / Climbing Post

Rufus wanted a scratching / climbing post, so I decided to make one for him. The ones available at the pet stores have several disadvantages: They are usually...

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Black and white Stolmen Cat Tree - IKEA Hackers

Materials: IKEA Stolmen storage system (post and fixtures) Description: Here is our version of the “Stolmen” cat tree. We were inspired by pictures we saw on this website. We bought the post and fixtures and built our own shelves to reduce the cost. We gave the shelves the shape we wanted and painted them in …

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Modern Cat Tree Alternatives For Up-To-Date Pets

When someone asks “what type of cat tree should I get if I want it to match my contemporary interior design?” it's quite difficult to come up with a valid

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Are you looking for cat scratchers in Australia? If yes, then you are just at the right place. From pet crate to custom cat furniture, we’ve got it all for you!

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Durk Talsma,1,2 Daniel Senkowski,3 Salvador Soto-Faraco,4 and Marty G. Woldorff5 (2010)

Abstract

Multisensory integration has often been characterized as an automatic process. Recent findings suggest that multisensory integration can occur across various stages of stimulus processing that are linked to, and can be modulated by, attention. Stimulus-driven, bottom-up mechanisms induced by cross-modal interactions can automatically capture attention towards multisensory events, particularly when competition to focus elsewhere is relatively low. Conversely, top-down attention can facilitate the integration of multisensory inputs and lead to a spread of attention across sensory modalities. These findings point to a more intimate and multifaceted interplay between attention and multisensory integration than was previously thought. We review developments in our understanding of the interactions between attention and multisensory processing, and propose a framework that unifies previous, apparently discordant findings.

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Daria L.Clark and Robert A.Clark

Abstract

Despite extensive study, the basic nature of feline spectral sensitivity is still unresolved. Most electrophysiological studies have demonstrated two photopic receptors within the cat's retina, one most sensitive to longer wavelengths near 560 nm and the other most sensitive to shorter wavelengths near 460 nm, providing the neuroretinal basis for dichromatic vision. A few studies, however, have detected a third photopic receptor most sensitive to medium wavelengths between 500 and 520 nm, overlapping in spectrally sensitivity with the feline scotopic receptor, that potentially could allow trichromatic vision. Indeed, one behavioral study has demonstrated trichromatic vision in cats, but a flaw within its experimental design raises the possibility that achromatic intensity cues might have allowed the accurate identification of medium wavelength targets. This study tested for a spectral neutral point in the domestic cat using a two-choice discrimination task. The positive targets were created using monochromatic light from various single wavelength light emitting diodes (LEDs) combined with a white light of variable intensity, while the negative targets were created using white light of variable intensity. Trials were performed with varying intensities of positive and negative targets, from brighter positive targets to brighter negative targets, to eliminate achromatic intensity cues. Two cats with prior experience with two-choice discrimination tasks, one male and one female, successfully discriminated monochromatic light from 456 nm to 497 nm and from 510 nm to 524 nm, but both failed to discriminate monochromatic light at 505 nm over multiple trials. These results provide strong evidence that cats are dichromatic with a neutral point near 505 nm. This neutral point is nearly identical to the neutral point of the human deuteuranope, making feline vision a more accurate a model for red-green colorblind individuals than normal trichromats.

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Behavioural Processes 81 (2009) 402–408 Angel M. Elgier, Adriana Jakovcevic, Gabriela Barrera, Alba E. Mustaca, Mariana Bentosela

Abstract Communication involves a wide range of behaviours that animals emit in their daily lives and can take place between different species, as is the case of domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) and humans. Dogs have shown to be successful at following human cues to solve the object choice task. The question is what are the mechanisms involved in these communicative abilities. This article presents a review of studies about the communicative capacities of domestic dogs emphasizing the ones that considered the effect of associative learning upon these skills. In addition, evidence about differences in dogs’ performance in following physical or social cues is summarized and two studies where both signals compete are presented here. The obtained results suggest that the training of a colour cue reverses the dogs’ preference for the social one. These results are discussed in light of the findings that gave importance to the learning effect, concluding that the dogs fundamentally follow those cues that allowed them to obtain reinforcers in their previous learning history

