While motor laterality and the variables affecting it have largely been explored in human and nonhuman primates, it is clear that research on domestic species, particularly the cat, is lacking. This thesis seeks to address the gap in the literature and determine whether the domestic cat displays motor laterality in the form of paw preferences. The research will firstly explore tests of motor bias in a bid to determine the most appropriate task for use throughout the experimental chapters and beyond. The thesis hopes to examine some of the variables that might influence the expression of lateral bias in the cat, including, for example, breed, age and sex. In addition, considering a relationship between lateral bias and emotional functioning has been reported in other species, the research aims to further explore this in order to establish whether tests of motor bias can be used to assess susceptibility to stress in the domestic cat. Finally, this thesis will, for the first time, explore motor laterality of spontaneous feline behaviours. Overall, this research hopes to determine whether the domestic cat shows paw preferences and-shed more light on the possible link between lateral bias and emotional functioning, with the potential implication that the findings may be used to inform animal welfare practice.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:727748 |
| Date | January 2017 |
| Creators | McDowell, Louise Jean |
| Publisher | Queen's University Belfast |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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