Management Practices of Cats in Urban Regions of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

The growth of urbanization and altered ways of living in Dhaka, Bangladesh, can be the reason behind more pet ownership, especially for cats, which are easier to take care of and will always be around to keep those who like their company happy. This cross-sectional research was designed to fully describe the demographic structure of urban people who practice cat keeping, their pet management styles, the foods they give to their pets, the healthcare protocols they follow, and pet owners' awareness of AMR in Dhaka. The research was conducted at the Teaching and Training Pet Hospital and Research Center (TTPHRC) in Dhaka, from April to May 2024. 100 cat owners were interviewed with the help of a structured questionnaire. The gathered data included demographic information, cat handling procedures, health care behaviours, and AMR awareness. The use of STATA version 18.0 was employed for statistical analysis. The study population was evenly divided between both sexes, and more respondents had at least a bachelor's degree (55%). Furthermore, the largest occupational groups comprised of students (31%) and government employees (21%). The most domesticated breed was Persian cats, which were kept by half of the respondents (50%), and after that, domestic cats (42%). Given feeding practices, 49% of owners primarily used homemade food, while 36% combined both homemade and commercial pet food and 15% just used commercial pet food. It was noted that most of these cats (77%) were fed three meals per day. Additionally, the cats' high levels of vaccination and deworming (89% and 86% respectively) were documented. However, as many as 72% of them visited the veterinarian, and only 34% of cat owners demonstrated napalming of existing risks of AMR which is a common problem in the area. This investigation holds up the requirement of spreading the message about AMR and proper pet ownership among urban dwellers, even with good management and healthcare practices.