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JAY NEITZ, TIMOTHY GEIST, AND GERALD H. JACOBS Visual Neuroscience (1989),3, 119-125

Abstract The color vision of three domestic dogs was examined in a series of behavioral discrimination experiments. Measurements of increment-threshold spectral sensitivity functions and dire~t tests of color matchmg mdIcate that the dog retina contains two classes of cone photopigment. These two pIgments are coml?uted to. have spectral peaks of about 429 nm and 555 nm. The results of the color vision tests are all consIstent WIth the conclusion that dogs have dichromatic color vision.

These results predict that dogs should be capable of making color discriminations between stimuli whose predominant spectral energies lie, respectively, to the short and long sides of 480 nm; these results also indicate that color discriminations between stimuli whose spectral energies fall on only one side of this value would be expected to vary from easy to impossible as a function of how greatly these two depart from 480 nm. (p.124)

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GERALD H. JACOBS, JESS F. DEEGAN, II, MICHAEL A. CROGNALE, AND JOHN A. FENWICK Visual Neuroscience (1993), 10, 173-18

Abstract Electroretinogram (ERG) flicker photometry was used to examine the photopigment complements of representatives of four genera of Canid: domestic dog (Canis familiaris), Island gray fox (Urocyon littoralis), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), and Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus). These four genera share a common cone pigment complement; each has one cone pigment with peak sensitivity of about 555 nm and a second cone pigment with peak at 430-435 nm. These pigment measurements accord well with the conclusions of an earlier investigation of color vision in the dog, and this fact allows some predictions about color vision in the wild canids. An additional set of measurements place the peak of the dog rod pigment at about 508 nm.

Dichromacy like that of these canids effectively splits the spectrum at around 500 nm allowing a discrimination of stimuli whose spectral energies predominate on one side of this zone to those whose spectral energies predominate on the other (Neitz et al., 1989). The greater the magnitude of the difference in predominance of these energy distributions (i.e. their respective slopes from one end of the spectrum toward the other) then, in general, the more discriminable they should be. Put in human color terms, anything that is bluish can potentially be discriminated from objects that reflect more long-wavelength light (browns, reds, yellows, greens, etc.).

In sum, as visual generalists who operate under a wide variety of lighting conditions, it seems likely that these several kinds of canids may profit considerably from having two classes of cone and dichromatic color vision.

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Friederike Range · Ulrike Aust · Michael Steurer · Ludwig Huber (2008) Anim Cogn (2008) 11:339–347

Abstract One of the fundamental issues in the study of animal cognition concerns categorization. Although domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) are on the brink to become one of the model animals in animal psychology, their categorization abilities are unknown. This is probably largely due to the absence of an adequate method for testing dogs’ ability to discriminate between large sets of pictures in the absence of human cueing. Here we present a computerautomated touch-screen testing procedure, which enabled us to test visual discrimination in dogs while social cueing was ruled out. Using a simultaneous discrimination procedure, we Wrst trained dogs (N = 4) to diVerentiate between a set of dog pictures (N = 40) and an equally large set of landscape pictures. All subjects learned to discriminate between the two sets and showed successful transfer to novel pictures. Interestingly, presentation of pictures providing contradictive information (novel dog pictures mounted on familiar landscape pictures) did not disrupt performance, which suggests that the dogs made use of a category-based response rule with classiWcation being coupled to categoryrelevant features (of the dog) rather than to item-speciWc features (of the background). We conclude that dogs are able to classify photographs of natural stimuli by means of a perceptual response rule using a newly established touchscreen procedure.

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Anna A. Kasparson, Jason Badridze, Vadim V. Maximov (2013)

Abstract: The results of early studies on colour vision in dogs led to the conclusion that chromatic cues are unimportant for dogs during their normal activities. Nevertheless, the canine retina possesses two cone types which provide at least the potential for colour vision. Recently, experiments controlling for the brightness information in visual stimuli demonstrated that dogs have the ability to perform chromatic discrimination. Here, we show that for eight previously untrained dogs colour proved to be more informative than brightness when choosing between visual stimuli differing both in brightness and chromaticity. Although brightness could have been used by the dogs in our experiments (unlike previous studies), it was not. Our results demonstrate that under natural photopic lighting conditions colour information may be predominant even for animals that possess only two spectral types of cone photoreceptors.

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LEADING EDGE OF MEDICINE—A REVIEW Paul E. Miller, DVM, and Christopher J. Murphy DVM, PhD (1995)

Summary: Compared with the visual system in human beings, the canine visual system could be considered inferior in such aspects as degree of binocular overlap, color perception, accommodative range, and visual acuity. However, in other aspects of vision, such as ability to function in dim light, rapidity with which the retina can respond to another image (flicker fusion), field of view, ability to differentiate shades of gray, and, perhaps, ability to detect motion, the canine visual system probably surpasses the human visual system. This has made the dog a more efficient predator in certain environmental situations and permits it to exploit an ecological niche inaccessible to humans.

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This website has many different examples of rolling and stationary puzzles and you can either buy or make your puzzles. But once you have the puzzles…how do you get started? And if you are already using foraging puzzles, how do you keep your cat excited about them? It is very important that cats are successful in the …

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Glen R. SAUNDERS, Matthew N. GENTLE, Christopher R. DICKMAN Mammal Rev. 2010, Volume 40, No. 3, 181–211

ABSTRACT 1. The successful introduction of the red fox Vulpes vulpes into Australia in the 1870s has had dramatic and deleterious impacts on both native fauna and agricultural production. Historical accounts detail how the arrival of foxes in many areas coincided with the local demise of native fauna. Recent analyses suggest that native fauna can be successfully reintroduced to their former ranges only if foxes have been controlled, and several replicated removal experiments have confirmed that foxes are the major agents of extirpation of native fauna. Predation is the primary cause of losses, but competition and transmission of disease may be important for some species.mam_159 181..211 2. In agricultural landscapes, fox predation on lambs can cause losses of 1–30%; variation is due to flock size, health and management, as well as differences in the timing and duration of lambing and the density of foxes. 3. Fox control measures include trapping, shooting, den fumigation and exclusion fencing; baiting using the toxin 1080 is the most commonly employed method. Depending on the baiting strategy, habitat and area covered, baiting can reduce fox activity by 50–97%. We review patterns of baiting in a large sheep-grazing region in central New South Wales, and propose guidelines to increase landholder awareness of baiting strategies, to concentrate and coordinate bait use, and to maximize the cost-effectiveness of baiting programs. 4. The variable reduction in fox density within the baited area, together with the ability of the fox to recolonize rapidly, suggest that current baiting practices in eastern Australia are often ineffective, and that reforms are required. These might include increasing landholder awareness and involvement in group control programs, and the use of more efficient broadscale techniques, such as aerial baiting.

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Glen Saunders and Lynette McLeod (2007) DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY

The European red fox was introduced into Australia in the 1870s for recreational hunting. Their subsequent spread was rapid and they are now responsible for environmental and agricultural impacts valued at over $200 million per annum. Despite greater public awareness about feral cats, foxes are considered to be Australia’s greatest predation threat to the survival of native fauna – particularly relevant given their recent introduction to Tasmania. Foxes are also widely regarded as a major threat to lamb production, although it is important to recognise that many factors involved in poor lambing percentages are inconspicuous, whereas damage inflicted by predators is usually highly visible. There have been surprisingly few scientifically-rigorous studies to confirm or refute many of the perceived impacts of foxes on agriculture and the environment. The need for further impact and cost–benefit studies is a common theme in this review. Over the past decade there has been a dramatic increase in the use of 1080 fox baits, and whilst the continuing trend toward coordinated regional fox baiting should be encouraged, it is also important to ensure that such baiting is conducted effectively, particularly considering that recent surveys suggest that fox impacts may be increasing in many areas. This report provides a comprehensive review of fox management strategies along with impacts and monitoring techniques. This includes a critical appraisal of past research studies and ongoing fox management programmes. A key finding is that problems with the experimental design and analysis of research and management has sometimes hindered progress in defining fox impacts and determining the best approach to reducing these impacts. This report offers a set of key recommendations for consideration by research agencies, land managers and policy-makers to improve and harmonise approaches to measuring and managing fox impacts.

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Elizabeth M. Metsers, Philip J. Seddon and Yolanda M. van Heezik (2010) Wildlife Research, 2010, 37, 47–56

Abstract Context. The process of urban sprawl brings the human population and their domestic cats (Felis catus) in close contact with wildlife in areas that were previously remote, including reserves and conservation areas created to protect populations of vulnerable or threatened species. Various mitigation measures have been proposed, including devices designed to hinder cat hunting ability, desexing to reduce wandering and nuisance behaviours, containment at night or at all times and regulations governing cat ownership. Such regulations may aim to reduce cat densities by limiting the number of cats per household, or they may define zones around sensitive conservation areas where cat ownership is prohibited. Aims. The present study sought to establish the necessary size of cat-exclusion zones in rural and urban-fringe landscapes where vulnerable prey species may also reside. Methods. With GPS collars, we tracked 38 domestic cats at three sites (one rural, two urban fringe) where small reserves contained threatened lizard species. Key results. Home ranges (95% kernel density estimates) were considerably larger for cats at the rural site (0.3–69 ha) than at urban-fringe sites (0.35–19 ha at Kaitorete Spit and 0.2–9 ha at Otago Peninsula), and were larger at night than day. Resource selection ratios indicated avoidance of open areas with little cover, such as cultivated areas (farmland), tussock grassland and duneland, whereas sources of cover such as trees and buildings were preferred. Maximum distances moved and large variability between individual cats suggest buffers in rural landscapes would need to be at least 2.4 km wide, whereas those in urban-fringe habitat could be half as large. Conclusions. Despite significant home-range size differences exhibited by cats living in rural v. urban-fringe habitats, exclusion zones would need to be wide to account for considerable inter-cat variation in movement behaviour. Implications. The size of an effective cat-exclusion zone should represent the specific landscape, amount of residential development and substantial variability between individual cats.

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Samia R. Toukhsati , Emily Young, Pauleen C. Bennett and Grahame J. Coleman (2012) ANTHROZOÖS VOLUME 25, ISSUE 1 PP. 61–74

ABSTRACT Cat containment is a prominent cat management issue in Australia that provokes strong, and sometimes opposing, points of view. The aim of this study was to explore beliefs and attitudes towards containment in cat owner and non-owner groups, and to examine cat containment practices in owners. A random sample of 424 Victorian residents was recruited to complete the Community Attitudes towards Companion Animals Survey by telephone interview. The results showed that, of 142 cat owners, 80% contained their cat to a property at night but only 41.2% contained their cat to a property during the day. For cat owners, beliefs about the importance of cat containment were related to concerns regarding the protection of cats from injury and the protection of native wildlife. Beliefs relating to the importance of cat containment most strongly predicted containment practices. Conversely, findings from non-owners revealed that support for containment was generally linked to concerns regarding protection for wildlife and protection of community members from harm or nuisance behaviors. These findings indicate broad support for cat containment and suggest that education relating to the advantages of suitably enriched containment to protect cats from injury would be worthwhile in regions with cat curfews in place.